Fiera Capital
{{Short description|Canada asset management company}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Fiera Capital Corporation
| logo = Fiera Capital.svg
| image = 1981 McGill College - 02.jpg
| image_caption = Headquarters at 1981 McGill College
| former_name = Fiera Sceptre
| type = Public company
| traded_as = {{TSX|FSZ}}
| industry = Investment Management
| predecessor = Elantis Investment Management
| founded = {{Start date and age|2003|07}}
| founder = Jean-Guy Desjardins
| hq_location_city = 1981 McGill College, Montreal, Quebec
| hq_location_country = Canada
| key_people = {{ubl
| Jean-Guy Desjardins (Chairman and CEO)
}}
| products =
| services =
| revenue = {{decrease}} CA$681.44 million (2022)
| operating_income = {{decrease}} CA$94.32 million (2022)
| net_income = {{decrease}} CA$31.52 million (2022)
| aum = CA$164.2 billion (June 2023)
| assets = {{decrease}} CA$1.33 billion (2022)
| equity = {{decrease}} CA$346.88 million (2022)
| num_employees = {{increase}} 850+ (2022)
| website = {{URL|www.fieracapital.com}}
| footnotes ={{cite web |title=2022 Annual Report |url=https://ir.fieracapital.com/wp-content/uploads/page/12/fiera-capital-annual-report-2022.pdf |website=Fiera Capital}}{{cite web |title=2022 Financial Statements |url=https://ir.fieracapital.com/secure-documents/earning-calls/992/fsz-q4-2022-statements-en.pdf |website=Fiera Capital}}
}}
Fiera Capital Corporation (Fiera) is a Canadian asset management company headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. The company has expanded through a series of acquisitions. It invests in multiple asset classes which are in both public and private markets although the majority of its assets are in public markets. North America is its biggest region with the majority of its investments being in Canada and the United States.
Outside North America, it also has offices in Europe and Asia.
History
In July 2003, Fiera International Inc. (a wholly owned company of Jean-Guy Desjardins) came to an agreement with Desjardins Group to spin off Elantis Investment Management to form a new asset management firm named Fiera Capital. 70% will be owned by Fiera International while 30% would remain with Desjardins. It started with CA$5 billion in assets under management (AUM).{{Cite web |title=The biggest Canadian fund company you've never heard of |url=https://www.wealthprofessional.ca/news/industry-news/the-biggest-canadian-fund-company-youve-never-heard-of/182732 |access-date=October 7, 2023 |website=www.wealthprofessional.ca |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=August 5, 2003 |title=Desjardins launches new firm, partners with Fiera |url=https://www.advisor.ca/news/industry-news/desjardins-launches-new-firm-partners-with-fiera/ |access-date=October 7, 2023 |website=Advisor's Edge |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=October 26, 2012 |title=Fiera keeps growing |url=https://www.investmentexecutive.com/newspaper_/front-page/fiera-keeps-growing/ |access-date=October 7, 2023 |website=Investment Executive |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=October 1, 2008 |title=Fiera introduces alternative strategies for retail clients |url=https://www.investmentexecutive.com/newspaper_/news-newspaper/news-46211/ |access-date=October 7, 2023 |website=Investment Executive |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Critchley |first=Barry |date=September 4, 2013 |title=Behind Fiera's rise to money manager with $74-billion under management |url=https://financialpost.com/news/fp-street/behind-fieras-rise-to-money-manager-with-74-billion-under-management |website=Financial Post}}{{Cite news |date=June 17, 2010 |title=Sceptre aims to regain lustre with Fiera merger |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/funds-and-etfs/funds/sceptre-aims-to-regain-lustre-with-fiera-merger/article4322221/ |access-date=October 7, 2023}}
In 2005, Fiera started launching alternative strategy products with its first one being a market neutral strategy. The decision to do so was made as many traditional firms did not offer such strategies to investors at the time.
In October 2005, Fiera acquired Senecal Investment Counsel to increase its institutional investment strength.
In February 2006, Fiera acquired YMG Capital to increase its strength in private wealth-management. Ater the acquisition, Fiera AUM increased to CA$26 billion.
