General Atlantic has agreed to acquire Actis, creating a diversified, global investment platform with approximately $96bn in combined assets under management. 

Financial terms for the transaction are not being disclosed.

With approximately $12.5bn in AUM, Actis has a track record of delivering competitive returns for institutional investors and positive impact for the countries, cities, and communities in which it operates. 

Actis, a firm with more than 140 investment professionals across its 17 global offices and over $25bn in capital raised since inception, backs structural themes that support long-term, equitable growth in critical infrastructure across the energy transition, digital transition, and supply chain transformation.

Under the terms of the agreement, Actis will become the sustainable infrastructure arm within General Atlantic’s global investment platform. 

Actis will continue to be led by its Chairman and Senior Partner, Torbjorn Caesar, and will retain independence over its investment decisions and processes with its funds operating under the existing Actis brand.

Torbjorn Caesar, Chairman and Senior Partner of Actis, said: “We are very excited to be joining forces with General Atlantic. The combined firm brings together distinct but highly complementary strategies that unlock long-term value for our investors across key structural themes including the energy transition and digital transition. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Both firms also have a hands-on approach to building businesses and platforms, and a shared commitment to sustainability.”

General Atlantic was founded in 1980 and has deployed more than $60bn in global growth companies. 

In addition to its flagship growth equity strategy, the firm’s investing activities span credit and climate solutions.

Together, Actis and General Atlantic will be uniquely positioned to unlock opportunities for investors that lie at the intersection of the energy transition, digitization, and the shift in economic dynamism to growth markets and beyond. Furthermore, this partnership reinforces Actis and General Atlantic’s similar cultures and investment philosophies.

Bill Ford, Chairman and CEO of General Atlantic, commented: “Addressing the global paradigm shift toward sustainability requires an economic transformation and a capital investment on a massive scale. With the addition of Actis, we are taking a significant step forward to add a sustainable investment capability which positions General Atlantic to capture this opportunity set for our investors.” 

“Torbjorn and the Actis team have built a business recognized for its talent, domain expertise, and commitment to investment excellence. This transaction brings together two highly complementary firms and enhances General Atlantic’s global investment platform with greater scale, broader strategies, and deeper and more local capabilities for deal sourcing and company building.”

Gabriel Caillaux, Co-President, Head of EMEA, and Head of Climate of General Atlantic, said: “We have a shared commitment to deploying capital in sustainable infrastructure and the energy transition in the decades to come. The acquisition of Actis extends our global footprint and diversifies our offering with an experienced investing team that has built a business on core tenets that align with ours: a thematic approach to investing, focus on innovation and company-building, and long-term orientation. We look forward to creating value for our investors and management teams.”

Michael Harrington, Chief Investment Officer of Actis, said: “As active builders and operators embedded in local markets, we are excited to team up with a firm that shares our investment ethos and approach. This partnership has the potential to enhance our offering through our combined expertise, networks, and geographical scope.”