The European asset manager said the move will allow it to develop these areas of expertise to serve investors’ needs for performance and diversification.

Amundi is bringing together its capabilities in real and alternative assets in one platform, with plans to double the €34 billion ($38 billion) in assets that it already manages in this area by 2020.

The integrated business comprises real estate, private debt, private equity, infrastructure and alternative multi-management, bringing together 200 investment professionals in origination, structuring and management.

With low correlation to traditional assets, Amundi said the illiquidity premium of its alternative investment strategies is attractive in the current environment of low interest rates and market volatility. According to recent research by PwC, by 2020, 38 per cent of institutional investors envisage reallocating part of their portfolio to private debt, 44 per cent to infrastructure, and 51 per cent to private equity.

Through the new platform, Amundi will offer institutional and individual investors the option of investing directly in real assets with dedicated solutions or via collective solutions with co-investment or multi-management funds. 

“Amundi’s power, infrastructure and financial strength are all major advantages allowing us to give European and Asian investors transparent, institutional-quality investment solutions in real and alternative assets,” said Eric Wohleber, Amundi’s head of real and alternative asset sales.