Principal Global Investors LLC today announced a definitive agreement to acquire a 74 percent stake in Origin Asset Management LLP for approximately $66 million.

Origin is a global equity specialist based in London. The firm, founded in 2005, has approximately $3 billion in assets under management in global and international equities. Origin partners will retain a 26 percent stake in the business. The transaction is expected to close in October, pending regulatory approval.

It’s the third acquisition announced this year as part of Principal Financial Group’s Inc.’s 2011 capital deployment strategy.