Amundi, the European leader1 in asset management with € 1.400 trillion in assets under management2, innovates with a private debt fund for professional investors, backed by physical stocks in iconic Italian food products such as Parma and San Daniele ham, and Parmesan cheese. Created within Amundi’s real and alternative assets business line, the fund invests in private bonds in which the yield and value are guaranteed by the stock from several producers and aims to deliver an attractive annual return over six years. With this fund, Amundi seeks to contribute to the financing of the real economy by supporting to Italian food producers, while meeting the needs of investors who seek diversification in a persistently low interest rate environment.
“In a context in which banks remain reluctant to finance companies given the constraints they face in terms of equity and liquidity, we have a major role to play in connecting companies with investors seeking performance and diversification in their credit portfolios. Financing the agri-food sector is a natural step for a group that has its origins in agriculture,” underlines Pedro Antonio Arias, Head of Amundi’s Real and Alternative Assets division.
Amundi’s private debt team of 12, managing €5.5 billion2 of assets under management, is responsible for structuring and managing the fund while drawing on local expertise from Amundi’s teams in Italy. In addition, Amundi has established a special partnership with the Italian subsidiary of Crédit Agricole Group. The Italian bank network contributes not only sector skills and additional credit risk analysis, but also sourcing through its very strong presence in the Italian agri-food business.
“In addition to the contacts we have developed in the sector through our local presence, nearly 50% of our sourcing comes from the Credit Agricole’s networks in Italy,” explains Pierre-Henri Carles, Head of Private Debt, Amundi, Italy. “This privileged access to Italian producers of cured ham and Parmesan cheese allows us to diversify the counterparties of bonds that we structure. Each issue is backed on average by a dozen different companies.”
Following the success of a first pilot operation in this segment, Amundi has now launched its first offering for institutional clients, with a fund raising target of €150 million.
Amundi’s Real and Alternative Assets division was launched in September 2016 and currently has €39.52 billion in assets under management with an objective to reach €70 billion by 2020.
1. No. 1 in total assets under management of management companies with their main headquarters in continental Europe - Source: IPE “Top 400 asset managers” published in June 2017, based on assets under management at 31 December 2016.
2. Data at 30th September 2017
This document is solely for the attention of journalists and professionals of the press/media sector. The information contained in this document is given solely in order to provide journalists and professionals of the press/media sector with an overview of Amundi’s investment management strategy and the use of same falls within their sole editorial independence, for which Amundi assumes no responsibility. This document is not intended for citizens or residents of the United States of America or to any “U.S. Person”, as this term is defined in SEC Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and in the Prospectus of the Fund. The « US Person » definition is provided in the legal mentions of our website www.amundi.com .
Promotional & non-contractual Information which should not in any way be regarded as investment advice, an investment recommendation, a solicitation of an investment offer, or a purchase of any financial securities.
This document is being issued inside the United Kingdom by Amundi Asset Management, with a share capital of EUR 746 262 615, Registered office : 90 boulevard Pasteur 75015 Paris France - 437 574 452 RCS Paris - which is authorised by the AMF under number GP04000036 and subject to limited regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority for the conduct of investment business in the UK under number 401883 with its registered office at 41 Lothbury, London EC2R 7HF. Details about the extent of our regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority are available from us on request.
To secure its communication, Amundi certifies its contents on Wiztrust.
You can check the authenticity on the website www.wiztrust.com
