Bank of Montreal (TSX:BMO) is rebranding its asset management business in Europe, the Middle-East and Africa (EMEA), the bank announced Thursday.
The announcement follows last year’s acquisition of U.K.-based F&C Asset Management plc, which will form the centrepiece of the newly branded business.
F&C’s institutional, intermediated retail and wholesale business will be re-branded as BMO Global Asset Management (BMOGAM).
In addition, F&C REIT, the direct property investors, will be re-branded as BMO Real Estate Partners. There will be no change to F&C’s investment trust business. No fund names are changing.
All changes are effective July 6.
The F&C distribution teams, which will now operate under the BMOGAM brand, will be responsible for distributing its full range of products, which also includes boutiques LGM Investments, Monegy, Pyrford, TCH and the new BMO Real Estate Partners.
“As part of BMO Global Asset Management, F&C’s investment capabilities and solutions represent just one dimension of what we can now offer clients. We are updating our branding to reflect that better,” said Richard Wilson, chief executive of F&C Investments and BMO Global Asset Management (EMEA).
“We will continue to centre our business around our clients, delivering consistent investment performance and reliable delivery of relevant products across Europe,” Wilson said.
“Under BMO Global Asset Management we will continue to invest in our business, building on our ambitious plans to expand our distribution team and investing in our talent. We will strengthen our teams and aim to build on our market share substantially in existing markets — such as the U.K. and Germany — as well as add coverage to additional countries,” he added.