OppenheimerFunds to Acquire SNW Asset Management, Expanding into High-Quality Muni SMA
NEW YORK, March 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- OppenheimerFunds, a leading global asset manager, today announced the agreement to acquire SNW Asset Management ("SNW"), an independent firm that focuses exclusively on building and managing high quality fixed income portfolios in a customized and tax-efficient way. The transaction expands OppenheimerFunds' fixed income offering into high quality municipal bonds and customized separately managed accounts, subject to closing conditions and consents.
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"This is an exciting time for OppenheimerFunds. As with our most recent acquisitions of SteelPath and Revenue Shares, we expect that we can create significant value for all stakeholders by combining SNW's high demand investment and service engine with OppenheimerFunds' scale and national retail distribution," said Peter Mintzberg, Chief Strategy Officer, OppenheimerFunds. "We will continue to seek opportunities to evolve our products and solutions in ways that are consistent with our clients' needs."
SNW began in 2002 as a subsidiary of Seattle-Northwest Securities Corporation, specializing in U.S. dollar-denominated taxable and tax-exempt fixed income investment management, and in 2013 became an independent investment adviser. The firm has grown to $2.7 billion (as of February 28, 2017) in assets under management and serves more than 1,800 clients on a separate account, actively managed basis. Clients include registered investment advisors, high net worth investors, corporations, trusts, government entities, financial institutions and non-profit organizations.
SNW CEO and lead Portfolio Manager Eddie Bernhardt commented, "In OppenheimerFunds, we've found a firm with a philosophy and culture of excellence, collaboration and integrity, similar to ours. OppenheimerFunds' investment boutique approach will allow SNW to maintain its independence while leveraging the resources of a larger organization to continuously deliver a superior client experience, one of the pillars of our growth. We look forward to making our strategies available through OppenheimerFunds' trusted distribution channels, serving more clients, in a customized way." Bernhardt and his team will remain based in Seattle and report to Krishna Memani, Chief Investment Officer, OppenheimerFunds.
"Increasingly, wealth managers seek investment solutions that provide tax-efficient yield and capital preservation for their clients," said Art Steinmetz, Chairman and CEO of OppenheimerFunds. "We're proud to expand our muni franchise with a partner who shares our investment rigor and excellence of client service."
The acquisition of SNW is a complement to the firm's existing platform of high yield municipal bonds. The firm's Rochester franchise, with $23.4 billion in assets under management (as of December 31, 2016), is ranked #1 by Barron's in Tax Exempt Bonds for 2016.
OppenheimerFunds acquired Revenue Shares, based in Philadelphia, in December 2015, and in 2016 launched a suite of Smart Beta ETFs, including ESG offerings. In 2012 OppenheimerFunds acquired SteelPath, based in Dallas, which enables clients and their investors to participate in the income and tax advantages afforded by master limited partnerships.
OppenheimerFunds, Inc., a leader in global asset management, is dedicated to providing solutions for its partners and end investors. OppenheimerFunds, including its subsidiaries, manages more than $222 billion in assets for over 13 million shareholder accounts, including sub-accounts, as of February 28, 2017.
Founded in 1959, OppenheimerFunds is an asset manager with a history of providing innovative strategies to its investors. The firm's 15 investment management teams specialize in equity, fixed income, alternative, multi-asset, and revenue-weighted-ETF strategies, including ESG. OppenheimerFunds and its subsidiaries offer a broad array of products and services to clients, who range from endowments and sovereigns to financial advisors and individual investors. OppenheimerFunds and certain of its subsidiaries provide advisory services to the Oppenheimer family of funds, and OFI Global Asset Management offers solutions to institutions. The firm is also active through its Philanthropy & Community initiative: 10,000 Kids by 2020, reaching children with introductions to math literacy programs. For more information on the firm, visit oppenheimerfunds.com.
Shares of Oppenheimer funds are not deposits or obligations of any bank, are not guaranteed by any bank, are not insured by the FDIC or any other agency, and involve investment risks, including the possible loss of the principal amount invested.
Before investing in any of the Oppenheimer funds, investors should carefully consider a fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. Fund prospectuses and summary prospectuses contain this and other information about the funds, and may be obtained by asking your financial advisor, visiting oppenheimerfunds.com or calling 1.800.CALL OPP (225.5677). Read prospectuses and summary prospectuses carefully before investing.
Oppenheimer funds are distributed by OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
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