Aestrum Group

Aestrum Group, Inc. is a Caphirian multinational investment bank and financial services holding company headquartered in Venceia. Aestrum is the largest bank in Caphiria - servicing approximately 10.73% of all Caphirian bank deposits, and the second-largest bank in the world by total assets, with total assets of $843 billion. It is also the world's most valuable bank by market capitalization.

The roots of the company can be traced to 1709 when Argentaria Aestrum was founded and obtained its first bank charter. The bank was closely associated with and has financed the oil and defense industries, having longstanding connections to Great War-era companies. The modern era of Aestrum comes after the double-acquisition of Decani Bank and Feiro Financial in 1985. Under the name Aestrum Financial, the company subsequently filed for an IPO and went public on its 280th anniversary, 1 September 1989. Following a period of rapid growth and expansion, Aestrum Financial merged all of its operating subsidiaries together and underwent a large-scale restructuring in 2002 and rebranded to simply Aestrum, Inc. The current iteration of the company was formed in after Aestrum was investigated by the [[Council of Ministers (Caphiria)
 * 1) Ministry%20of%20Justice|Ministry of Justice]] and was forced to pay $25 billion to settle investigations into its business practices pertaining to mortgage-backed securities. In order to recover from the financial blow, Aestrum raised $57.2 billion in a stock and asset sale, which funded the acquisition of several fintech companies. In 2009, the company subtly rebranded to Aestrum Group, Inc.

Aestrum Group is organized into four operating divisions, each with its own bank charter: Consumer & Retail Banking (Aestrum Bank) which is used for consumer credit card services and retail banking activities, and commercial banking; Private & Commercial Banking (Aperio Banking) which is its private banking and private wealth management firm; Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB Aestrum) which is the investment banking, asset management, treasury services, and corporate finance firm; and Asset & Wealth Management (Carbo AWM) which is its private equity and alternative asset management firm, which offers brokerage services, variable and fixed annuities, educational account services, financial planning, asset management, and trust services. Its investment banking operations often command substantial deal flow and maintain different "sell side" and "buy side" departments.

As of 2037, the asset management arm of the bank has $91 billion in assets under management, while its investment and corporate bank arm holds $1.327 trillion in assets under custody. At $64.2 billion in assets under management, the hedge fund unit of the Aestrum Group is one of the largest hedge funds in the world.

Operations
Aestrum Group is organized into four operating divisions, each with its own bank charter:
 * Consumer & Retail Banking (Aestrum Bank): Provides consumer credit card services, retail banking activities, and commercial banking.
 * Private & Commercial Banking (Aperio Banking): Its private banking and private wealth management firm.
 * Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB Aestrum): Provides investment banking, asset management, treasury services, and corporate finance.
 * Asset & Wealth Management (Carbo AWM): Its private equity and alternative asset management firm, which offers brokerage services, variable and fixed annuities, educational account services, financial planning, asset management, and trust services.

Consumer & Retail Banking
Aestrum Bank is the largest operating division of Aestrum Group, and provides consumer and retail banking services, as well as commercial banking services to individuals and businesses across Caphiria and Sarpedon. The bank is also involved in investment and asset management through its other operating divisions.Aestrum Bank has a long history of innovation in banking services. In the 19th century, the bank introduced the concept of checking accounts, which became widely adopted across the industry. In the 20th century, the bank continued to lead the industry with the introduction of ATMs and online banking services. Aestrum Bank has also made significant investments in technology, such as artificial intelligence and blockchain, to improve the customer experience and provide enhanced security and fraud prevention measures.

Originally formed in 1709 as Argentaria Aestrum, the bank was established as a wholesale bank dealing with other financial institutions and corporate clients. Over time, the bank expanded its operations to include retail banking services and commercial banking, becoming the largest bank in Caphiria by servicing approximately 10.73% of all Caphirian bank deposits. Today, Aestrum Bank offers a wide range of services, including checking and savings accounts, personal and business loans, credit cards, mortgages, wealth management, and investment services. The bank is also known for its innovative mobile and online banking platforms, which provide customers with easy access to their accounts and a variety of financial tools.

