Van Lanschot Kempen

Van Lanschot Kempen
Name	Van Lanschot Kempen
Type	Public company
Industry	Banking, Asset Management, Private Banking, Investment Banking
Founded	1737
Headquarters	's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
Key people	Richard Reuser; Kees van Dijkhuizen
Revenue	(see Financial performance)
Assets	(see Financial performance)
Website	(official website)

Van Lanschot Kempen is a Dutch independent wealth manager and merchant bank with roots in the 18th century. The firm provides private banking, asset management, investment banking and fiduciary services to high-net-worth individuals, families, institutions and corporations across Europe. It operates within a competitive landscape that includes legacy banks, boutique asset managers and global investment banks.

History

Founded in 1737 in Breda by a family of private bankers, the firm evolved through the Dutch Republic, the Napoleonic Wars, and the industrialization of the Netherlands. During the 19th century it expanded services alongside institutions such as the Bank of England, Société Générale, and Deutsche Bank, while navigating the economic cycles associated with the Long Depression and the growth of London Stock Exchange. In the 20th century the bank adapted to changes spurred by events including World War I, World War II, the formation of the European Union, and the creation of the Eurozone, aligning with contemporaries like ABN AMRO, Rabobank, and ING Group. Post-2000 reforms and market consolidation saw the firm engage with regulatory frameworks emanating from the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, the European Central Bank, and De Nederlandsche Bank. In the 21st century, it diversified into asset management and investment banking amid trends represented by institutions such as Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, and Morgan Stanley.

Corporate structure and governance

The company is listed on Euronext Amsterdam and follows codes influenced by the Dutch Corporate Governance Code and directives from European Commission legislation. Its governance features a supervisory board and an executive board consistent with the two-tier model used by firms like Shell plc and Unilever. Key executive roles have included CEOs and CFOs with prior experience at ABN AMRO, Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse, and BNP Paribas. Major shareholders historically included family offices, institutional investors such as BlackRock, Vanguard Group, and regional pension funds comparable to APG, with proxy voting practices shaped by stewardship principles like those advocated by the International Corporate Governance Network and PRI signatories.

Operations and services

The bank provides private banking services delivering wealth planning, lending, and fiduciary solutions similar to offerings from Julius Baer, Lombard Odier, and Pictet Group. Its asset management arm manages strategies across equities, fixed income, multi-asset and alternative investments akin to products from Schroders, Fidelity Investments, and Amundi. Its investment banking and advisory capabilities encompass M&A, equity capital markets and debt advisory paralleling boutiques such as Rothschild & Co, Lazard, and Evercore. Client servicing is supported by technology stacks and custody arrangements interacting with platforms from Swift, Euroclear, and third-party custodians like State Street and Bank of New York Mellon. Regional operations extend into markets influenced by regulatory regimes of Financial Conduct Authority, Autoriteit Financiële Markten, and BaFin.

Financial performance

Financial performance metrics have reflected revenue streams from net interest income, fees and commissions, and investment returns, comparable to reporting practices of peers such as UBS, Credit Suisse Group, and Citi. Capital adequacy and liquidity are measured under Basel III requirements and stress-tested by authorities like European Banking Authority and De Nederlandsche Bank. The firm issues annual and interim reports aligned with International Financial Reporting Standards and engages auditors from the Big Four including Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, and EY in different periods. Market valuations have been affected by macroeconomic cycles including the Global Financial Crisis (2007–2008), the European sovereign debt crisis, and post-pandemic recovery dynamics noted alongside peers such as HSBC and Banco Santander.

Mergers, acquisitions and strategic partnerships

Over its history the firm engaged in strategic transactions and alliances to expand asset management and investment banking capabilities, mirroring consolidation trends involving Credit Suisse, UBS Group AG, and Deutsche Bank AG. Partnerships with technology vendors and fintechs reflect collaborations seen between J.P. Morgan and OnDeck, or Goldman Sachs and Apple. The company pursued acquisitions and disposals in line with sector moves by RBS Group and Intesa Sanpaolo, and formed joint ventures influenced by cross-border examples like the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group alliances. Strategic collaborations have addressed distribution, product development and sustainability, drawing parallels with initiatives by Nordea, BNP Paribas, and ING Group.

Corporate social responsibility and sustainability

The bank has integrated environmental, social and governance considerations in investment processes reflecting frameworks like the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures. It has developed sustainable investment funds and client offerings comparable to products from BlackRock, Amundi, and AXA Investment Managers, and participates in initiatives alongside organizations such as CDP, Climate Bonds Initiative, and Ceres. Engagement with the Paris Agreement targets and EU directives on sustainable finance, including the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation, informs product labeling and reporting. Philanthropic and cultural patronage has connected the firm to institutions like Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, and local cultural foundations in the Netherlands.

Controversies and legal issues

Like many private banks, the firm has confronted regulatory inquiries, compliance reviews and litigation related to tax transparency, client onboarding, and conduct, in regulatory contexts alongside cases involving HSBC Private Bank, Credit Suisse, and LGT Group. Issues have at times involved cross-border tax information exchange instruments such as the Common Reporting Standard and precedents set by litigation involving Luxembourg and Switzerland banking practices. Enforcement actions and settlements in the sector have been pursued by authorities including U.S. Department of Justice, Autoriteit Financiële Markten, and European Commission, influencing compliance overhauls similar to reforms implemented at Deutsche Bank and Rabobank.

Category:Dutch banks Category:Financial services companies established in 1737