Montreal and Hong Kong – March 1, 2018 – Fiera Capital Corporation (TSX: FSZ), a leading independent asset management firm, has announced the acquisition of Clearwater Capital Partners, LLC (“Clearwater Capital Partners”), a prominent Asia-focused credit and special situations investment firm. This strategic move significantly enhances Fiera Capital’s presence in the Asia-Pacific region and bolsters its private alternative investment strategies. Clearwater Capital Partners, headquartered in Hong Kong, brings with it a robust portfolio and a respected team, managing US$1.4 billion in assets. This acquisition positions Fiera Capital to capitalize on the growing demand for private credit investments in the Asian market.
This acquisition marks a significant step for Fiera Capital in establishing a strong foothold in the Asia-Pacific market. According to Vincent Duhamel, Global President and Chief Operating Officer of Fiera Capital, “This transaction provides Fiera Capital with a unique and valuable entry point into the Asian private credit market. Combining Clearwater Capital Partners’ extensive investment experience in Asia with Fiera Capital’s global distribution network significantly strengthens our ability to meet the increasing client demand for comprehensive credit and special situations investment solutions.” The integration of Clearwater Capital Partners is set to create a powerful synergy, leveraging the strengths of both firms to deliver enhanced value to clients.
John Valentini, Executive Vice President, Global Chief Financial Officer and President, Private Alternative Investments division of Fiera Capital, further emphasized the strategic fit, stating, “Clearwater Capital Partners is a leader in credit and special situations, and they bring to Fiera Capital a highly experienced and culturally aligned leadership team. This acquisition significantly strengthens our Private Alternative Investments division, providing a well-established platform to accelerate the growth and distribution of an enhanced suite of private markets strategies to our clients. Clearwater Capital Partners’ impressive 16-year track record of strong performance and established presence in the Asia credit space, which represents a US$50 trillion investment opportunity, makes them an invaluable addition.”
Clearwater Capital Partners operates across five key locations in Asia-Pacific and the United States, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul, Mumbai, and Connecticut. The firm specializes in three core private credit investment strategies: direct lending, stressed credit, and distressed and special situations. Since its inception in 2001, Clearwater Capital Partners has demonstrated a strong investment acumen, deploying US$5.1 billion across 352 positions and successfully exiting US$5.8 billion across 315 fully realized deals as of December 31, 2017. Looking ahead, Robert Petty and Amit Gupta will continue to lead Clearwater Capital Partners as Co-CEOs and Co-CIOs, ensuring continuity and leveraging their deep expertise to drive future success within Fiera Capital.
