Crux Asset Management (Crux), the active equity investment manager, has announced that Stephens, the privately-held US financial services, take a minority ownership stake in Crux. 

If the deal gains FCA approval Stephens will hold approximately 20 percent of Crux share capital and John Stephens, a senior vice president at Stephens affiliate Stephens Inc, will join the Crux board.

This move will enable further expansion in the UK and Asia, following on from Crux hiring Ewan Markson-Brown and Damian Taylor to its Asia equity franchise in September 2021, and then partnering with Union Bancaire Privée (UBP) to advise UBP on its Asia equity funds and mandates in March 2022.

Karen Zachary, chief executive at Crux, said: “This is a very exciting strategic step for Crux and we are delighted to be partnering with a firm of such a high calibre as Stephens and see clear synergies between our two firms. This new relationship strengthens our capital base and enables us to build out and grow our recently acquired UK and Asia strategies, and expand our distribution, widening access to our already well-established European strategy.”

John Stephens of Stephens Inc. added: “We are excited to make an investment in Crux Asset Management which, in our view, is comprised of extremely talented individuals who come together to create a cohesive and exciting team with a bright future.  We are looking forward to working with Karen and others in helping the business achieve its goal of becoming a leading, independent asset manager and the platform of choice for high quality portfolio managers with a passion for what they do."

Crux Asset Management is an active equity investment manager with £1.7 billion AUM. Stephens is a family-owned investment firm comprising the businesses of investment banking, advisory, sales and trading, research, insurance and wealth management headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA.