Martin Gilbert preparing to build new business empire

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City grandee Martin Gilbert preparing to build new business empire just months after leaving Standard Life Aberdeen

By Daily Mail City & Finance Reporter

Published: | Updated:

City grandee Martin Gilbert is preparing to build a new business empire just months after leaving Standard Life Aberdeen. 

The industry veteran, who founded Aberdeen Asset Management and was instrumental in its merger with Standard Life, will use London-listed Assetco as a vehicle through which to start his new firm. 

Along with other backers, including Icap founder Lord Spencer, Toscafund and former Aberdeen colleagues, Gilbert, 65, will take a 29.8 per cent stake in Assetco worth £9m. 

Empire building: Martin Gilbert will use London-listed Assetco as a vehicle through which to start his new firm

Assetco currently owns a fire and rescue business in the Middle East. 

But Gilbert and his backers were attracted by the firm’s £30m of cash, which they hope to use to buy small businesses in the financial services industry. 

It has bought a 2.9 per cent stake worth £4.7m in fund manager River & Mercantile, which Gilbert has joined as deputy chairman. 

It wants to snap up a range of companies and consolidate them into a firm spanning several areas of wealth management.

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