Manulife IM to acquire London-based alternative credit manager CQS

Founder Michael Hintze steps back

Manulife Investment Management has signed an agreement to acquire the London-based multi-sector alternative credit manager CQS, under undisclosed financial terms.

Once the deal is closed in early 2024, the Toronto-headquartered asset manager will absorb CQS' credit platform, which holds $13.5bn in assets under management.   The firm will retain the CQS investment philosophy and process and distribute its offerings to broader client segments and geographies, while CQS will benefit from the firm's "strong capital base" to support growth across its strategies, it said.    First Sentier Investors takes majority stake in European alternative credit boutique Paul Lorentz, president and CEO at Manulife IM, said: "CQS brings to our portfolio a prove...