Piper Sandler Launches European Equities Trading with New Strategic Paris Office

Quick Summary

Piper Sandler has officially launched equities trading in Europe, establishing a new strategic hub in Paris. Following regulatory approval in France, the firm now holds passporting rights across the continent, allowing European institutional clients seamless access to its top-ranked U.S. equity research and execution capabilities.

How is Piper Sandler Expanding its Equities Trading in Europe?

Piper Sandler is aggressively scaling its European market presence by opening a dedicated office in Paris and appointing key industry veterans to lead the charge. Ben Allen, Head of Sales and Trading for Piper Sandler Europe, will oversee the new location, supported by senior strategic hires Louis Renaudie and Louis Carpentier. These individuals bring deep experience from major institutions like BNP Paribas and Edmond de Rothschild.

• Eight professionals have been hired as part of the broader European expansion plan.
• The firm recently established a presence in Zurich, Switzerland to anchor its regional growth.
• The Paris office will serve as a primary hub for institutional equities distribution.

What Regulatory Approvals Has Piper Sandler Europe Secured?

The firm has successfully navigated the European regulatory landscape, securing formal approval from the Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution (ACPR) and the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) in France. This milestone provides Piper Sandler with essential passporting rights, enabling the firm to offer equities trading services to clients across the entire European Union without additional local licensing hurdles.

• Approval allows for a full range of capabilities for European institutional clients.
• The firm can now distribute its top-ranked equity research more effectively across the continent.
• Piper Sandler is currently ranked in the top 10 globally for U.S. equity coverage universe.

Why is the Paris Office Strategic for Piper Sandler’s Global Strategy?

Establishing a foothold in Paris allows Piper Sandler to bridge the gap between its dominant U.S. franchise and the growing international demand for its services. By positioning itself in one of Europe's premier financial centers, the firm can better leverage its status as the #1 liquidity provider for small and mid-cap stocks, as recognized in the 2025 Extel Study. This move ensures that European investors have direct, local access to high-conviction research and specialized execution.

“We are excited to broaden our reach and offer our leading U.S. equities franchise to European clients. This marks a significant milestone in our global equities strategy as we now have approval to trade equities for European clients and better serve them with a full range of capabilities. At the same time, the demand for our industry-leading U.S. equity research and execution capabilities continues to grow internationally,” said Deb Schoneman, president at Piper Sandler.

FF NEWS TAKE:

Piper Sandler’s move into Paris is a calculated play to capture market share in a post-Brexit landscape where European hubs are gaining significant gravity. By exporting its equities trading expertise and #1 ranked liquidity status to the EU, the firm is not just expanding geographically; it is challenging established European investment banks on their home turf. This expansion definitely moves the needle for mid-market institutional trading.