Financial services

Momentum in the financial services sector increasingly comes from agile, specialist businesses that develop innovative new routes to market and dynamic operational models.

The influence of sheer financial muscle is waning following the crisis in favour of expert execution and distribution capabilities, enabling fresh participants to earn great rewards in a sector traditionally dominated by giant banks and insurance companies.

Whether competing with financial giants, or providing them with outsourced services, our portfolio companies apply deep understanding of markets, demographics and technology to build highly-profitable businesses, with inbuilt resistance to the sector’s cyclical nature.

We currently have over €500m invested in financial services companies across Europe, Asia and North America and we are actively seeking to build on our successful 20 year record in the sector. We typically partner with financial services companies that break the mould by streamlining processes, identifying new ways to reach customers and continually adapting their model in these times of change.
Areas of current interest include:

• Asset Management: Across the globe, assets under management are seeing strong growth, as western populations prepare for longer lives and emerging markets invest the fruits of success. The sub-sector is also facing unprecedented change and opportunity following the events of the last couple of years.
• Insurance: In large parts of the world, the insurance sector remains inefficient, fragmented and remote.  Nimble operators are prospering by adopting efficient electronic models, anticipating the impact of greater regulation, and bridging the gap between capital and customers – especially in Asia, where rapidly-rising wealth is matched by the growing need for insurance products.
• Service and technology providers: In the wake of the financial crisis there is a need for greater transparency and customer service; coupled with tighter regulation, lower acceptance of risk, ever increasing trading speed/volumes and pressure to reduce costs. This is driving many institutions to seek the support of niche providers of services and technology which can increase the efficiency while controlling costs.

With a team of Financial Services investment professionals across three continents, we are well-placed to talk in depth on experience and welcome proactive discussions with traditional financial services giants, for example on the disposal or growth of non-core assets, and we are looking for opportunities to partner with niche brands or regional businesses that we can help build internationally.

 

3i wins Singapore Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (SVCA) Award

3i has been honoured by the Singapore Venture Capital and Private Equity Association with the award for Best Performing VC/PE-backed Company (Mid-Cap) for its investment in Asia Capital Reinsurance Group. The award identifies and recognises superior business performance achieved by investors and investee companies working closely together, through good times and bad times.
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