Kepler Capital Markets (‘Kepler’) is pleased to announce an important development which relates to its Equity Brokerage business line. Kepler has agreed to enter into an exclusive strategic alliance* with UniCredit, a leading European bank, for Cash Equity research and execution services for Western European equities. The rationale for the strategic alliance is that UniCredit has decided to appoint Kepler to support UniCredit’s Equity Capital Markets (ECM) business in the following areas:
- Equity research and provision of analyst reports for Western European ECM and all other UniCredit units
- Exclusive distribution of Western European ECM transactions worldwide
UniCredit selected Kepler as its exclusive partner for cash equity research and execution services due to the strength of Kepler’s research product and distribution platform. Kepler is convinced that its broad and award-winning research coverage of 460 stocks by 50 analysts will help UniCredit to maintain and strengthen its relationships with its corporate borrowers and issuers.
This strategic alliance has been designed to combine UniCredit’s lending and ECM relationships with Kepler’s research expertise and long-standing relationships with institutional investors. As part of the alliance, Kepler will add coverage of an additional 48 stocks which means that Kepler will have the most extensive research coverage footprint in Continental Europe (ex Scandinavia).
It should be noted that the alliance does not include other asset classes such as equity derivatives or fixed income.
Jean-Pierre Mustier, Head of CIB at UniCredit, stated ‘We have decided to create a strategic alliance for Western European equities with Kepler because of Kepler’s outstanding reputation for the quality of its equity research and distribution. There are important similarities between our two companies: both UniCredit and Kepler share a multi-local strategy and both firms share a strong European heritage. We are convinced that UniCredit’s clients will benefit from Kepler’s expertise and strengths.’
Laurent Quirin, CEO of Kepler, adds ‘We are proud to be associated with one of Europe’s leading banks. We see this strategic alliance as an opportunity to broaden our research footprint and to develop our new issues distribution in conjunction with UniCredit.’
About Kepler Capital Markets
Kepler Capital Markets is a leading independent European financial services company specialised in intermediation and advisory services. The company is majority owned by employees and management. In April 2011, Kepler announced the entry of investors who have taken a 47% stake in the company: la Caisse des Dépôts, Gruppo Banca Leonardo, Crédit Mutuel Arkéa and BlackFin Capital Partners. The group consists of 360 employees. Kepler is active in equity research and brokerage, fixed income, derivatives, structured products and corporate finance. KCM has built a reputation for the quality and independence of its research and intermediation via its multi-local platform in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Geneva, London, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Zurich and New York.
For further details, please go to: www.keplercapitalmarkets.com
About UniCredit Corporate & Investment Banking
UniCredit is a major international financial institution with strong roots in 22 European countries and an overall international network present in approximately 50 markets, with about 9,500 branches and approximately 160,000 employees. In the CEE region, UniCredit operates the largest international banking network with around 3,900 branches and outlets.
UniCredit's Corporate & Investment Banking gives companies, from mid-size Corporates to multinationals and institutional clients, access to the largest network of banks in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as to branches in major financial centers worldwide. The successful collaboration between our network’s relationship managers and specialists in our product lines (Financing & Advisory, Markets, Global Transaction Banking) enables UniCredit to respond promptly to our clients’ entrepreneurial requirements. Thus, UniCredit supports the growth and internationalization of the Group’s corporate and institutional clients, creating sustainable value for all stakeholders.
Press Enquiries
Kepler Capital Markets
Robert Buller (Head of Media Relations)
tel. +33 (0) 1 53 65 65 79
robert.buller@keplercm.com
UniCredit
Claudia Bresgen
tel. +49 89 378-25554
claudia.bresgen@unicreditgroup.de
*Subject to approval of regulatory authorities