Defoe Fournier & Cie.

Founded in 1824 in Paris, Defoe Fournier & Cie. began as a leading gold bullion trading house and custodian for French and Belgian colonizers. By the 1970s, it had evolved into a discreet merchant bank serving wealthy European dynasties with approximately $5 billion in capital. The firm was known for its secrecy, operating without a nameplate on its office and never soliciting business.

In the 2000s, the group expanded its global footprint, establishing a presence in New York and pursuing a merchant banking strategy focused on small and mid-cap sectors. During this period, it engaged in significant project financing, including oil drilling platforms and toll roads, and attempted a major $110 million acquisition of real estate services firm Grubb & Ellis.

Internal strategic divisions eventually led to a restructuring in 2010, where emerging company and project finance activities were spun off into Defoe Redmount. On December 30, 2016, the firm was effectively dissolved as its business and professionals were divided between Defoe Redmount and Barings. Post-dissolution activity included co-founding Adriatic Capital Partners in 2017.