KBC Securities and Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Banking have announced plans to combine their specialist equities activities through a new 50/50 joint venture. The proposed entity is here to operate as a Benelux-focused brokerage with added specialisation in pan-European real estate and life sciences equities. The transaction remains subject to regulatory and customary closing conditions, with completion targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026.

Under the agreement, both firms will transfer their equities-related operations into the joint venture. This includes equity research, sales, sales-trading, trading activities, and Equity Capital Markets (ECM) execution. The new platform will also act as the exclusive distribution channel for ECM transactions for the respective client bases of KBC Securities and Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Banking. Despite this consolidation, both institutions will continue to manage client coverage for ECM transactions and will independently deliver corporate finance services such as mergers and acquisitions advisory.

KBC Securities and Van Lanschot Kempen to Form Benelux Equities

For institutional investors, the joint venture will offer access to research coverage of around 230 stocks. The coverage will concentrate on companies based in the Benelux region, alongside European real estate and life sciences firms. By combining existing analyst teams and trading capabilities, the platform is going to broaden research depth and trading activity across these sectors.

Corporate clients are going to benefit from the combined investor networks of both parties. Van Lanschot Kempen brings a pan-European, US, and domestic investor base, while KBC Securities contributes a strong Western European and domestic presence. This combination is for improving liquidity, market access, and placing capacity. In addition, the joint venture will bring together services such as liquidity provision and share buyback execution within a wider geographic framework.

Executives from both groups highlighted the client-focused rationale behind the transaction. KBC Group CEO Johan Thijs described the partnership as aligned with long-term growth ambitions, while Van Lanschot Kempen’s Maarten Edixhoven pointed to shared values and client-oriented services. Leaders from both investment banking units also emphasised the goal of creating a scalable equities platform.

Financially, the transaction is expected to lift profitability for the activities involved. It is anticipated to reduce Van Lanschot Kempen’s capital ratio by around 0.25 percentage points, while having no material effect on KBC Group’s CET1 ratio. Until completion, services to existing clients will continue without change.

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