Mubadala Capital, the sovereign wealth fund of Abu Dhabi, has taken a significant step towards finalizing its $3 billion acquisition of Fortress Investment Group after a key regulatory hurdle in the United States was cleared, according to a report from the Financial Times (FT).
The approval paves the way for the deal's completion, which had previously been held up by concerns from US regulators. The nature of these concerns was not disclosed in the FT report. However, the report states that Mubadala agreed to certain concessions to address them. These concessions reportedly involve assurances that Fortress will maintain US control over its technology and data.
The acquisition, first announced in February 2024, would mark Mubadala's largest ever investment in a US asset manager. Fortress is a prominent alternative investment firm with a diversified portfolio across private equity, credit, and real estate assets. The deal is seen as a strategic move for Mubadala, allowing it to expand its exposure to the US private equity market and gain access to Fortress' expertise in alternative investments.
Analysts suggest that the US regulatory approval reflects a growing comfort level with foreign investment in the American financial sector, particularly when safeguards are put in place to address national security concerns. Mubadala's willingness to address these concerns, likely by guaranteeing US control over sensitive data and technology, demonstrates its commitment to a smooth regulatory process.
The deal's completion hinges on obtaining any remaining regulatory approvals, which are not expected to pose significant hurdles. With the key US hurdle cleared, the acquisition is expected to close in the coming months. The finalization of the deal will be closely watched by the financial industry, particularly those interested in the evolving landscape of foreign investment in US asset management firms.
The acquisition would solidify Mubadala's position as a major player in the global investment arena. The sovereign wealth fund has been actively deploying capital across various asset classes in recent years, seeking to diversify its portfolio and generate strong returns for Abu Dhabi. The addition of Fortress to its portfolio would be a significant step in achieving these goals.