Bahrain-based Investcorp, a global provider and manager of alternative investment products, has announced that it has taken a strategic minority stake in Banque Pâris Bertrand Sturdza, an independent Swiss-regulated private bank based in Geneva and Luxembourg.

The investment is in line with Investcorp’s strategy to selectively partner with companies that complement and grow both its existing client offering and international footprint, said a statement from Investcorp.

It brings the additional capability of offering Investcorp’s clients access to PB and its independent investment advice, it added.

The bank has experienced strong growth since its establishment in Geneva in May 2009, growing its assets under management (AuM) at an average yearly growth rate of 35 per cent to CHF5.3 billion ($5.4 billion) as of June 2018.

It has been providing independent investment advice and customised investment solutions to over 400 high-net-worth individuals, family offices and institutional clients mainly from Switzerland and Europe.

Following the strategic investment, the bank will be renamed Banque Pâris Bertrand SA (PB) and will remain operationally independent, said the statement from Investcorp.

With Investcorp taking on the role as a strategic partner together with minority private investors, there will be no changes to the overarching governance structure of the Bank; nor to day-to-day interactions with clients.

The investment from Investcorp will provide PB with additional support to advance its growth strategy, enabling the bank to further broaden and enhance its commercial offering to clients, it stated.

The Bahrain-based group said this investment was the latest milestone in its ambitious growth strategy to reach $50 billion of AuM over the medium term, and follows its acquisition last year of a $12 billion AuM credit management business, now known as Investcorp Credit Management.

Investcorp’s investment in PB has been approved by Finma and CSSF, the Swiss and Luxembourg financial regulators.

Commenting on the investment, Executive Chairman Mohammed Alardhi said: "Investcorp is delighted to be working with Banque Pâris Bertrand and its associates, who represent excellence in the field of private banking through their high-quality service offering and their high-performance investment solutions."

"Banque Pâris Bertrand Sturdza’s evolution since 2009 is remarkable - most noticeably for its alignment with its clients’ interests," he noted.

"Investcorp, which benefits from 35 years of direct investments in Europe and the US, has developed a specialist expertise in private equity, real estate and alternative investments, which perfectly complements the offering of PB," said Alardhi.
 
The bank was recognised last year as the best domestic Swiss Private Bank (WealthBriefing Swiss Awards) and also as the institutional clients Private Bank of the Year in Switzerland (The European Global Banking and Finance Awards).

These awards reflected the swiss bank's strong performance in 2017 across its businesses in Geneva and Luxembourg, ahead of plans to further expand its geographical reach.

"Investcorp brings unique access to one of the most attractive investor bases for private and institutional investors. The synergies between the two institutions will therefore be significant, and should be mutually beneficial for both parties," he added.

Pierre Pâris & Olivier Bertrand, Co-Founding Partners of PB, said: "Investment from new private shareholders and Investcorp showcases both the attractiveness and the unique positioning of Banque Pâris Bertrand in the private banking and fund management space - particularly regarding our wealthiest and most demanding clients."

"We are excited to welcome our new partners, who, without doubt, will contribute to the Bank’s development across multiple markets, strengthening our global reputation. We would like to thank Eric Sturdza for his support and trust since the Bank’s launch in 2009," the partners added.-TradeArabia News Service