Standard Chartered has introduced an alternative fund focused on sports, specifically designed for ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) and high-net-worth (HNW) clients within its Global Private Bank.
The fund will be managed by a “leading” global alternative investment manager, stated the British lender.
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It will focus on opportunities within the sports, media, and entertainment sectors, capitalising on the rising interest in sports investments.
The sports investment sector has gained traction as major leagues and teams increasingly looking for alternative capital financing options.
This trend has been further accelerated by recent major sports-related transactions involving leading family offices, positioning sports investing as a viable alternative asset class for UHNW individuals aiming to enhance and diversify their investment portfolios.
Over the past decade, the media industry has experienced an increase in media contract values, with growth rates of 16% to 17%.
Major sports leagues globally have secured “record-breaking” broadcasting deals, contributing to a revenue-generating model that has attracted the attention of private investors, highlighted the bank.
Standard Chartered stated that it is among the first banks to introduce such a fund across its operational footprint.
Standard Chartered Advisory and Managed Investments, Wealth Solutions global head Sumeet Bhambri said: “Our open architecture wealth platform allows us to curate and onboard unique opportunities to meet our clients’ needs.
“As clients increasingly look to incorporate alternatives into their portfolios to achieve greater diversity and long-term growth, the new fund offers a professionally managed solution for our clients to access high-quality private market opportunities with institutional grade risk-management and oversight
Earlier this year, Standard Chartered launched a European private credit strategy fund in response to strong demand for European private credit.
Last month, it launched the Private Markets Co-Investment Club, in collaboration with Ardian, to offer wealthy clients direct access to private market co-investment opportunities.
The same month, Standard Chartered also launched SC GPT, a generative AI platform designed to boost productivity and personalise client experiences.
