United investments with Benetton for Aberdeen Standard

Aberdeen Standard Investments and Italian businessman Alessandro Benetton’s private equity firm 21 Partners have announced the establishment of a new UK-based 50:50 joint venture.

Announcing the tie-up, the former chairman of the Benetton Group and Benetton Formula said 21 Aberdeen Standard Investments Limited (21ASI) will see Aberdeen Standard Investments launching a direct €1 billion private equity fund later this year.

The investment strategy for the fund will target active non-controlling interests with a focus on providing patient capital for the long term. The fund aims to support and facilitate growth in companies without owners ceding majority stakes in their business.

Beyond funding, 21ASI will provide portfolio companies with the support to help them manage challenges including managing their growth, the potential for disruption within their industry, and those posed by succession and generational changes in their companies.

The geographical focus for the fund will be on Europe and the fund term will be up to 15 years. The fund will also target opportunistic transactions or special opportunities which are time sensitive and with a shorter term investment horizon.

Investments will be identified by 21ASI, its JV partners and other stakeholders. 21ASI will be based in its own offices in London with an initial team of six people. The Board of the JV will be led by Alessandro Benetton with the members drawn equally from both JV partners.

Alessandro Benetton, founder and managing partner of 21 Partners, said: “I’m excited about launching this initiative with an outstanding partner that shares the values that have always characterized our investment activity. Creating sustainable value for companies requires increasingly more time and an industrial approach. I believe that this innovative fund represents the perfect combination of factors to help entrepreneurs and companies face the challenges that the market poses without changing the control of companies.”

Aberdeen Standard Investments co-chief executive Martin Gilbert, said: “The joint venture is a powerful combination of a team led by one of the most reputable figures in the private equity industry combined with our own expertise in that area and a global footprint which will greatly enhance the marketability of the product. This is an exciting opportunity to provide a direct private equity offering to our clients. There is a clear demand from them for private markets products which offer attractive returns and important diversification.”