WestBridge has completed its investment in Beckett Investment Management Group, a UK financial planning business previously backed by the Foresight East of England Fund for five years. The deal has received regulatory approval from the Financial Conduct Authority.
Founded in 1988, Beckett provides investment planning, retirement strategies, wealth management and employee benefits services. From four offices, it manages £2.1 billion ($2.8 billion; €2.5 billion) of assets and serves more than 5,000 clients. The company describes itself as the leading financial planning business in the East of England and ranked fifth in FT Adviser's 2026 Top 100 Financial Advisers.
"Beckett is our largest investment to date and a significant milestone for West Bridge," said Peter Barkley, managing partner at West Bridge, in a statement. He noted it is the fifth investment from West Bridge III, which closed earlier this year with £225m of total committed capital, bringing the fund to almost 60% deployment of its platform investment capital.
Ares Credit funds are providing a senior debt package, including a facility to fund future acquisitions as Beckett continues its buy-and-build strategy. Chief executive Gavin Wood will continue to lead Beckett with the existing management team. Barkley and Gilbert join the board as directors from West Bridge, while Madeleine Finn becomes a board observer, coordinating value creation initiatives.
Source: PE Hub · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing