BNP Paribas Investment Partners has unveiled its 2020 strategic plan, setting out a series of targets, including adoption of the BNP Paribas Asset Management brand this June. 

The company says that it intends to strengthen its position as a leading asset manager, and increase its assets at a rate of 5% per year. 

It will adopt the BNP Paribas Asset Management (BNPP AM) brand on 1 June, in order to better reflect its new strategy and simplify its organisation.

In line with its strategic objectives, BNPP AM is pursuing the implementation of an original investment platform, adapted to developments in the asset management sector and in particular to the increasing polarisation of supply, between passive products with low margin and high value-added products, alpha generators. The challenge is to sustainably generate long-term performance improvements within the framework of rigorous risk management and taking into account the ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) criteria. To achieve this, BNPP AM relies on strong proprietary research methods and recognised capabilities in quantitative, passive and active management, including its well-established equity and bonds management platforms. The company also capitalises on smart beta expertise, multi-asset solutions and private debt. 

BNPP AM wishes to develop for its institutional clients innovative and high value-added investment solutions, combined with advisory and risk management services. The company also designs annuity products for individual savers to finance their retirement. It also offers digital services platforms for distributors, and intends to accelerate its digital transformation via strategic partnerships with fintechs, in the fields of robo-advisor, smart coding and artificial intelligence. 

As part of an ambitious transformation plan, BNPP AM's organisation, governance and management offerings will be simplified for which a management team specialising in private debt and real assets was set up under the direction of David Bouchoucha. 

It covers the entire spectrum of private debt management financing companies or real assets, including Infrastructure and Real Estate. BNPP AM is also planning to bring together the teams of THEAM, Multi Asset Solutions and CamGestion, which will be headed by Denis Panel, current CEO of THEAM. This new entity will combine the best of quantitative and fundamental management, to capture market share in the smart beta and multi-asset solutions, segments of the growing industry.

The company wants to capitalise on its positions in Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg but also in emerging markets, as well as accelerate its development in three key markets: Germany, China and the United States.

In addition to the services dedicated to companies, central banks and sovereign wealth funds, the company is expanding its range of options for insurers and pension funds.

Frédéric Janbon, CEO of BNP Paribas Asset Management, said, "Our objective is clear: to capitalise on our strengths to become a leader in offering innovative and high value-added investment solutions, for individual savers, businesses and institutional investors. We invest in our platform to improve sustainably, efficiency and agility, a guarantee of our future growth. By simplifying our operational model and our range of funds, we will always have high quality products and solutions at the right price. We are fully confident in our renewed ability to achieve our growth objectives“.