GERMANY – Investment consulting and wealth management firm Feri Finance has agreed to intensify its asset management and investment product tie with independent financial advisor MLP.

MLP said the two firms had signed an agreement aimed at deepening their 12-year relationship. That relationship entailed Feri developing investment products that MLP distributed to both private and institutional clients in Germany.

"Beyond this, MLP is considering taking a stake in Feri Finance AG. Both
firms aim to make decision on this in the second HALF of 2006,"
Heidelberg-based MLP said.

Added Michael Stammler, chief executive of Feri Finance: “We have cherished our relationship with MLP for years and we see great potential in the new agreement.”

Feri Finance comprises Feri Institutional Advisors (FIA), a leading investment consultant, Feri Wealth Management and Feri Rating & Research.

Last summer, FIA lost four investment consultants, three of whom defected to international consultant Watson Wyatt, which opened an office in Frankfurt. IPE first reported that one these three, Torsten Köpke, was recruited by Watson Wyatt to head the new Frankfurt office.

However, FIA says these consultants have all been replaced, adding that last year’s high turnover had no effect on its business with institutional investors.

FIA employs 20 professionals who advise the investors on traditional and alternative asset classes, including private equity, hedge funds, commodities and structured products.

FIA also says that the institutional clients it advises – among them German pension funds – have between €250bn and €270bn in assets.

Feri Wealth Management manages more than €6bn in assets from high net worth clients, while Feri Rating & Research provides market and investment product analyses for more than 1,000 clients.

All told, Feri Finance has 180 employees and had sales of €35m in 2005. It is based in the Frankfurt suburb of Bad Homburg.

Topics