The alternative investments business of Credit Suisse in the Benelux has been awarded a €140 million private equity fund of funds investment mandate by the pension fund of Dutch retailer Ahold.
Ahold Pension Fund's Director of Investments, Eric Huizing, commented, "The leading position of Credit Suisse in the private equity investment field and the experience of their team made them a natural choice for this mandate. This also helps us to get more exposure in the European and US private equity markets."
"We particularly liked the collaborative nature of Credit Suisse's offering, with their private equity specialists working in partnership with Ahold Pension Fund to help develop our in-house expertise and ensure joint alignment of interests," he added.
The mandate will enable Ahold Pension Fund to create its own 'tailor-made' private equity programme with the help and expertise of the Customized Fund Investment Group ("CFIG") of Credit Suisse, which will act as the manager of the mandate.
David Russell, Managing Director in Credit Suisse's Customized Fund Investment Group, explained; "As with most of these 'tailor-made' programs established by CFIG over the last decade, the mandate will be discretionary in nature but will be based on a truly collaborative approach, involving the pension fund throughout the various steps of the investment process."
Olof K
