Updated with correction
Benjamin S. Thompson was named president and CEO of Fiera Capital Global Asset Management, a new U.S. asset management subsidiary of Montreal-based Fiera Capital.
Mr. Thompson is CEO of Samson Capital Advisors, a US$7.6 billion fixed-income money manager with $472 million in assets under management for foundations and endowments, and $15 million managed for pension funds. On Wednesday, Fiera announced it had agreed to acquire Samson in a cash-and stock deal, valued at US$33.5 million, that is expected to close by June 30.
After the acquisition, Mr. Thompson will lead Fiera Capital Global Asset Management, which is being created by combining Samson Capital with equity manager Wilkinson O'Grady & Co., which was acquired by Fiera in 2013, and Fiera's existing U.S. institutional distribution business. Mr. Thompson said in an interview. The combined unit will manage US$10 billion in assets and will increase parent Fiera Capital's total AUM to C$96 billion (US$76 billion).
Samson's investment strategies, which include core fixed income, municipal bonds and currency, are new to Fiera in the U.S., Mr. Thompson said. “Through our talks with Fiera over the past year, we found they were very thoughtful and deliberate in building out the business by acquiring additional investment strategies through acquisition,” he said. “The way we fit with Fiera, we think it was very well thought out.”
