(Reuters) – Wealth manager AMP Ltd said on Monday that U.S.-based Ares Management Corp was interested in buying a 100% stake in its asset management arm’s private markets business, at the end of a 30-day exclusivity period between the two parties.
AMP said it and Ares continued to work towards a potential deal, with Ares showing interest in buying the entirety of the private markets businesses, against an initial plan for Ares to buy a 60% stake for A$1.35 billion ($1.03 billion).
Under the earlier plan, AMP would retain 40% of the AMP Capital unit, which deals in infrastructure and real estate investments, with the joint venture between the two companies valued at A$2.25 billion.
Prior to that, Ares had withdrawn a A$6.36 billion takeover proposal for the whole company, instead continuing talks over AMP Capital – considered its most valuable unit.
The wealth manager has seen its value plunge in recent years after a banking royal commission revealed widespread misconduct by the company, leading to an exodus of clients even as other scandals came to light.
Just last week, a media report said AMP’s CEO was resigning, forcing the company to reiterate twice that he had not quit, although it confirmed succession-planning discussions were on, raising questions about its leadership stability.
($1 = 1.3089 Australian dollars)
(Reporting by Rashmi Ashok in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Cooney and Daniel Wallis)
