Gateway has two new minority shareholders: Japanese financial giant SBI Holdings and former US Federal Reserve Vice Chair Roger Feguson will acquire minority stakes in Dubai-based alternative investor Gateway Partners, according to two separatepress releases (here, pdf) and (here, pdf). The financial details of the transactions were not disclosed.

SBI and Ferguson to take chairs on Gateway’s board: The acquisition will see the Japanese firm secure a seat on Gateway’s board, along with observer status on the investment committee. Ferguson will take on the role of co-chair of Gateway’s Global Advisory Council alongside current chairman Mohammed Al Shaibani, CEO of the Investment Corporation of Dubai.

SBI to invest more: In addition to the stake purchase, SBI pledged to invest in gateway’s private equity funds and help attract other Japanese investors.

WATCH THIS SPACE- Gateway will launch more funds: Looking ahead, the Dubai-based investment manager plans to introduce additional funds in 2025 to add to its existing two private equity funds, Gateway Fund I, and Gateway Fund II, and its private credit fund, Africa Credit Opportunities Fund, a JV with African Export-Import Bank. Gateway currently manages some USD 1.5 bn in investments across 25 portfolio companies.

And expand more in Japan and the US: The acquisition will help Gateway expand to Japan and the US, broadening its investor base in these developed markets. The transaction is also expected to facilitate bilateral investments, providing Japanese investors access to emerging markets while supporting emerging market investors entering Japan. SBI Group’s distribution capabilities will play a key role in this process, according to SBI CEO Yoshitaka Kitao.

REFRESHER- This isn’t SBI’s first venture into the UAE: Last year, the Japanese firm partnered with Standard Chartered’s fintech unit SC Ventures to launch a USD 100 mn digital asset joint venture firm in the UAE last November.

The story got ink in Bloomberg

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