In September 2010, Fiera merged with publicly listed company, Sceptre Investment Counsel, to form Fiera Sceptre, a listed company on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Fiera would control 60% of the new company and the AUM of it would be around CA$30 billion.{{Cite news |date=June 16, 2010 |title=Fiera Capital to buy Sceptre Investment |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/cbusiness-us-sceptre-fiera-idCATRE65F49V20100616 |access-date=October 7, 2023}}{{Cite web |date=June 15, 2010 |title=Sceptre, Fiera announce merger |url=https://www.benefitscanada.com/news/sceptre-fiera-announce-merger/ |access-date=October 7, 2023 |website=Benefits Canada.com |language=en}}
In early 2012, Fiera acquired Natcan Investment Management, the asset management subsidiary of National Bank of Canada. Fiera paid CA$309.5 million in cash and shares to National Bank leading to it having a 35% stake in Fiera. Fiera's AUM increased to CA$54 billion which was almost double its previous size. Around the same time Fiera rebranded from Fiera Sceptre back to Fiera Capital.{{Cite web |last=Lam |first=Eric |date=February 27, 2012 |title=Fiera to buy National Bank's investment unit for $309.5-million |url=https://financialpost.com/news/fp-street/fiera-to-buy-national-banks-investment-unit-for-309-5-million |website=Financial Post}}{{Cite news |date=December 11, 2012 |title=Fiera adds $8-billion in assets, this time from UBS |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/streetwise/fiera-adds-8-billion-in-assets-this-time-from-ubs/article6190305/ |access-date=October 7, 2023}}
In October 2012, Fiera acquired Canadian Wealth Management Group, a subsidiary of Société Générale. By this time, Fiera had multiple offices in Canada and had also expanded into the United States with offices in Boston and New York with more than 250 staff being employed by the company. Since launching its first office in Boston in 2011, Fiera now looked towards expanding its operations in the United States.
In January 2013, Fiera acquired UBS Asset Management's Canadian operations for CA$52 million. The deal was for CA$8 billion worth of fixed-income, equity and balanced funds. This came at a time UBS as cutting its workforce and needed to raise US$16 billion in capital. The deal was considered even more profitable for Fiera than its Natcan Investment Management acquisition. At the same time, Fiera acquired several alternative asset management funds containing CA$570 million of assets from GMP Capital for CA$10.75 million.{{Cite news |date=January 18, 2013 |title=GMP Agrees to Sell Funds to Fiera Capital for C$10.75 Million |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-01-18/gmp-agrees-to-sell-funds-to-fiera-capital-for-c-10-75-million |access-date=October 7, 2023}}
In October 2013, Fiera acquired Los Angeles-based wealth-management firm Bel Air Investment Advisors LLC and New York-based investment manager Wilkinson O’Grady & Co. for CA$156.3 million. Prior to this, all of Fiera's acquisitions were done in Canada. The two acquisitions were done to help Fiera expand in the United States. CA$8.5 billion was added to Fiera's AUM.{{Cite news |date=September 3, 2013 |title=Fiera Agrees to Buy Bel Air, Wilkinson O'Grady in U.S. Expansion |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-09-03/fiera-agrees-to-buy-bel-air-wilkinson-o-grady-in-u-s-expansion |access-date=October 7, 2023}} In January 2021, Fiera sold Bel Air Investment Advisors to Hightower Advisors and sold Wilkinson Global Asset Management (a new entity consisting of Wilkinson O’Grady & Co's assets and employees) to Wilkinson Capital Partners.{{Cite web |last=Benjamin |first=Jeff |date=January 4, 2021 |title=Hightower acquires $8 billion Bel Air Investment Advisors |url=https://www.investmentnews.com/hightower-acquires-bel-air-200813 |access-date=October 7, 2023 |website=InvestmentNews |language=en-US}}
In September 2014, Fiera acquired Propel Capital Corporation, a provider of closed-end funds for CA$12 million.
