Geneva-based global wealth and asset manager Lombard Odier Investment Managers (LOIM) announced an agreement to acquire Dutch sustainable investment-focused asset manager Ownership Capital.
The acquisition will bring LOIM’s sustainable investment offering to over $10 billion in assets under management (AUM). According to LOIM and Ownership Capital, the transaction comes as broadening market conditions and the continued need for sustainable solutions is creating a resurgence in sustainable, global equities.
Based in Amsterdam, Ownership Capital was founded in 2008 as an in-house portfolio within the Dutch pension fund PGGM, and spun out in 2013 to provide investment services to other pension funds, foundations, and endowments. The firm utilizes a long-term investment focus, aiming to deliver superior long-term returns based on an approach built on deep analysis of material sustainability factors and active ownership engagement to catalyze corporate and sustainability improvements. The firm’s investment team is led by Founding Partner and Chief Investment Officer Otto van Buul.
Jean-Pascal Porcherot, Managing Partner of Lombard Odier Group and Co-Head of LOIM, said:
“The integration of Ownership Capital is a sign of our continued commitment to sustainable investing, and our conviction in investment approaches supported by deep research. The financial significance of root issues facing our economic model continue to be misunderstood by markets, creating investable opportunities that we believe Otto’s team and its long-term and engaged ownership approach is supremely well-placed to understand.”
Ownership Capital will be integrated into LOIM’s wider sustainability business, with LOIM highlighting the opportunity to strengthen each firms’ offerings through combination of capabilities including LOIM’s research, analysis of system changes to a more sustainable economy, and its expert networks, and Ownership Capital’s deeply engaged ownership and research approach, as well as the ability to complement LOIM’s existing sustainability-focused offerings, which include strategies focused on decarbonization, and thematic offerings around climate, nature and social opportunities, as well as more diversified sustainable global equities strategies.
van Buul said:
“Lombard Odier shares our forward-looking perspective on sustainability and long-term value creation. This partnership is a natural alignment of philosophies, and we are confident it will enhance our collective investment capabilities.”
