THEAM, BNP Paribas Investment Partners’ specialist in index, active systematic, guaranteed and alternative investment, has further reinforced its expertise and capacity in alternative management by increasing its stake from 25 to 50 per cent in Innocap, and by appointing three senior hedge fund experts to the THEAM team.
The extension of the BNP Paribas strategic alliance with National Bank of Canada shows THEAM‟s commitment to Innocap, a long-established and world-renowned provider of managed account solutions. Since 1996, Innocap has been offering various hedge funds strategies via a wide range of renowned, emerging and innovative managers while ensuring secure, transparent and liquid alternative investments.
“We firmly believe that the expertise of THEAM’s team combined with Innocap’s great capabilities and proximity to North American-based hedge funds will enable us to reach our development goals and provide valuable services to BNP Paribas clients throughout the world,” says CEO Gilles Guérin.
“BNP Paribas’ initial 25 per cent stake in Innocap established our firm as a worldwide leader in the realm of managed account solutions. The increase in Innocap’s capital constitutes an opportunity to enhance synergy with the BNP Paribas group and our international positioning,” says Innocap CEO Denis Parisien.
THEAM has also announced the strengthening of its Alternative team with the appointment of three hedge fund investment experts. Eric Debonnet will lead a Paris-based team of nine people dedicated to Hedge Fund Solutions, while Thierry de Rycke and David Gilleron will be responsible for all hedge fund investments as co-Chief Investment Officers. Based on a wide investment universe including offshore hedge funds, alternative UCITS funds and managed accounts, THEAM offers “à la carte solutions” from bespoke mandates to a full suite of services such as: infrastructure, managers‟ selection, hedge fund strategy allocation, risk management and portfolio construction. Besides mandates for institutional and wealth management clients, THEAM also manages multiple open-ended fund of funds for a total assets under management of approximately EUR 1 billion.
“THEAM aims to become an international player in liquid and transparent alternative investments. When it comes to hedge fund investments we focus on designing solutions fitting the internal resources, objectives and constraints of our clients. We also welcome the involvement of our clients at any step of the decision making process. By hiring Eric Debonnet, Thierry de Rycke and David Gilleron, we further reinforce our manager selection and portfolio construction capabilities. THEAM’s clients will strongly benefit from highly experienced people who have handled strategic positions in capital markets, asset management and hedge funds fields,” says Guérin.
