Abrdn successfully concludes the sale of its European-headquartered private equity business, amounting to €8.6 billion, to Nasdaq-listed alternative investment specialist Patria Investments. This strategic divestment, valued at €117 million, underscores Abrdn’s commitment to optimizing its portfolio and focusing on its core investment businesses.
Strategic Divestment Decision
Following a thorough strategic review of its alternatives business, Abrdn determined that reallocating capital generated from the sale would be more advantageous for enhancing its core investment businesses. The sale of the £7.4 billion European private equity division to Patria Investments represents a strategic decision aimed at streamlining Abrdn’s portfolio and aligning its resources with its strategic priorities.
Deal Completion and Background
The completion of the sale marks the culmination of a process initiated in October 2023 when Abrdn first announced its intention to divest its private equity business. This decision followed earlier explorations, including discussions with Santander’s asset management arm in February of the preceding year.
Patria Investments, headquartered in the Cayman Islands and listed on the Nasdaq, specializes in alternative investments with a predominant focus on Latin America. With assets under management totaling $40 billion, Patria covers a diverse range of investment strategies, including private equity, infrastructure, credit, public equities, and real estate.
As of March 2024, Abrdn oversees £374 billion of assets under management, reflecting its significant presence and stature in the global asset management landscape.
The sale of our European-headquartered private equity business to Patria Investments follows the sale of our US-headquartered private equity business to High Vista Strategies last year and marks another step forward in our efforts to reshape and simplify our investments business.
Rene Buehlmann, CEO investments at Abrdn