Legg Mason, Permal to Acquire Fauchier Partners

Legg Mason

and affiliate Permal have today announced a definitive agreement to acquire Fauchier Partners, a leading European based manager of funds of hedge funds, from BNP Paribas Investment Partners. Fauchier Partners will be combined with Permal, one of the largest alternative asset managers in the world, to create an institutionally focused platform (the 'Group') with approximately $24 billion in assets under management, offices in nine locations around the world, and a global investment team based in New York, London, Paris and Singapore. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2013 and be accretive to Legg Mason's earnings in the first year, reflecting Legg Mason's ongoing commitment to create shareholder value. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.  Permal and Fauchier Partners bring together two leading institutional businesses, with a global investment reach and little crossover, operating in different markets and specializing in different areas. With extensive pension fund and insurance clients in Europe, as well as Asia Pacific, Fauchier Partners