As one of Europe’s leading financial centres, Frankfurt offers excellent conditions for internationally active investment firms. The comprehensive ecosystem prompted LBP AM to expand its presence in Germany in a targeted manner and to open an office in Frankfurt. The French investment firm is a subsidiary of La Banque Postale, which ranks 12th in the eurozone by total assets, and is among the world’s leading sustainable asset managers according to the latest Responsible Investment Brand Index (RIBI). With the establishment of LBP AM Germany, it is strengthening its activities in the German market – with a particular focus on private markets solutions through its own brand, LBP AM European Private Markets. The company positions itself as a long-term financing partner for the real economy via so-called private market debt, i.e. loans granted directly by investors to companies and projects outside the traditional banking system.
LBP AM’s establishment was facilitated with the support of FrankfurtRheinMain GmbH International Marketing of the Region (FRM GmbH) and will be supported in future by Wirtschaftsförderung Frankfurt GmbH.
Mike Josef, Mayor of the City of Frankfurt am Main and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of FRM GmbH: “LBP AM’s decision to open a new office in Frankfurt am Main once again underlines the appeal of our financial centre. International asset managers find a dynamic environment and excellent infrastructure here. The fact that LBP AM, another renowned player with a clear focus on sustainable investments, has chosen Frankfurt is an important signal for the future viability of our location.”
LBP AM was founded in 1988 and focuses on the professional investment and management of assets for institutional and private investors. Today, the company is part of La Banque Postale and ranks among the leading asset managers in France. LBP AM, including its subsidiary LFDE, employs around 370 staff and manages assets of more than €72 billion. The Private Markets division, founded in 2012, has invested more than €9 billion across Europe through nearly 320 transactions with a team of 50 experts. LBP AM EPM has been investing in Germany for more than ten years.
The company’s investment approach is consistently geared towards sustainability: in addition to traditional economic criteria, LBP AM also takes environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into account in all investment decisions. The aim is to generate stable returns over the long term whilst simultaneously driving positive economic and social change. With this focus, LBP AM offers a wide range of open-ended funds as well as expertise in bespoke solutions and mandates – for both listed and unlisted investments.
“With our branch in Frankfurt, we are strengthening our ties with German companies, investors and partners. Germany is a key growth market for us – particularly with its strong SME sector and the high investment needs arising from generational change and sustainable transformation. With the opening, we have also welcomed two experienced executives: Thorsten Göttel, Sales Director European Private Markets for the DACH region, and Investment Director Alexander Schäfer. He focuses on identifying investment opportunities in a market that is increasingly opening up to private debt,” says Isabelle Luy-Landès, Head of Corporate Direct Lending at LBP AM European Private Markets.
At its Frankfurt office, LBP AM Germany will initially focus on private market investments, with an emphasis on corporate direct lending to finance SMEs, as well as infrastructure and real estate financing within the private credit sector. In doing so, the company is responding to the growing demand for flexible and bank-independent financing solutions.
“The Frankfurt RheinMain region has been a preferred location for French companies for years and has a very active French business community. LBP AM’s decision once again confirms the international appeal of our location. The region also offers excellent development prospects in the field of sustainable and alternative investments,” said Eric Menges, CEO of FRM GmbH.
FRM GmbH supported LBP AM throughout the entire relocation process – from location advice and regulatory matters to networking with relevant partners in the region’s financial and business ecosystem.