Private markets: finding the optimal path for growth
With 60/40 portfolios coming under pressure, is it time to consider an allocation to private markets?
The value of investments, and the income from them, can go down as well as up and an investor may get back less than the amount invested. Past performance is not a guide to future results.
£13.0bn/€14.5bn/$16.9bn AUM and we hold over 400 advisory board seats. We offer a huge range of private equity solutions for our clients, having raised over 100 vehicles, backed over 500 private equity general partners (GPs) and having made over 1,000 fund commitments.
Source: abrdn, all data as at 31 December 2021.
We have over 40 private equity professionals globally, bringing invaluable on-the-ground insight and expertise.
Head of Strategy Innovation – Private Equity, abrdn
Based in Edinburgh, Alistair is Head of Strategy Innovation at abrdn Private Equity Europe and joined the firm in 2008. Alistair is a member of abrdn Private Equity Europe’s Investment Committee, Senior Management Team and ESG Committee. He is responsible for sourcing, evaluating and executing private equity investments, principally direct co-investments and secondary investments. Alistair leads abrdn Private Equity Europe’s coverage of the French and European growth markets. Alistair is portfolio manager for several investment mandates and also serves on the Advisory Boards of a number of leading private equity funds.
Alistair has an MA (Hons) in Modern Languages from Oxford University and is a qualified solicitor.
Deputy Head of Secondaries – Private Equity
Head of Co-Investments
Co-Head of Private Equity USA
Senior Investment Director – Private Equity
Karin is a Senior Investment Director and member of abrdn’s Private Equity Operating Committee. She is responsible for sourcing, evaluating and executing co-investments and secondary transactions. Karin has been with abrdn since 2006. In this time, Karin has developed strong relationships with European private equity and private debt funds, with a particular focus on UK funds.
Karin holds a BA (Hons) in International Business and Modern Languages from the University of Strathclyde.
Co-Head Global Venture Capital
Head of Primary Investments
Head of Europe - Private Equity
Merrick joined the company in 2014 and is based in the Edinburgh and London offices. abrdn's European Private Equity business, with over €8bn AuM, encompasses primary and secondary fund investments and co-investment activities undertaken by a team of over 30 investment professionals. Merrick is Head of Europe and a member of the abrdn Private Equity Investment Committee.
An Australian, Merrick has over 25 years’ experience in the European private equity industry. Prior to joining abrdn, Merrick was Head of European Investments and Senior Partner of Macquarie’s Private Markets division. Previous roles include 13 years as a Partner and Investment Committee member of Primary Capital (the London-based, lower mid-market private equity firm) where he was responsible for leading, originating and managing numerous private equity investments in the UK. Merrick holds Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws degrees from the University of Queensland.
Merrick is a regular speaker at private equity conferences, and is a member of Invest Europe’s Limited Partner Council.
Head of Secondaries
Co-Head Global Venture Capital
Co-Head of Private Equity USA