Merger creates new Australian manager.

Sara Rich

In a merger that brings together the different capabilities of two global companies, Merrill Lynch Investment Managers will now operate across both the retail and institutional markets as Blackrock Investment Management Australia.

The newly-formed asset management business is the result of a joint venture between the Australian investment manager and global company Blackrock, which was launched in New York in 1988 as a global fixed income manager.

Blackrock head of distribution in Australia Damien Frawley said the partnership combined e