When the four-way merger of Baring Asset Management, Babson Capital, Wood Creek and Cornerstone was finalised on September 12, a few questions remained: was it really worth merging, what cuts might be made and why call it Barings?

Tom Finke, the new man in charge of the combined group, is candid on all three. He believes the move will help spur a resurgence in the group's multi-asset business by fostering greater collaboration between the firm's fund managers. Cuts are inevitable, but minor. And the Barings brand was by far the best known.