Sir Martyn Arbib (born 27 June 1939) is a British businessman who founded and led the Perpetual fund management company during the late 20th century.

Sir Martyn Arbib
Born
Martyn Arbib

(1939-06-29) 29 June 1939 (age 85)
Hendon, London
EducationFelsted School
OccupationBusinessman

Early life

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Arbib was born in Hendon on 29 June 1939,[1][2] and attended Felsted School, Essex. His family is Jewish.[3]

Career

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Arbib founded Perpetual Limited in 1973[4] in a small office at Hart Street, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.[5] The company remained in the town as it expanded into newly built headquarters in 1994.[6]

He sold Perpetual to the fund manager AMVESCAP in 2001 for more than £1 billion, receiving £113m together with AMVESCAP shares worth £300m, and the company became known as Invesco Perpetual. He is a director of the Perpetual Japanese Investment Trust plc. He stepped down from Perpetual's board in 2015.[7]

In January 2008, Swindon Town Holdings Limited, where Arbib is an investor but not a director, took control of Swindon Town FC.

The Arbib Foundation, established in 1987, sponsors schools in Slough, Berkshire which include the Langley Academy.[8] Arbib was a major benefactor in the establishment of the River and Rowing Museum at Henley, which opened in 1998.[9] He was knighted in 2003 for services to charities, especially in education.[10][5]

Political activity

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Arbib is a Conservative Party donor. During the 2019 general election, he donated £10,000 to the central party and £5,000 each to Conservative candidates Danny Kruger and Dominic Raab.[11][12][13]

Personal life

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In his spare time, Arbib is interested in horse racing. His horse Snurge won the St. Leger Stakes in 1990. As well as Henley, he also has a home in Barbados.

His daughter Annabel is married to businessman Paddy Nicoll.[14] Her father bought Culham Court for her in 1997 for £12 million, and in 2006, the Swiss-born British financier Urs Schwarzenbach bought it for £35 million, £10 million above the asking price.[14]

References

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  1. ^ England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007
  2. ^ "Accountancy Rich List 2015: 24-11". Economia. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  3. ^ William D. Rubinstein, Michael Jolles, Hilary L. Rubinstein, The Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Jewish History, Palgrave Macmillan (2011), p. 34
  4. ^ "Perpetual Limited". Companies House. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Ten Years Ago". www.henleystandard.co.uk. 24 June 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  6. ^ Townley, Simon, ed. (2011). "A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 16 pp49-72 - Henley: Town Buildings". British History Online. University of London. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  7. ^ Times, The Sunday. "Rich List 2020: profiles 304-399=, featuring Simon Cowell and Sir Elton John". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  8. ^ "The Arbib Foundation". The Langley Academy. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  9. ^ "History". River and Rowing Museum. Internet. 2001. Archived from the original on 23 May 2001. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  10. ^ "No. 56963". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 June 2003.
  11. ^ "View donation". The Electoral Commission. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  12. ^ "Danny Kruger MP, Devizes". TheyWorkForYou. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  13. ^ "Dominic Raab MP, Esher & Walton". TheyWorkForYou. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  14. ^ a b "Financier offers £10m over the asking price for record country house sale | London Evening Standard". Standard.co.uk. 27 August 2006. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
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