In 2015, Aestrum Bank launched the "Aestrum One Rewards" program, which rewards customers for using any of their Aestrum credit cards and banking services by giving them points that can be redeemed for travel, merchandise, and other rewards. The program has been a success, with many customers opting to use their Aestrum credit cards over other options due to the attractive rewards. In recent years, Aestrum Bank has also been recognized for its focus on sustainability and social responsibility. The bank has made significant investments in renewable energy and has committed to reducing its carbon footprint. It has also launched several community initiatives aimed at supporting education and economic development in underserved areas. Aestrum Bank would eventually create Aestrum ONE, which combined an online banking platform that provides customers with a seamless and secure banking experience. The platform has been recognized for its ease of use and advanced security features.

Today, the division is headed by CEO Maria Giustina Rossi, who has been with Aestrum for over 30 years. The division has a global presence, with operations in over 100 countries and more than 5,000 branch locations. The division has also been recognized for its commitment to sustainability and corporate social responsibility, with initiatives such as the Aestrum Green Bond Program, which finances environmentally sustainable projects.

Private & Commercial Banking
Aperio Banking is the private banking and private wealth management division of Aestrum. Founded in 1972 as Aperio Private Bank, the bank was initially focused on providing personalized and tailored banking services to high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and institutions. Over the years, Aperio Private Bank expanded its operations to serve a wider range of clients and, in 1998, it merged with Aestrum Group to become Aperio Banking.

Today, Aperio Banking offers a full suite of private banking and wealth management services, including financial planning, investment management, trust and estate planning, and philanthropic advising. The bank's investment philosophy is based on a long-term, value-oriented approach, with a focus on preserving and growing clients' wealth over multiple generations.

Aperio Banking has been recognized for its innovative approach to private banking and wealth management. The bank was one of the first in Caphiria to adopt a fee-based compensation model, which aligns the bank's interests with those of its clients by eliminating potential conflicts of interest. Aperio Banking also pioneered the use of separately managed accounts (SMAs), which provide clients with customized, diversified investment portfolios managed by a team of experienced investment professionals.The bank has a strong reputation for its commitment to excellence in client service. Each client is assigned a dedicated team of relationship managers, investment professionals, and support staff, who work together to ensure that the client's financial needs and goals are met. Aperio Banking's client retention rate is one of the highest in the industry, a testament to the bank's client-centric approach. In 2020, Aperio Banking launched its Digital Wealth Platform, which provides clients with an intuitive and user-friendly digital interface to manage their wealth. The platform integrates the bank's investment management and financial planning capabilities, allowing clients to view their portfolio performance, track progress towards their financial goals, and communicate with their team of advisors in real-time.

Aperio Banking is led by its CEO, Luciano Rossi, who has been with the bank for over 20 years. Rossi is a seasoned wealth management professional and has been recognized by industry publications for his contributions to the industry.

Corporate & Investment Banking
CIB Aestrum is the investment banking, asset management, treasury services, and corporate finance firm division of Aestrum Group. It is headquartered in Venceia, and has offices in major financial centers around the world. It provides a range of financial products and services to corporations, governments, and institutional investors around the world. Its investment banking services include mergers and acquisitions, equity and debt capital markets, leveraged finance, restructuring, and project finance. It also has a strong presence in the debt and equity capital markets, providing a wide range of underwriting, sales, and trading services to institutional clients.

CIB Aestrum is responsible for providing strategic advisory services to clients and for providing them with access to financial capital. It has long been recognized as one of the leading investment banks in the world, offering services such as M&A advisory, underwriting, securities trading, and asset management. CIB Aestrum serves a variety of clients including corporations, governments, institutional investors, and high-net-worth individuals.

