Accessor Capital Joins Forces with Forward Management

On Thursday, San Francisco’s Forward Management LLC unveiled its latest plan to acquire Seattle’s Accessor Capital Management LLC.

While the deal is pending shareholder approval, it would provide investors with a variety of 34 mutual funds and create a combined family of funds worth over $5 billion in assets under management.

Forward Management includes a group of 16 mutual funds and markets a range of separately managed accounts, and Accessor Funds includes six lifestyle funds as well as a newly launched Strategic Alternatives fund. Both firms are privately held and have a strong commitment to the individual investor and share a similar mentality when it comes to the investment process.

“Forward and Accessor are like-minded companies, with product offerings that are well aligned," said J. Anthony Whatley, president and founder of Accessor Capital Management. “This is an incredible opportunity to bring two companies together for a mutually beneficial outcome."

Forward Management’s President J. Alan Reid Jr. is equally optimistic about the future saying, “The addition of the Accessor Funds to the Forward family diversifies our product offerings, including our alternatives strategies, and we are excited about the opportunities.”

Currently there are no plans to re-brand or re-label Accessor Funds, and although CUSIP number will change, all fund names and ticker symbols should remain the same. As for Whatley’s next move, he will continue as Vice Chairman and direct the Investment Policy Committee.