Aberdeen Asset Management (“Aberdeen”), a leading global asset management firm, is further developing its alternatives business on the one year anniversary of its acquisition of diversified private markets manager FLAG Capital Management LLC (“FLAG”) with the promotion of John Dickie to Co-Head of U.S. Private Equity, alongside Scott Reed, and the appointment of Whit Matthews.

Matthews joins Aberdeen’s U.S. Private Equity team as Senior Investment Manager, strengthening the private equity investment capabilities of the firm’s global alternatives division, which has grown to $32 billion of assets under management as of today.

Over the past year Aberdeen has integrated its private capital teams to form a group that covers all of the world’s leading financial centers spanning the U.S., Europe and Asia, each of which are markets where Aberdeen has extensive experience and on the ground expertise.

Aberdeen has long been known for the quality of its research and for being one of the truly global asset managers with 38 offices. The over 50 person strong private equity team now combines the deep resources of this global platform with the boutique investment capabilities of FLAG.

Graham McDonald, Head of Private Equity at Aberdeen, said:
“It was only one year ago when Aberdeen completed its acquisition of FLAG. Since then, we have maintained exceptional momentum expanding our global alternatives platform. John Dickie’s promotion, Whit Matthew’s appointment, and the integration of our U.S., Asian and European investment operations are evidence of that. We have built a platform that takes the boutique capabilities of FLAG in attractive areas, such as U.S. lower mid-market private equity and venture capital, and provides clients access to specialized, hard to access and difficult to scrutinise private equity fund managers around the world.”

“We’ve got an environment in private equity at the moment where valuations are very high. There are opportunities out there, especially at the smaller end of the spectrum, but investors have to work much harder to find them. That involves a lot of scrupulous homework and having skilled people on the ground who can navigate the less efficient segments of the landscape.”

Scott Reed, Co-Head of U.S. Private Equity at Aberdeen stated:
“John Dickie is a first class investor with deep middle market experience as well as extensive manager relationships. He has made significant contributions to the expansion of our co-investment program, increasingly important to investors looking at private markets.”

“Whit Matthews brings more than a decade of private equity investment experience in both primaries and secondaries, and is a great addition to the seasoned private markets team we have in place at Aberdeen.”

John joined Aberdeen in 2015 as a Senior Investment Manager with the firm’s acquisition of FLAG, where he served as a Principal focusing on middle market private equity investments. He is a member of Aberdeen’s U.S. investment committee. Dickie was previously a Principal at Berkshire Partners, and also held Analyst positions at DLJ Merchant Banking and Credit Suisse.

Whit joins Aberdeen from SL Capital Partners where he served as a North America-based Investment Director who focused on both primary and secondary investments in middle market buyout funds. Previously, he was an Investment Analyst at the University of Pennsylvania Endowment allocating capital to private equity, venture capital and hedge fund opportunities.

Reed, Dickie and Matthews are all based in Aberdeen’s offices in Boston.

Along with private equity, Aberdeen’s alternatives platform encompasses multi-manager research, selection and portfolio management for hedge fund strategies, private debt and credit strategies, property and other real asset investments, as well as direct investments in infrastructure projects.

For further information contact

James Thorneley (UK)
james.thorneley@aberdeen-asset.com
Aberdeen Asset Management
Tel: 02074636323

Katie Cowley (U.S.)
Katie.cowley@aberdeen-asset.com
Aberdeen Asset Management-US
Tel: 215-405-2423