CIB Aestrum can trace its roots back to the early 20th century when it was founded as the investment banking division of Aestrum Bank, as Aestrum Corporate Financing & Banking. It has since grown to become a globally recognized name in the investment banking world. In the early 2000s, Aestrum Bank's investment banking division underwent a massive restructuring process and was rebranded as CIB Aestrum to emphasize its focus on corporate and investment banking. CIB Aestrum operates in several key areas, including mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, treasury services, and asset management. It provides a wide range of services to clients such as IPOs, bond issuances, securitization, debt financing, equity financing, and structured finance. The company also provides investment advisory services, portfolio management, and risk management services to its clients.

CIB Aestrum has been involved in several notable transactions and advisory mandates. In 2019, the division was involved in the $100 billion acquisition of a major oil and gas company by an Audonian sovereign wealth fund. The company also played a key role in the initial public offerings of several major tech companies, including a major social media platform and a ride-hailing service. In addition, CIB Aestrum has been recognized for its innovative approach to investment banking and has received several awards for its contributions to the industry.

The division has a strong presence in the Caphirian market, where it is a leading underwriter of government bonds and corporate debt, and has also made significant inroads in international markets. In 2020, CIB Aestrum was ranked as the top investment bank in the Caphiria and the third largest investment bank in the world by revenue. The division is led by CEO Marcus Geminus, who has been with the bank for over 35 years and has held a variety of senior positions in investment banking.

Asset & Wealth Management
Carbo AWM, also known as Carbo Asset & Wealth Management, is the private equity and alternative asset management division of Aestrum. It was formed in 2009 as a part of the large-scale restructuring of Aestrum following its financial crisis, and is headquartered in Venceia. It is one of the largest alternative asset managers in the world, with over $500 billion in assets under management. Its flagship hedge fund, Carbone Capital, is one of the largest in the world, with over $60 billion in assets under management. Carbo AWM provides a range of financial services such as brokerage services, variable and fixed annuities, educational account services, financial planning, asset management, and trust services. It serves as a wealth management firm, specializing in high net worth individuals and institutional investors. The division operates globally, with offices in key financial centers such as Urceopolis, Calaine, Cape Town, and Collinebourg.

Carbo AWM's investment philosophy emphasizes a disciplined approach to investing, with a focus on diversification, downside protection, and long-term value creation. The division invests in a wide range of asset classes, including private equity, real estate, credit, and hedge funds. It is known for its expertise in alternative investments, with over 70% of its assets under management allocated to alternative assets. One of the division's key areas of expertise is in private equity investing. Carbo AWM has made numerous successful investments in private companies, such as a large stake in the Caphirian-based technology company Valtari, which has since gone public and become a major player in the global tech industry. The division also has a track record of investing in emerging markets, particularly in Audonia, where it has made significant investments in infrastructure, real estate, and consumer-focused businesses.

Carbo AWM has been recognized for its innovative approach to investing, particularly in the use of data analytics and machine learning to make investment decisions. The division has developed proprietary algorithms that help to identify attractive investment opportunities and to optimize portfolio construction. It has also invested heavily in technology infrastructure, such as cloud computing and big data platforms, to support its investment operations. In addition to its investment activities, Carbo AWM is also known for its commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations. The division has established a dedicated ESG team, which is responsible for integrating ESG factors into the investment process and for engaging with portfolio companies to promote responsible business practices.

Carbo AWM is led by Marco Carbone, who has been with the firm since its founding in 2009. Carbone is known for his expertise in private equity investing and has been recognized as one of the top fund managers in the world. Under Carbone's leadership, Carbo AWM has made significant inroads in the alternative investment space, launching several new investment products and expanding into new markets around the world.

Corporate governance
Aestrum Group's board of directors is comprised of twelve members, including the chairman, CEO, and independent directors. The current chairman of the board is Luciano De Luca, and the current CEO is Alessio Ricci.

The company is committed to corporate responsibility, environmental sustainability, and social responsibility. It has been recognized for its efforts to promote gender equality in the workplace, as well as its commitment to renewable energy and reducing its carbon footprint.