In October 2015, Fiera acquired New York-based fixed-income investment manager Samson Capital Advisors LLC for US$31.5 million.{{Cite web |date=October 30, 2015 |title=Fiera completes Samson acquisition |url=https://www.investmentexecutive.com/news/industry-news/fiera-completes-samson-acquisition/ |access-date=October 7, 2023 |website=Investment Executive |language=en}} In November that year, Fiera announced it would expand into Japan by partnering with Nissay Asset Management, the investment management arm of Nippon Life. At the time, only long-only, global equity funds would be available as part of the arrangement.{{Cite web |date=November 9, 2015 |title=Fiera expands distribution to Japan |url=https://www.investmentexecutive.com/news/products/fiera-expands-distribution-to-japan/ |access-date=October 7, 2023 |website=Investment Executive |language=en}}
In June 2016, Fiera acquired Ohio-based growth equity manager Apex Capital Management for US$145 million.{{Cite news |date=February 29, 2016 |title=BRIEF-Fiera Capital acquires Apex Capital Management for $145 mln |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSASC08E8F |access-date=October 7, 2023}} In September that year, Fiera acquired hedge fund-of-funds and liquid alternatives manager, Larch Lane Advisors.{{Cite web |last=Baert |first=Rick |date=July 26, 2016 |title=Fiera Capital acquires Larch Lane Advisors' investment strategies |url=https://www.pionline.com/article/20160727/ONLINE/160729878/fiera-capital-acquires-larch-lane-advisors-investment-strategies |website=Pensions&Investments}} In December that year, Fiera an acquired London-based frontier and emerging market investment firm, Charlemagne Capital. Fiera was expanding into Europe and Charlemagne Capital would act as the basis of its European operations.{{Cite web |date=January 15, 2018 |title=Charlemagne Capital becomes Fiera Capital |url=https://www.internationalinvestment.net/internationalinvestment/news/3715905/charlemagne-capital-fiera-capital |access-date=October 7, 2023 |website=InternationalInvestment |language=en}}
In December 2017, Fiera acquired City National Bank 's $1.7 billion Emerging Markets Fund from its subsidiary, City National Rochdale.{{Cite web |last=Comtois |first=James |date=December 1, 2017 |title=Fiera Capital to take over City National Rochdale Emerging Markets Fund |url=https://www.pionline.com/article/20171201/ONLINE/171209975/fiera-capital-to-take-over-city-national-rochdale-emerging-markets-fund |website=Pensions&Investments}}
In March 2018, Fiera acquired Hong Kong-based private credit firm, Clearwater Capital Partners, to expand in Asia.{{Cite web |last=Kim |first=Adalla |date=March 5, 2018 |title=Clearwater taps into new sales channel via Fiera Capital |url=https://www.privatedebtinvestor.com/clearwater-taps-new-sales-channel-via-fiera-capital/ |access-date=October 7, 2023 |website=Private Debt Investor |language=en-US}} Around the same time, Fiera acquired Ontario-based CGOV Asset Management to increase its presence in the Canadian high-net-worth market.{{Cite web |date=March 23, 2018 |title=Fiera Capital to acquire Ontario investment management firm |url=https://www.benefitscanada.com/news/bencan/fiera-capital-to-acquire-ontario-based-investment-management-firm/ |access-date=October 7, 2023 |website=Benefits Canada.com |language=en}}
In March 2019, Fiera acquired private alternatives lending platform, Integrated Asset Management for $74 million.{{Cite web |date=March 22, 2019 |title=Fiera Capital acquires Integrated Asset Management in $74m deal |url=https://realassets.ipe.com/news/fiera-capital-acquires-integrated-asset-management-in-74m-deal/10030221.article |access-date=October 7, 2023 |website=Real Assets |language=en}}
In May 2019, Natixis Investment Managers acquired a 11% stake of Fiera fo CA$128 million as part of a long-term strategic distribution agreement. In January 2022, Natixis Investment Managers sold its stake although the distribution agreement still continued.{{Cite web |last=Williamson |first=Christine |date=January 13, 2022 |title=Natixis sells its stake in Fiera Capital |url=https://www.pionline.com/money-management/natixis-sells-its-stake-fiera-capital |website=Pensions&Investments}} Also in May 2019, Foresters Financial sold its asset management business, Foresters Asset Management, to Fiera.{{Cite web |title=Foresters to sell off Canadian asset management business |url=https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/ca/news/breaking-news/foresters-to-sell-off-canadian-asset-management-business-167461.aspx |access-date=October 7, 2023 |website=www.insurancebusinessmag.com |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.fieracapital.com}}
{{authority control}}
{{Major asset management companies}}
Category:Canadian companies established in 2003
Category:Companies based in Montreal
Category:Companies in the Nasdaq Financial-100
Category:Companies listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange
Category:Financial services companies established in 2003