La Banque Postale strengthens its asset management activities: LBP AM enters into exclusive negotiations with Groupe Primonial with a view to acquiring 100% of the capital of La Financière de l’Échiquier (LFDE)
La Banque Postale, one of European leaders in bancassurance, aims to accelerate its business diversification and strengthen its growth engines, both in France and abroad. The proposed transaction is fully in line with this ambition.
Through this transaction, La Banque Postale Asset Management (LBP AM), a subsidiary of La Banque Postale (at 75%) and Aegon Asset Management (at 25%), would consolidate its position as a multi-specialist conviction manager with assets under management of €67 billion. It would also extend its presence to 9 European countries and broaden its range of products.
By preserving and combining the strengths of the three brands of this new structure –LBP AM, LFDE and Tocqueville Finance– the transaction would give rise to a key European conviction manager, with recognized financial performance, and a shared set of values in favor of responsible finance. The new structure would build on existing staff and management teams and would benefit from new strategic advantages :
- Ability to accelerate its development in France and in Europe, by relying on the distribution channels of the three entities at the benefit of all products of the new LBP AM Group
- Expanded product range for all customers of each entity
- Leading expertise in SRI investments in Europe, capitalizing on the power of the tools and the methodological approaches of the three entities to enrich the range of sustainable finance solutions
- Support from long-term shareholding, giving the new group the means to reach its full potential and accelerate its development in terms of innovation and performance
Created in 1991 and managing €11 billion of assets at the end of 2022, LFDE was built on an entrepreneurial culture that it will continue to put at the service of its clients. A specialist in active and high tracking error asset management, and a long-standing reference for independent financial advisors (IFAs) and private clients, LFDE is also recognized as a strategic partner of many French banking groups and institutional investors. At the same time, LFDE has developed its European presence with a sales platform in 9 countries.
LBP AM, which managed €56 billion at the end of 2022 (including Tocqueville Finance), offers a range of investment solutions combining expertise on listed assets (equities, convertible bonds, multi-assets, absolute return and quantitative solutions) and real assets (infrastructure, real estate and corporate private debt, private equity), mainly for the French institutional and retail markets, in particular La Banque Postale Group. Tocqueville Finance, a 100% subsidiary of LBP AM, is a historical player in equity conviction management. It has shown a very strong growth since 2018 with €12 billion under management at the end of 2022, and has a complementary investment philosophy to LFDE’s.
Philippe Heim, Chairman of the Executive Board of La Banque Postale, says: “The acquisition of La Financière de l’Échiquier would be a growth accelerator for LBP AM, which would strengthen its activities by integrating recognized teams. Through this transaction, LBP AM would rise to the podium of multi-specialist conviction managers in Europe and give itself the ability to address a wider range of clients, thanks to the complementarities of its sales forces. La Banque Postale Group thus confirms its desire to develop its asset management and international activities.”
Emmanuelle Mourey, Chairwoman of the Management Board of LBP AM, says: “We are delighted with this project to acquire La Financière de l’Échiquier, which reinforces the choice made 2 years ago to adopt a multi-specialist conviction management model. In an increased competitive environment, this transaction would be a major asset to strengthen our distribution channels and continue our growth in France and Europe. I am convinced that the quality of the teams in place and the sharing of a common culture of innovation would allow us to respond effectively to the crucial challenges of our industry and to the needs of all our clients in terms of financial and extra-financial performance.”
Stéphane Vidal, Chairman of Groupe Primonial, says: “As we anticipated in 2021, a new page should open for La Financière de l’Échiquier, which, after 5 years of fruitful collaboration within Groupe Primonial, would join La Banque Postale Group. Groupe Primonial would remain linked to LFDE by the ongoing commercial partnerships, which are enjoying great success. We are extremely proud of LFDE and its teams. The history we wrote together has brought a lot to all of us.”
Bettina Ducat, Chief Executive Officer of La Financière de l’Échiquier, says: “By joining LBP AM, LFDE would enter a new stage in an entrepreneurial history that began more than 30 years ago. Within Groupe Primonial since 2019, the profile of LFDE has been greatly enriched, successfully developing both geographically but also with new products and towards new customer segments. LBP AM is a solid player with great ambitions. It intends to capitalize on the LFDE brand by relying on its managers and employees, while preserving the autonomy and agility that have always characterized this company.”
La Banque Postale Group and Groupe Primonial announce that they have concluded today a memorandum of understanding for the project to acquire 100% of the capital and voting rights of La Financière de l’Échiquier (LFDE).
The signing of the final agreements by La Banque Postale Group and Groupe Primonial is subject to prior information and/or consultation of the relevant employee representative bodies and should take place during the second quarter of 2023. The proposed acquisition is also subject to approval by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) and the Autorité de la concurrence and should be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2023.
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