Amundi adds to fixed income expertise

French asset manager Amundi has announced the purchase of Smith Breeden Associates, which will become Amundi Smith Breeden, with the existing management team remaining in place.

The acquisition was described by Amundi as a major step towards its goal of creating a global fixed income platform with regional expertise. In particular, Amundi Smith Breeden will give Amundi US dollar products for its institutional clients in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and will strengthen the US component of the firm’s global fixed income expertise. At the same time, the newly acquired firm will get access to Amundi’s client base worldwide, and its global investment and research capabilities. Amundi is the largest European asset manager and the ninth largest worldwide, with total assets under management of approximately €750 billion.