Phoenix Group launches first VC fund
Phoenix Group , the UK’s largest long-term savings and retirement business, announced the launch of its first dedicated Venture Capital fund called Phoenix Venture Capital Partners. The initial allocation is in excess of £100 million.
Developed and administered with its strategic asset management partner Aberdeen Standard Investments, the fund will predominantly invest in early-stage, UK-based startups and businesses, with a thematic ESG approach within a number of sectors including Fintech, Green Energy, and Healthcare.
The investments made through the newly created Venture Capital fund will help businesses to scale up their companies and enable them to focus on growing out their workforce, whilst giving them access to the expertise that they require.
“We are pleased to have made an initial allocation to Venture Capital for our policyholder funds, which we see as a key enabler to helping Build Britain Back Better whilst providing our policyholders with a diversified source of sustainable returns. The new Venture Capital fund will support Healthcare, Green Energy and FinTech entrepreneurs up and down the country, providing them with the capital and the expertise they need to level up and grow their businesses. Subject to market conditions, we intend to increase this allocation in due course as we see this as an attractive asset class, consistent with our policyholder’s objectives and values.” – James Mitchell, Head of Manager Oversight, Phoenix Group.
“We are delighted to collaborate with Phoenix to develop this new Venture Capital fund which enables Phoenix policyholders to access Venture Capital opportunities, particularly those focused on ESG themes. Our Venture Capital team, which has a very strong track record of raising assets, will be managing the fund and targeting high-quality venture capital managers. “The fund’s creation benefitted from the recent insurance permitted-link changes, making this an innovative long-term investment strategy for the Phoenix policyholder and With-Profits books that have committed capital to the fund.” – Aileen Mathieson, Global Head of Insurance, Aberdeen Standard Investments.
