Private Banks

“This partnership offers us a new arsenal of investment options. We also gain access to BlackRock’s technology and data. Our partner’s scale allows us to lower costs for our clients,” says Ludivine Pilate, CEO of Belgian private bank Puilaetco in an interview with Investment Officer.

Quintet Private Bank, headquartered in Luxembourg and operating across Europe, on Thursday said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager. The agreement will extend Quintet’s investment capabilities, significantly strengthening its ability to meet the long-term needs of its clients while retaining full control of all its investment decision-making.

The association representing Luxembourg’s banking industry has claimed success in its lobbying effort to persuade the EU to amend the rules governing the prudential requirements and the supervision of third-country branches to its satisfaction. The association said Thursday that a series of subsequent amendments preserve the attractiveness of the EU as a financial centre towards the rest of the world.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions. This applies also for well-intended regulations on environmental, social and governance. Because of the growth of ESG-focused investments in recent years, a new problem pops up: the risk of greenwashing. 

Crédit Agricole, ABN Amro, and “one or two Swiss private banks” have been named as finalists in the bidding process for the acquisition of Belgian wealth management and investment bank group Degroof Petercam, French business daily Les Echos reported on Friday, citing multiple sources.

Swiss private bank Pictet has decided to move its European headquarters to Frankfurt, relocating the function from Luxembourg. The grand duchy has served as the main European hub of the Geneva-based private bank for about three decades.

The  bank said that its former Pictet & Cie (Europe) S.A. “transferred its registered office from Luxembourg” to Frankfurt per 26 May “by way of a cross border conversion from a Luxembourg Societé Anonyme into a German Aktiengesellschaft.”

Given the increasing complexity of financial markets, private banking clients in Luxembourg, especially younger groups, are more willing to seek out financial advice than clients elsewhere in Europe, according to the Luxembourg edition of EY’s Global Wealth Report released on Thursday.

Belgium’s largest independent private bank, Degroof Petercam, is considering a major reshuffle of its ownership structure that could potentially lead to a new majority shareholder. Some of the existing owners, mainly Belgian noble families but also undefined “financial partners”, have indicated they want to sell their shares.

A deal could be worth more than one billion euro. Belgian state-controlled financial group Belfius, Credit Agricole, ING Groep and Royal Bank of Canada are reported as being possible bidders.  

Referring to a “challenging year”, Belgian investment house Degroof Petercam on Saturday said that its operating income fell 16 per cent last year on the back of a decline in commission income. The drop was mitigated in part by higher interest margins.

The bank, which has a major presence in Luxembourg as asset manager, posted 106.7 million euro in operating income for 2022, down from 126.6 million a year earlier. The privately held company did not provide a breakdown of this income.

Banque Havilland, a Luxembourg private bank owned by British property developer David John Rowland, has sold its depository and custody business for an undisclosed amount to Spain’s Banco Inversis as part of a new strategy in which it fully focuses on private banking.