Hayfin today announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Samsung Life Insurance (“Samsung Life”). As part of this planned initiative, Samsung Life will acquire a minority stake in Hayfin from Arctos Partners (“Arctos”), a move jointly structured by Arctos and Hayfin to broaden Hayfin’s institutional shareholder base. 

The transaction builds on Hayfin’s recently announced strategic partnership with Mubadala Investment Company (“Mubadala”) and AXA IM Prime, a business unit of AXA IM – part of the BNP Paribas Group (“AXA IM Prime”) – which saw Mubadala and AXA IM Prime each acquire a minority interest in Hayfin. Like Mubadala and AXA IM Prime, Samsung Life will support Hayfin’s investment strategies in tandem with becoming a minority shareholder. The transaction further strengthens Hayfin’s footprint in South Korea, reaffirming its commitment to clients in the region.  

The addition of a third new institutional minority shareholder represents the next stage in a coordinated post-management buyout (“MBO”) plan led by Hayfin and Arctos, with Arctos continuing to provide long-term strategic support through its Keystone platform, which provides bespoke growth capital and liquidity solutions to leading financial sponsors. The resulting shareholding has enabled the Hayfin team to become majority owners of the firm’s common equity. Completion remains subject to customary regulatory approvals. 

Tim Flynn, Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer at Hayfin, said: “This strategic partnership with Samsung Life is another strong endorsement of the franchise we have built. It completes our plan to bolster Hayfin’s shareholder base post-MBO through the addition of best-in-class institutions from across the globe onto our platform. Through establishing this partnership with Samsung, we look forward to deepening our commitment to the South Korean market, where we see investor demand for investment strategies continuing to grow.” 

Joonkyu Park, CIO of Samsung Life Insurance, said: “We are very excited to partner with Hayfin, a recognised leader in the European market, and this strategic partnership will play a vital role in the growth and global expansion of Samsung Life’s asset management business. Hayfin has built an excellent long-term historic investment track record and will continue to provide a broad array of attractive investment opportunities, further strengthening our focus on the private capital market. We look forward to supporting Hayfin’s ongoing growth alongside Arctos, Mubadala, and AXA IM Prime.”  

Hayfin today announced it has entered into strategic partnerships with Mubadala Investment Company (“Mubadala”) and AXA IM Prime, a business unit of AXA IM – part of BNP Paribas Group (“AXA IM Prime”), on behalf of one of its investment funds. As part of the agreement, each firm will acquire a minority interest from Arctos Partners (“Arctos”) in Hayfin and leverage their capabilities and expertise to support Hayfin’s investment strategies.

The transaction builds on the partnership between Hayfin and private investment firm Arctos. In February, Hayfin completed a management buyout (“MBO”) supported by Arctos via its Keystone strategy, which provides strategic partnerships to leading financial sponsors, through bespoke growth capital and liquidity solutions. The transaction facilitated the Hayfin team becoming majority owners of the firm’s common equity.

To enhance the MBO, Hayfin and Arctos jointly sought to distribute a portion of the firm’s institutional ownership to additional strategic minority shareholders. Mubadala and AXA IM Prime, alongside Arctos, will support the continued growth of Hayfin to further deliver on the firm’s long-term objectives of greater team ownership, alignment and incentivisation.

Hayfin will remain focused on generating superior and consistent risk-adjusted returns for its clients. As with the Arctos-backed buyout, the transaction will lead to no changes in Hayfin’s strategy, investment process, leadership or day-to-day operations. Completion remains subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Tim Flynn, Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer at Hayfin, said: “This is another landmark step, building on our partnership with Arctos, in what is an exciting new chapter for Hayfin. We are thrilled to welcome two best-in-class long-term partners in Mubadala and AXA IM Prime, each of whom represent strong endorsements of the platform we have built at Hayfin. Mubadala and AXA IM Prime bring unique perspectives and resources from around the globe that will support Hayfin’s ongoing growth and delivery of value for our clients, investors, borrowers and sponsors.”

“We are excited to partner with Hayfin as they embark on this new chapter of growth,” added Omar Eraiqaat, Deputy CEO of the Credit and Special Situations platform at Mubadala. “Their track record, investment discipline, and shared values with Mubadala make them an ideal fit for our long-term capital. This partnership reflects our conviction in Hayfin’s platform and leadership team and reinforces our strategy of backing high-quality asset managers that deliver value to all their stakeholders.”

Gilles Dusaintpère, Head of AXA IM Prime GP Stake investments at AXA IM said: “We are proud and excited to partner with Hayfin and to enhance our existing relationship. We fully endorse Hayfin’s development and long-term objectives of greater team ownership, alignment and incentivisation. Our investment strategy is designed to partner and align with best-in-class private markets players, and we look forward to supporting Hayfin and its team alongside Mubadala and Arctos.”