Lombard Odier and Alpha Japan expand Japanese equity distribution

Lombard Odier Group and Alpha Japan LO am, formerly Alpha Japan Asset Advisors, have announced a strategic collaboration agreement that aligns their respective asset management and distribution capabilities.

As part of the agreement, Alpha Japan LO am has adopted its new legal name, reflecting the breadth and depth of this collaboration. In addition, Vincent Magnenat, limited partner at Lombard Odier Group, will serve on the board of Alpha Japan LO am as its representative.

Founded in 2007, Alpha Japan LO am manages over CHF 1.17 billion ($1.5 billion) in assets across long-only and long/short Japanese equity strategies. Its flagship strategy, a high-conviction, all-cap, long-only portfolio, has been recognised by multiple third-party industry awards. Since 2007, Lombard Odier has distributed this flagship strategy to its clients in Switzerland and across Europe.

Strategic collaboration agreement for reciprocal distribution and expanded reach

In Japan, Alpha Japan LO am’s licences will enable expanded distribution of Lombard Odier’s global asset management solutions to domestic institutional investors and wholesale distributors, with a focus on sustainable investment, private assets, and systematic strategies. The collaboration supports Lombard Odier’s growth in Japan as demand rises for specialised, globally diversified investment capabilities.

In Europe and the United Kingdom, Lombard Odier will actively distribute Alpha Japan LO am’s Japanese equity strategies. Interest in Japan has strengthened among pan‑European investors as the country’s weight in global equity markets has risen. A neutral allocation now typically represents 5% to 6% of global equity exposure, prompting investors to reassess both their long‑term positioning and manager selection in Japanese equities.

The strategic collaboration builds on recent momentum, including the appointment in 2025 of Lombard Odier Investment Managers and AJAA by France’s Fonds de Réserve pour les Retraites (FRR), the country’s public pension reserve fund, for a CHF 137 million ($153 million) decarbonised Japanese equities mandate.

Jean-Pascal Porcherot, managing partner at Lombard Odier Group and co-head of Lombard Odier Investment Managers, said: “This new chapter strengthens our long-standing commitment to Japan by combining Alpha Japan’s deep investment expertise with Lombard Odier’s pan-European distribution and global investment capabilities. Together, we will deepen access for European investors to a best-in-class pure-play Japanese equities capability, while expanding our ability to serve Japanese institutions and distributors with differentiated asset management solutions across sustainable investment, private assets and systematic strategies.”

Michel Amsellem, founder and chairman at Alpha Japan LO am, said: “For nearly two decades, our focus has been to generate value for clients through a local, disciplined, high-conviction approach to Japanese equities. Partnering more closely with Lombard Odier is a natural next step: it broadens our reach in Europe through an established distribution network, while enabling us to connect Japanese investors with Lombard Odier’s unique investment capabilities. We remain fully committed to our investment philosophy, team culture and client outcomes.”

Re-disseminated by Wealth and Society