Affiliated Managers Value Stock - Dividend - Research Selection

Description of the company

We are a global asset management company with equity investments in leading boutique investment management firms, which we refer to as our “Affiliates.” Our innovative partnership approach allows each Affiliate’s management team to own significant equity in their firm and maintain operational autonomy. Our strategy is to generate shareholder value through the internal growth of existing Affiliates, as well as through investments in new Affiliates, and additional investments in existing Affiliates. In addition, we provide centralized assistance to our Affiliates in strategic matters, marketing, distribution, product development and operations. As of December 31, 2016, our aggregate assets under management were $688.7 billion (approximately $727 billion pro forma for investments which have since closed or are accounted for on a lag basis) in over 550 investment products across a broad range of active return-oriented strategies and distribution channels.

We hold meaningful equity interests in each of our Affiliates. In certain cases, we own a majority of the equity interests while in other cases we own a minority of the equity interests. In all cases, Affiliate management retains a significant equity interest in their own firm. Affiliate management equity ownership (along with our long-term ownership) aligns our interests, enhances Affiliate management equity incentives and preserves the opportunity for Affiliate management to participate directly in the long-term future growth of their firms. Our innovative partnership approach provides Affiliate management with a degree of liquidity and financial diversification and ensures that our Affiliates maintain investment and operational autonomy in managing their businesses, as well as their unique entrepreneurial culture and independence.

Given our long-term partnership approach, when we own a majority of the equity interests in an Affiliate, we address the ongoing succession planning issues facing the Affiliate’s principal owners as they transition incentives to future generations by facilitating the transfer of equity over time to the next generation of Affiliate management. When we own a minority of the equity interests in an Affiliate, we typically do not have an obligation to repurchase Affiliate equity interests, but may make additional investments to further facilitate Affiliate ownership transition.

Although we invest in boutique investment management firms that we anticipate will grow independently, given our partnership approach, we enhance our Affiliates’ growth prospects by providing access to the resources and scale of a global asset management company.

We are focused on investing globally in investment management firms that manage active return-oriented strategies, including traditional, alternative and wealth management firms. We identify high-quality boutique firms based on our thorough understanding of the asset management industry, and we have developed long-term relationships with a significant number of these firms. Within our target universe, we seek strong and stable boutiques that offer active return-oriented strategies, such as alternative strategies and global equity strategies. These boutiques are typically characterized by a strong multi-generational management team, entrepreneurial culture and commitment to building longer-term success.

We anticipate that we will have significant additional investment opportunities across the global asset management industry, most often in independent investment management firms, but also investments resulting from subsidiary divestitures, secondary sales and other special situations. We are well-positioned to execute upon these investment opportunities through our established process of identifying and cultivating investment prospects, our broad industry relationships and our substantial experience and expertise in structuring and negotiating transactions. We have a strong, global reputation as an outstanding partner to our existing Affiliates, and are widely recognized in the marketplace as providing an innovative solution for the succession and strategic needs of boutique investment management firms.

Investment Management Operations

Through our Affiliates, we provide a comprehensive and diverse range of active return-oriented strategies and products to assist institutional, retail and high net worth clients worldwide in achieving their investment objectives. As of December 31, 2016, we managed $688.7 billion (approximately $727 billion pro forma for investments which have since closed or are accounted for on a lag basis) in predominantly alternative strategies and global equity strategies. Our Affiliates’ generally do not manage passive indexing strategies, exchange traded funds, fixed income or money market products, which typically carry lower fee rates than active return-oriented strategies.

Our Affiliates’ investment services and products are distributed by sales and marketing professionals developing new business through direct sales efforts and established relationships with consultants and intermediaries around the world. Our global distribution platform operates in key markets to extend the reach of our Affiliates’ own business development efforts and provide the necessary resources and expertise to ensure that our Affiliates’ products and services are responsive to the evolving demands of the global marketplace. We have offices in Sydney, serving investors in Australia and New Zealand; London, serving investors in the UK and continental Europe; Zurich, serving investors in Switzerland; Dubai, serving investors in the Middle East; and Hong Kong, serving investors in Asia. In addition, we have retail distribution platforms through our wholly-owned subsidiaries, AMG Funds, LLC in Greenwich, Connecticut and AMG Funds PLC in Dublin, Ireland, which provide retail investors with access to our Affiliates’ investment services through registered investment companies and a family of UCITS funds.

Our Affiliates currently manage active return-oriented strategies in over 550 investment products, including for non-U.S. clients in more than 50 countries.