SuMi TRUST and GCM Grosvenor Announce Strategic Partnership and Investment to Expand Private Markets Offerings

Rhea-AI Summary

GCM Grosvenor (Nasdaq: GCMG) and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank (SuMi TRUST) have announced a strategic partnership to expand their alternative investment offerings. The collaboration aims to capitalize on Japanese market demand for alternative investment solutions.

Key aspects of the partnership include:

• Target of $1.5 billion in additional assets under management by 2030
• SuMi TRUST's $50 million investment in newly issued GCMG Class A common stock
• SuMi TRUST's $100 million commitment to GCM Grosvenor's Elevate private equity seeding strategy in Q4 2024

The partnership leverages SuMi TRUST's strong presence in Japan and GCM Grosvenor's private markets expertise. Both firms will focus on expanding private markets assets distribution in Japan and jointly develop investment products for both companies' global client base. The companies have been collaborating since 2016 across private equity, credit, and infrastructure strategies.

Positive

• Strategic investment of $50M in GCMG stock by SuMi TRUST
• $100M commitment to GCMG's Elevate strategy
• Target of $1.5B additional AUM by 2030
• Access to Japan's large asset base through SuMi TRUST's distribution network
• Expansion of global market presence

Negative

• None.

Insights

Financial Analyst

GCM Grosvenor's strategic partnership with SuMi TRUST represents a multi-faceted growth opportunity that significantly enhances the firm's capital position and market reach. The deal's structure delivers three distinct value streams:

1. Direct capital infusion: SuMi TRUST's $50 million purchase of newly issued Class A shares strengthens GCMG's balance sheet and represents nearly 9% of the company's current $557 million market capitalization.

2. Immediate AUM growth: The $100 million commitment to GCMG's Elevate private equity strategy in Q4 2024 provides an immediate boost to fee-generating assets.

3. Long-term distribution expansion: The partnership targets at least $1.5 billion in additional AUM by 2030, leveraging SuMi TRUST's extensive Japanese client network to distribute GCMG's products.

This arrangement is particularly valuable for accessing Japan's notoriously difficult-to-penetrate institutional market, where foreign asset managers often struggle to establish distribution channels independently. By partnering with one of Asia's largest asset bases, GCMG gains a powerful local ally with "strong and various channels" to Japanese investors increasingly seeking alternative assets.

The expansion builds upon an eight-year relationship between the firms, suggesting cultural compatibility and established operational frameworks that should minimize integration challenges. For investors, this represents a strategic enhancement to GCMG's growth trajectory with both immediate capital benefits and long-term market expansion potential.

TOKYO and CHICAGO, April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tokyo-based Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank (“SuMi TRUST”), a leading trust bank, and Chicago-based GCM Grosvenor Inc. (“GCM Grosvenor”) (Nasdaq: GCMG), a leading global alternative asset management solutions provider, have announced a strategic partnership to offer clients best-in-class alternative investment products to capitalize on the attractive Japanese market demand for alternative investment solutions that add value to investment portfolios.

The strategic partnership further strengthens a long-term collaboration between the firms. The partnership will significantly expand both firms’ presence in global markets by leveraging SuMi TRUST’s strong presence in Japan and GCM Grosvenor’s decades of private markets expertise. SuMi TRUST Group collectively has one of the largest asset bases in Asia, with a particularly diverse client base in the Japanese market. The partnership aims to expand SuMi TRUST’s initiatives in private markets assets, expand the distribution of GCM Grosvenor’s private market investment products to investors in Japan, and jointly develop private markets investment products focused on Japanese markets for distribution to SuMi TRUST clients in Japan as well as to GCM Grosvenor clients globally. The two firms are targeting at least $1.5 billion of additional assets under management from the partnership by 2030.

“Our strategic plan envisions significant growth in private markets strategies through 2030,” said Futoshi Itani, Representative Director and Deputy President of SuMi TRUST. “We have a strong, long-standing relationship with GCM Grosvenor, built on trust, cultural alignment and a successful track record. They are a perfect partner to help us deliver opportunities to invest in private assets as market conditions and regulatory environments evolve. We will provide these private assets solutions to investors, through our strong and various channels.”

“We are thrilled to deepen our strong relationship with SuMi TRUST,” said Michael Sacks, Chairman and CEO of GCM Grosvenor. “Japan is a key growth market for GCM Grosvenor, with strong and growing demand for alternative investment solutions that match our firms’ investment capabilities, and SuMi TRUST is an ideal partner to capture the growth in this market together. This partnership aligns well with both firms’ strategic plans, and we are honored to be working with SuMi TRUST on this important initiative. The combination of our extensive private markets manufacturing experience and SuMi TRUST’s installed client base and distribution capabilities should enhance both of our firms’ growth rates.”

The two companies have collaborated since 2016 across private equity, credit, and infrastructure strategies. As part of this partnership, SuMi TRUST has agreed to purchase $50 million in newly issued shares of GCM Grosvenor Class A common stock and committed $100 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 to Elevate, GCM Grosvenor’s private equity seeding strategy.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited forms the core of SuMi TRUST Group, a listed trust bank group in Japan, which excels in numerous trust-related business areas, such as asset management and wealth management. SuMi TRUST Group collectively has one of the largest asset bases in Asia, including both assets under custody and assets under management. With a diverse client base ranging from pension funds and other financial institutions to individuals, SuMi Trust offers a wide range of investment products, including alternative investment solutions.

About GCM Grosvenor
GCM Grosvenor (Nasdaq: GCMG) is a global alternative asset management solutions provider with approximately $80 billion in assets under management across private equity, infrastructure, real estate, credit, and absolute return investment strategies. The firm has specialized in alternatives for more than 50 years and is dedicated to delivering value for clients by leveraging its cross-asset class and flexible investment platform. GCM Grosvenor’s experienced team of approximately 550 professionals serves a global client base of institutional and individual investors. The firm is headquartered in Chicago, with offices in New York, Toronto, London, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul and Sydney. For more information, visit: gcmgrosvenor.com.

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements with respect to GCM Grosvenor under federal securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained herein, including without limitation statements regarding the expected closing of the sale of stock by GCM Grosvenor to SuMi TRUST and the strategic partnership between the parties are forward-looking statements reflecting the current beliefs and expectations of GCM Grosvenor management made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements represent current expectations regarding future events and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements, including those included in GCM Grosvenor’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and its subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release, and GCM Grosvenor does not undertake to update the statements included in this press release for subsequent developments, except as may be required by law.

Media Contacts:
GCM Grosvenor:
Tom Johnson and Abigail Ruck 
H/Advisors Abernathy  
tom.johnson@h-advisors.global / abigail.ruck@h-advisors.global 
212-371-5999

FAQ

What is the target AUM growth from the GCM Grosvenor-SuMi TRUST partnership by 2030?

The partnership targets at least $1.5 billion of additional assets under management by 2030.

How much is SuMi TRUST investing in GCMG stock and Elevate strategy?

SuMi TRUST is investing $50 million in GCMG Class A common stock and committing $100 million to GCM Grosvenor's Elevate private equity strategy.

When did GCMG and SuMi TRUST begin their collaboration?

The companies have been collaborating since 2016 across private equity, credit, and infrastructure strategies.

What are the main objectives of the GCMG-SuMi TRUST partnership?

The partnership aims to expand private markets assets distribution in Japan and develop investment products for both companies' global clients.

When will SuMi TRUST make its $100M commitment to GCMG's Elevate strategy?

SuMi TRUST will commit $100 million to the Elevate strategy in the fourth quarter of 2024.