Joint ventures
Link-up between US insurance company and German asset management group
A major US insurance company engaged us to acquire a German mutual funds business, in line with its world-wide policy of building up asset management activities through international partnerships and acquisitions. In close coordination with the client, we carried out a series of detailed and discreet preliminary soundings with prospective partners before agreeing exclusivity with one particular highly-rated company. Our rigorous attention to detail of all aspects of the deal, and our relationship with both parties to the transaction, proved an invaluable support in subsequent protracted but ultimately successful negotiations. The 50/50 partnership agreed by the two parties pools their mutual funds business in Europe and has resulted in a highly successful enterprise.
UK-German joint website for private investors
We advised one of the parties in bringing together two major UK and German media companies’ website portals for private investors. This built on and adapted existing services for investment institutions, meeting requirements from a more professional category of retail stock market customers. This led to establishment of a new company combining best practice in British and German management ideas, information technology and news dissemination. This sets a highly effective benchmark for future financial market services as investment and reporting standards become more harmonised throughout Europe and a new category of active retail investors gains in importance.