Lombard Odier’s US-based private clients will in future be advised by Vontobel Swiss Wealth Advisors AG (VSWA), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Swiss family-owned and listed company Vontobel Holding AG. VSWA, with client relationship management teams in New York, Geneva, and Zurich, is a SEC-registered investment advisor and has exempt international advisor status in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec. VSWA develops solutions for globally diversified wealth management for US investors and Canadian permitted clients.
As part of this partnership, Lombard Odier will sell its existing discretionary and advisory wealth management business with US-based clients through an asset transfer to Vontobel.
In addition, Vontobel will take over any US-based brokerage private clients who wish to switch from their previous brokerage mandate to a wealth management or advisory relationship as part of the transaction.
Lombard Odier currently manages assets of approximately CHF 600 million for international private wealth management clients based in the US and approximately CHF 600 million for private brokerage clients through a Montreal-based, SEC- registered subsidiary.
As part of the transaction, Vontobel will also integrate the Montreal-based relationship managers into the team of Vontobel Swiss Wealth Advisors in New York.
Lombard Odier and Vontobel have also entered into a cooperation agreement under which Lombard Odier will recommend Vontobel as the preferred partner to potentially future private clients based in the US seeking a highly qualified, SEC-registered Swiss wealth management solution.
Vontobel Wealth Management head Georg Schubiger said: “North America is one of our focus markets in which we intend to achieve above-average growth. With the acquisition of Lombard Odier’s discretionary and advisory wealth management business with US-based clients, we are supporting our organic growth in this region.
“We look forward to welcoming new clients, who will be able in the future to draw on the full investment expertise of an internationally active Swiss wealth manager through the advisory and investment management staff at Vontobel Swiss Wealth Advisors.”
Lombard Odier managing partner Frédéric Rochat said: “Scale and client proximity are critical to the success of today’s private banks, especially in a highly competitive market. Combining our forces is also in the best interest of our clients and our colleagues. They will have the opportunity to join an established and sizeable private banking franchise with solid Swiss roots for which North America is a core strategic market.”
Vontobel CEO Zeno Staub said: “Lombard Odier and Vontobel have a long-standing business relationship based on mutual trust, which is underscored by the agreed cooperation. We are delighted and honored that Lombard Odier will recommend Vontobel as its preferred partner to international US-based private wealth management clients seeking global diversification and a SEC-registered wealth management solution.”
The parties have agreed not to disclose the transaction price. Closing is scheduled for the first half of 2019. Vontobel will finance the transaction entirely from its own funds. Once the acquisition is completed, Vontobel will continue to have a strong equity base that by far exceeds regulatory requirements.
Source: Company Press Release
