Amundi is launching a single platform for real and alternative assets.
Real estate, infrastructure, private debt, private equity and alternative multi-management have been combined, the Paris-headquartered firm said.
The new platform will offer investors the ability to invest directly in real assets or via co-investment and multi-management funds.
The move brings together 200 investment professionals in origination, structuring and management, responsible for €34bn in assets.
Amundi said it aims to double its funds under management in real and alternative assets by 2020.
Pedro Antonio Arias, global head of real and alternative assets, said: “We have been meticulously building our capabilities over recent years by attracting skilled teams from diverse backgrounds.
“Our aim is to further develop our capabilities based on the €34bn we already manage in this area, and to be a leading European player in real and alternative assets.”
Amundi, which has partnered with EDF on infrastructure, has made the move with the aim of serving investor’s needs for performance and diversification.
It said alternative strategies have low correlations to traditional assets and illiquidity premiums attractive during periods of low interest rates and stock-market volatility.
The firm said 38% of institutional investors envisage reallocating part of their portfolio to private debt, 44% to infrastructure, and 51% to private equity, citing a PWC report.
Amundi recently announced it is merging its real estate management arm, Amundi Immobilier, with Crédit Agricole Immobilier.
The deal – yet to be completed – will see Amundi boost its property assets under management to close to €20bn.
