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FAST
FAST — the FAPA Advisory Services Team — launched in 2006 as the deal-syndication and advisory arm of FAPA Advisory, a UK-based corporate finance...
FAST
FAST — the FAPA Advisory Services Team — launched in 2006 as the deal-syndication and advisory arm of FAPA Advisory, a UK-based corporate finance boutique. Robert Wigley, its founder and chairman, previously held senior positions at Merrill Lynch and served as chairman of the British Bankers' Association, bringing a deep network of institutional relationships to the platform. The firm was purpose-built to bridge a structural gap: mid-sized pension funds, insurers, and family offices that want access to institutional-quality alternative assets but lack the internal teams to source, diligence, and execute direct transactions. FAST operates as a curated buy-side club, aggregating demand from its membership base and negotiating co-investment rights, fee discounts, and governance terms on their behalf. Its syndicated deals span private equity buyouts, direct lending, real estate, and infrastructure — often alongside sponsors including KKR, Apollo, and EQT. The team reviews several hundred opportunities annually, selecting a small number for formal due diligence and member-wide syndication. Typical ticket sizes for participating investors range from £5 million to £50 million, depending on the asset and sponsor. FAST does not publicly disclose assets under management or total capital deployed. The firm maintains a lean team based in London, led by CEO Jayne Styles, who joined in 2021 after a career spanning Aviva Investors and MS Amlin. In early 2025, FAST expanded its European deal-origination capabilities by deepening relationships with mid-market sponsors in the DACH region and the Netherlands, reflecting a push beyond its core UK institutional base. FAST's architecture is a genuine structural differentiator: it is neither a fund-of-funds nor a placement agent. It functions as a principal-advisory hybrid, earning fees from both the buy-side members it represents and, in some structures, a carry share from the underlying sponsors. This dual-revenue model aligns FAST's incentives with investment outcomes rather than transaction volume — a posture that distinguishes it from commission-driven intermediaries in the European alternatives market.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
2006
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Europe
Country
United Kingdom
City
London
Corporate office
London, United Kingdom
Principals
Robert T. Wigley
Chairman
Jayne Styles
Chief Executive Officer
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at FAST?
Jayne Styles, CEO since 2021, leads the investment team alongside Chairman Robert Wigley. The firm operates a structured investment committee process, with each deal undergoing formal due diligence before presentation to the membership. Final investment decisions rest with individual member institutions, not FAST itself.
How does FAST source proprietary deal flow?
FAST sources opportunities through the sponsor relationships of its principals and the collective demand of its membership base. As a buy-side aggregator representing multiple institutions, it can negotiate co-investment allocations directly with general partners — KKR, Apollo, and EQT have been among the sponsors with whom FAST has syndicated deals. The firm reviews several hundred opportunities annually and selects a small number for formal diligence and syndication.
Is FAST a single family office or a fund manager?
Neither. FAST operates as a deal-syndication and advisory platform — essentially a curated buy-side club for institutional investors. It aggregates demand from pension funds, insurers, and family offices, negotiating access and terms with the underlying sponsors. It does not manage a blind-pool fund, nor is it tied to a single family's capital.
Does FAST invest in fund commitments or only direct deals?
Both. FAST syndicates primary fund commitments, direct co-investments alongside sponsor-led deals, and selected secondary transactions. The structure depends on member demand and the opportunity profile. Direct co-investments typically involve ticket sizes from £5 million to £50 million per participant.
How is FAST compensated, and what is the potential for conflict?
FAST earns fees from both the buy-side members it represents and, in certain structures, a share of carried interest from the underlying sponsors. This dual-revenue model — disclosed to members — aligns FAST's economics with investment outcomes, since carry participation only materializes on successful exits. The firm's acceptance criteria require that any sponsor-side economics be transparent to the full membership before a deal is syndicated.
Which sectors does FAST explicitly avoid?
FAST has publicly indicated it does not syndicate early-stage venture capital, hedge fund allocations, or publicly traded securities. Its mandate is confined to institutional-quality private market assets — buyout, growth equity, private credit, real estate, and infrastructure — where it can negotiate preferential access and terms for its members.
What is FAST's known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?
Co-investment is core to FAST's value proposition. The firm actively negotiates for co-investment rights alongside its primary fund commitments, allowing members to deploy additional capital into specific assets without paying double management fees. These co-investment allocations are offered to members on a deal-by-deal basis, with allocation decisions made by FAST's investment committee.
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