MADISON, WI--(Marketwired - Apr 22, 2014) - Madison Asset Management (parent to Madison Investment Advisors) today announced plans to partner with the Toronto-based international growth equity team of Hansberger Global Investors, Inc. (Hansberger), manager of $4 billion in assets. The international growth team will retain its investment autonomy while gaining an equity stake in its new business. Hansberger is a wholly owned subsidiary of Natixis Global Asset Management. Upon closing of this transaction, the international growth team will operate as a stand-alone affiliate of Madison Asset Management called Hansberger Growth Investors, L.P. 

"A key attraction to partnering with Madison is their history of independence, both in terms of business metrics and thinking," noted Hansberger international growth's Chief Investment Officer Tom Tibbles. "We're very much looking forward to this next chapter for our team, where we can concentrate on our investment strategy, gain a direct ownership interest in our business and utilize the operational and distribution support of Madison."

The international growth team, led by Chief Investment Officer Tom Tibbles, has been working together since 1996, and with Hansberger since 1999. The Madison organization was founded in 1974 and is an independent, employee-controlled investment firm. Combined assets under management following this transaction are projected to exceed $20 billion and the combined firm will have 110 employees, approximately half of whom are investment professionals. 

"The international growth team's bottom-up, risk conscious equity approach is a perfect match for Madison's long standing approach to high-quality, high conviction stock investing," added Madison Chairman Frank Burgess. "This is a great opportunity for us to partner with a well-established international growth team with an outstanding record. The team brings to us a proven expertise and client base, while Madison can offer experienced operations, marketing and distribution capabilities, along with a deep team of domestic and international investment professional colleagues."

Existing clients will not experience any changes in Hansberger's investment philosophy or process, while Madison gains an additional area of investment expertise. The international growth team works primarily with institutional clients and manages the $250 million Hansberger International Growth Fund (HITGX). The Hansberger international growth approach complements Madison's existing NorthRoad International investment strategies, which have a more value, developed-world bias.

The transaction is scheduled to be completed this summer, pending regulatory approvals.

RBC Capital Markets served as exclusive financial advisor to Natixis Global Asset Management in this transaction.

About the Hansberger Growth Team:

The Hansberger Growth Team is experienced in managing international assets with $4 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2014. The team includes nine investment professionals led by Tom Tibbles, who has worked with the other two founders of the Hansberger Growth Team since 1996. Clients include foundations, endowments, corporations and public funds. The team is based in Toronto, Ontario.

About Madison Asset Management:

Madison Asset Management, the parent of Madison Investment Advisors, has been independent and employee-controlled since the founding of the Madison organization in 1974 by current chairman Frank Burgess. The Madison organization, including its subsidiaries, managed $16 billion in assets as of March 31, 2014. Madison employs a 100-person staff, including personnel at its Madison headquarters, and offices in Scottsdale, Ariz., Chicago, and New York City. Madison manages multiple asset classes in separate accounts, SMA and UMA programs as well as 21 Madison mutual funds. Clients include institutions, high-net-worth individuals, insurance companies and brokerage and credit-union based financial advisors.

About Natixis Global Asset Management

Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A. is one of the 15 largest asset managers in the world based on assets under management. Headquartered in Paris and Boston, Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A.'s assets under management totaled $867 billion (EUR 629 billion) as of December 31, 2013. Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A. is part of Natixis. Listed on the Paris Stock Exchange, Natixis is a subsidiary of BPCE, the second-largest banking group in France. Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A.'s affiliated investment management firms and distribution and service groups include: Absolute Asia Asset Management; AEW Capital Management; AEW Europe; AlphaSimplex Group; Aurora Investment Management; Capital Growth Management; Caspian Private Equity; Darius Capital Partners; Gateway Investment Advisers; H2O Asset Management; Hansberger Global Investors; Harris Associates; IDFC Asset Management Company; Loomis, Sayles & Company; McDonnell Investment Management; Natixis Asset Management; Ossiam; Reich & Tang Asset Management; Snyder Capital Management; Vaughan Nelson Investment Management and Vega Investment Managers.

References to assets under management include assets such as those found in UMA programs and other assets that are considered non-discretionary.