The global life insurance-based wealth solutions provider will improve access to U.S. private markets for institutional investors worldwide.

Lombard International on Wednesday announced a beefed-up institutional practice strategy across the major global wealth hubs in Asia, Europe, and Latin America, given the growing appetite for U.S. private markets.

The team is headed by financial services veteran John Fischer, who leads a multi-disciplined team of senior executives. Jason Tsui, managing director, will lead the distribution strategy in Asia, with senior managing director Juan Job taking charge of Latin American operations and Peter Coates, who recently joined the group as global director of Institutional Solutions leading EMEA.

Growing Appetite

Group chief executive officer Stuart Parkinson noted that Institutional Solutions, which focuses on improving global access to U.S. private markets for institutional investors such as pension funds, corporations, sovereign wealth funds, foundations, endowments and funds of funds, has been one of the key drivers of the firm's growth.

However, non-U.S. investors who want to invest in U.S. private markets often encounter significant issues with market access, after-tax returns and reporting burdens. At the same time, U.S. managers would like to partner institutional investors outside the country, but face challenges with access and cost.

«As markets remain volatile and uncertain, the institutional appetite for U.S. private markets is increasing. Despite recent events, financial markets remain globally connected, and non-U.S. institutional investors in particular continue to be a key driver of asset flows into U.S. private equity, private debt and real assets,» Michael Gordon, the firm's U.S. CEO and global COO, said in the announcement.

Global Reach

Founded in 1991, Lombard International specializes in wealth structuring solutions for institutions and high net worth individuals. As of June 30, 2020, the firm had $53.1 billion in assets under administration.

Headquartered in London, and with entities in Luxembourg and Philadelphia, the firm's global team numbers over 500, including more than 60 technical experts. It opened offices in Hong Kong and Singapore in 2016.