Bridgepoint Plc, Bain Capital and Aquiline are among the private equity firms advancing to the second round of bidding for UK-based wealth and investment manager W1M, according to people familiar with the matter. The auction process has drawn interest from a number of private credit firms, with W1M’s existing lender Ares providing staple financing for the sale. W1M generates earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of around £70 million ($93.7 million), the sources said. Rothschild is acting as sell-side adviser on the transaction.
W1M was founded in 2024 following the merger of Waverton Investment Management Group Limited and London and Capital Group Limited. US-based private equity firm Lovell Minnick invested in the company in 2023. Representatives from Ares, Aquiline, Bain Capital, Bridgepoint and W1M declined to comment, while spokespeople for Lovell Minnick and Rothschild did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Source: Bloomberg Markets · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing