COMBRET VENTURES is a single family office founded by rain-maker investment banker François Polge de Combret.

François is a former Secrétaire générale de l'Elysée turned a LAZARD managing partner from 1981 to the 2005's IPO. François has been a LAZARD shareholder from 1985 to 2013.

François Polge de Combret has helped many French entrepreneurs building recognized companies.

Among others, François is known for helping Bernard Arnault taking over BOUSSAC and DIOR in the 1980s or for the acquisition of YSL by KERING. François also initiated the merger of RENAULT with NISSAN.

François generated from 1990 to 2000, more than half of LAZARD's income with a slew of medium-sized operations such as:

ST DUPONT to DICKSON,

NINA RICCI to PUIG,

CELINE to LVMH,

UNGARO to FERRAGAMO,

EADS to AIRBUS,

FRANCE TELECOM to ORANGE,

ZODIAC AEROSPACE to SAFRAN,

DACIA to RENAULT.

François was then proposed to associate his name to ROTHSCHILD & Co to become a significant shareholder and to quit LAZARD.

In 2005, François left LAZARD and was to become Chairman of LEHMAN BROTHERS in Europe. Ultimately joining UBS as Vice-Chairman for Europe and a managing partner in France.

Since 2020, François' son, Augustin, is co-head of the family office's investment strategy in the stock market, private equity and early stage companies.

COMBRET VENTURES is privately owned, based in Paris, France and in London, UK.