Flexstone Partners

Flexstone’s team of over 65 professionals reviews 600-plus investment opportunities globally each year, according to the firm. Presence in New York, Paris, Geneva, and Singapore provides local origination networks in North America, Europe, and Asia. Deal flow comes from long-standing general partner relationships and direct prospecting in the sub-$1 billion fund market.

It operates as an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers, one of the world’s largest asset managers, which provides access to global resources and infrastructure. Despite the parent-subsidiary relationship, Flexstone maintains an entrepreneurial investment culture and autonomy in manager selection. The firm’s structure separates investment decision-making from the parent’s balance sheet.

Flexstone has been a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment since 2014, per its website. It seeks to invest in managers and companies that manage environmental impact, adhere to fair labor standards, and follow sustainable business practices. ESG analysis is part of its manager due-diligence and ongoing monitoring processes.

Flexstone tailors portfolios to the distinct mandates of each client, as stated in its materials. This typically involves building customized separate accounts with specific allocations to private equity, real estate, private debt, or infrastructure. The firm does not market standard commingled products as its primary vehicle.

The firm invests across private equity, real estate, private debt, and infrastructure. Its specialization lies in the small- and mid-cap segment, which it identifies as a hard-to-access area offering greater inefficiencies. Exposure is built through primary fund commitments, co-investments, and secondary transactions globally.