At yesterday’s (14th November) Mansion House speech, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP, announced that Aegon UK and NatWest Cushon, have agreed to work with the new British Growth Partnership with a view to making investments in the initial fund, as the Partnership prepares for launch in 2025, subject to regulatory approval.
Announced at the International Investment Summit, the British Business Bank will establish the British Growth Partnership, subject to regulatory approval, encouraging more UK pension fund and other institutional investment into the UK’s fastest growing, most innovative companies. The initial fund will seek to raise hundreds of millions of pounds, including a commitment from the British Business Bank, to invest in some of the highest potential opportunities in the Bank’s venture capital pipeline.
Aegon UK, a DC pensions provider with £216bn AUA[1], has agreed to partner with the British Business Bank on the launch of the British Growth Partnership, with a view to making a substantial cornerstone investment in the initial fund when launched, subject to completing commercial negotiations and regulatory and due diligence processes.
Mike Holliday-Williams, Chief Executive Officer at Aegon UK said: “In June we announced plans to 
revolutionise our largest workplace default, the £12 billion Universal Balanced Collection fund to include private market investments. This partnership with the British Business Bank further demonstrates our cutting-edge capabilities, with the aim of providing workplace savers with access to innovative investment opportunities that have previously been out of reach to DC pensions.”
NatWest Cushon, a pensions and savings provider with a DC master trust with £2.8bn AUM has committed to work with the British Business Bank on the launch of the British Growth Partnership, with a view to the Cushon Master Trust making an investment in the initial fund subject to completing commercial negotiations, regulatory, and due diligence processes, and agreement from the trustees.
Ben Pollard, CEO, NatWest Cushon said: “As a signatory to the Mansion House Compact, we see the UK 
growth agenda as a win-win. By investing in impact focused sectors and UK high growth companies, we’re helping secure better outcomes for pension savers and a better future for them and broader society. Initiatives like the British Growth Partnership are critical to giving pension schemes access to these investment opportunities.”
Both partners have also committed to continued collaboration with the British Business Bank to provide input into the development of further products that access high quality investment opportunities in UK growth assets.
Responding to the Chancellor’s Mansion House speech, Louis Taylor, CEO, British Business Bank said: “This announcement is an endorsement of the work the British Business Bank is doing to support pension funds and other institutional investors to access venture capital opportunities. We are delighted to be working with Aegon UK and NatWest Cushon as we prepare 
to launch the British Growth Partnership in 2025, demonstrating our objectives and vision for investing in growth are highly aligned.
“By unlocking hundreds of millions of pounds of domestic investment for the UK’s high growth businesses through the creation of the British Growth Partnership, the UK can capture the full commercial potential of its world class breakthrough technology companies while providing a legacy for future generations of pensioners.”
New Chief Investment Officer Appointed
These commitments follow the recent announcement that the British Business Bank has appointed Leandros Kalisperas as its first Chief Investment Officer, with responsibility for all of the Bank’s investment activities. His appointment comes less than a month after the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for Business and Trade announced that the Bank’s £7.9bn of commercial programmes will be put on a permanent footing, with greater flexibility to respond to market need.
First Managing Partner for British Growth Partnership Appointed
Further, to facilitate the creation of the new British Growth Partnership, the Bank has established a new entity, BBB Patient Capital Advisory Services, and Ian Connatty has been appointed as its first Managing Partner, leading its regulated investment advisory and fundraising activities.