James Packer-backed Contango Asset Management plans to ramp up...

James Packer-backed Contango Asset Management plans to ramp up its presence in Sydney next year, according to sources.
The firm, which listed in September, is already said to be scouring the Sydney market for appropriate office space with the view to having a formal presence in the city by April.
Packer and business partner, Robert Rankin, supported a management buyout of Contango after teaming up with the company's now managing director, George Boubouras. The plans were first reported by Street Talk.
Contango is the latest Melbourne-based firm to look to build up a Sydney presence. Wealth firm Escala Partners also plans to open a Sydney office in 2017.
Elsewhere in financial services, Baillieu Holst's former co-head of corporate finance Trent Donnelly has joined financial services firm Aura Group.
As revealed by this column, Donnelly started at Aura this week as head of corporate finance. Aura's operations span advisory, funds management and principal investments.
It has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore and Bangkok and Donnelly will take responsibility for the group's global corporate advisory activities.
Donnelly had a stint at Baillieu until June, according to his LinkedIn profile. Prior to that, he held several roles at Ord Minnett, including leading corporate finance.