AllianceBernstein, Brookfield Asset Management, and Carlyle announced a collaboration to launch ABC [ONE], a turnkey private markets solution designed for Defined Contribution (DC) retirement plans. The offering is intended to provide retirement savers with diversified exposure to private markets through a Qualified Default Investment Alternative (QDIA) structure that can work alongside existing target-date funds or managed-account solutions.
The solution dynamically adjusts allocations across private credit, private real assets, and private equity based on a participant’s stage in their retirement savings journey. AllianceBernstein will oversee the allocation strategy and manage the private credit sleeve, while Brookfield will manage private real assets and Carlyle will oversee private equity investments.
According to the companies, ABC [ONE] was developed in response to expectations for lower inflation-adjusted returns and reduced diversification opportunities in public markets over the coming decade. The firms believe incorporating private markets into professionally managed retirement solutions could enhance diversification and improve long-term return potential for retirement plan participants.
AllianceBernstein said it currently manages $105 billion in assets under management in custom target-date solutions and has more than a decade of experience incorporating private assets into custom target-date funds in both the U.S. and U.K. markets. ABC [ONE] will also utilize AB’s proprietary defined contribution technology platform to support customization and operational integration with recordkeepers and plan providers.
KEY QUOTES:
“We’re pleased to bring together Brookfield, Carlyle and AB to provide a turnkey private markets solution to DC plans that gives retirement savers an allocation to private markets that dynamically adjusts by age. For more than a decade, AB has been incorporating private assets in custom target-date funds, in both the US and the UK. Based on our investment research and hands-on experience, we believe that when a plan decides to include them, it’s critical to optimize the deployment of these assets for DC participants.”
Onur Erzan, President, AllianceBernstein
“We are excited to bring the breadth of Brookfield’s private strategies to the defined contribution space, alongside a market-leading target-date manager. With more than 125 years of experience owning, operating and investing in the infrastructure, energy and real estate assets that underpin the global economy, we believe private real assets offer compelling diversification benefits and differentiated return drivers that can support more stable, resilient long-term outcomes for DC participants.”
Connor Teskey, CEO, Brookfield Asset Management
“We believe private equity can play a meaningful role in enhancing retirement outcomes over time. Our global private equity platform draws on decades of deep experience investing across cycles, sectors, and regions. By combining expertise with a diversified investment approach, we aim to help investors access opportunities aligned with long-term retirement needs. We’re pleased to collaborate to deliver a thoughtfully designed solution that brings together complementary strengths for DC plans.”
John Redett, Co-President And Head Of Global Private Equity, Carlyle
