Threadneedle Investments will rebrand its business as Columbia Threadneedle Investments in the first half of 2015, coinciding with Threadneedle’s move to a new London head office at Cannon Place.

The new global brand will merge the asset management capabilities, reach and resource of Threadneedle and its US-based affiliate Columbia Management.

"This is an important new phase for Threadneedle and for our clients. As affiliated firms, Threadneedle and Columbia have been increasingly working together over the past two years to increase the breadth and depth of our offering to clients," said Campbell Fleming, CEO of Threadneedle. "Presenting the combined capabilities of both firms under a single brand is the natural next step."

Columbia Management has AuM of $358bn (at 30 Sept 2014) and is the 11th largest manager of long-term mutual fund assets in the US. Together,Threadneedle and Columbia have £316bn ($505bn) in AUM across developed and emerging market equities, fixed-income, multi-asset solutions and alternatives (including UK property).

Both Columbia and Threadneedle are owned by leading US financial services firm Ameriprise Financial and together form the 30th largest global asset management group.

"In a world where financial markets and economies are increasingly interconnected, having a strong established investment capability in Europe, the US and Asia is a considerable advantage. Over recent years we have deliberately fostered an environment of information sharing and debate between Columbia and Threadneedle, which has given our portfolio managers a significantly stronger global research platform and a rich seam of ideas and analysis," said Mark Burgess, chief investment officer at Threadneedle.

"Our investment teams remain true to their respective styles and processes, however the sharing of research globally allows us to make better use of our investment ideas and talent, enhancing the ‘Perspective Advantage’ that is core to Threadneedle’s investment philosophy."

“Clients globally benefit from our combined research ideas and insights, trading techniques and portfolio strategies and from the strength, stability and resource of our parent company, Ameriprise Financial," said Ted Truscott, CEO global asset management of Ameriprise Financial.