La Française buys 80% stake in Forum Securities

French asset manager La Française is to take majority ownership in investment advisor Forum Securities two years after launching a strategic partnership with the parent company, Forum Partners.

Under the deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, La Française will take an 80% interest in the unit, which is currently fully owned by Forum Partners. The transfer is expected to close in the first quarter of 2016.

Forum Securities is an SEC-registered investment advisor managing private investment accounts for institutions and family offices, with an investment focus on long-only and hedged global real estate public securities strategies. The business was established in 2009 and has seven full-time employees, six of whom perform investment, advisory and research functions. Forum Securities has offices in Greenwich (US), Singapore and London.

The new integrated platform will be re-branded La Française Forum Securities and will allow Forum Securities enhanced back office and reporting capabilities as well as stronger business development and client relations support. For La Française, the deal will allow it to expand its international footprint with a presence in the US and Asian markets.

Together the firms will look to broaden their product offering to include: infrastructure/commodities, a Sharia compliant listed real estate investment fund, listed Green real estate funds, sector specific listed real estate funds and other customized strategies that meet investor demands.

The existing product line will continue to be managed by the Forum Securities team which will be reinforced to support the expected growth in offerings. Jana Sehnalova, portfolio manager within the Forum Securities team, will be the global head and managing director of La Française Forum Securities and will report to Pascale Auclair, global head of Investments of La Française Global Asset Management.

'This is a win-win scenario,' commented Philippe Lecomte, CEO of La Française International. 'Forum Securities will gain full access to La Française resources and global fundraising capabilities. Investors will benefit from a broader real estate investments product line, and La Française will further expand its international development and footprint, by gaining solid exposure to the US and Singapore markets. Real estate, both listed and unlisted, is occupying an increasingly significant percentage of investor asset allocations.'