Acadian Asset Management Strengthens Presence in Australia

BOSTON, June 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Acadian Asset Management LLC, a firm specializing in active global and international investing, today announced that it is purchasing Colonial First State Investments Limited's 50 percent holding in Acadian Asset Management Australia (Acadian Australia) to take the business wholly owned.

Acadian Australia was established in 2005 as a joint venture between Acadian LLC and Colonial First State to manage Australian equity portfolios using the Acadian quantitative process. Taking the business wholly owned is a natural evolution following the increased integration between the Australian and global Acadian businesses over the last few years.  Acadian Australia took on institutional business development in Australia for Acadian's global business in 2012 and David Walsh, Acadian Australia's Head of Investments, was appointed to Acadian LLC's Global Investment Policy Committee in 2013.

Acadian Australia Chief Executive Officer Andrew Hair will continue to lead the local operation and will remain a member of the Acadian Australia Board.

"We're delighted with the development of the Acadian business in Australia under the stewardship of Andrew Hair," said Churchill Franklin, Chief Executive Officer of Acadian LLC. "Since 2012, the assets under management of both Acadian Australia's equity business and Acadian LLC's Australian clients have more than doubled to around A$4.5 billion."

Acadian LLC's purchase further aligns Acadian Australia's investment and client service teams and systems to its core operating model around the world.

Mr. Franklin added: "We continue to offer our clients strong - and often tailored - investment solutions for their requirements. Our 100 percent ownership of Acadian Australia means our clients will benefit from the increased alignment with Acadian around the world."

About Acadian Asset Management LLC

Acadian Asset Management LLC invests on behalf of institutional investors such as pension funds, endowments, governments and foundations, as well as individual investors.  As of March 31, 2015, the firm managed over $72 billion. The firm uses an innovative array of disciplined, quantitative investment techniques and analytical models for active stock selection as well as country, sector and currency valuation. Acadian's strategies include managed volatility, emerging markets, global equity, small-cap, long/short, market neutral, and non-US equity strategies.  For more information on Acadian, please visit www.acadian-asset.com.

SOURCE Acadian Asset Management LLC