Dyer Baade & Company acted as lead sell-side adviser for Kestrel Capital on its investment from IK Partners
Dyer Baade & Company acted as lead sell-side adviser for Kestrel Capital on its investment from IK Partners
Dyer Baade & Company is pleased to announce that it has acted as financial adviser in relation to the investment by IK Partners in Kestrel Capital.
This transaction highlights continued momentum in private equity investment in wealth management businesses across the UK and Ireland, as financial sponsors seek scalable platforms in a complex, but also highly attractive market.
Transaction overview: private equity investment in UK wealth management
IK Partners has agreed to invest in Kestrel Capital, a UK-based wealth management and advisory group with a differentiated model and strong growth trajectory.
The transaction reflects broader trends in UK and Ireland wealth management M&A, where private equity firms are actively backing platforms capable of delivering both organic growth and acquisition-led expansion.
Kestrel Capital is well positioned within this landscape, with a strong client proposition, experienced leadership team and scalable infrastructure - key attributes sought by private equity investors in the sector.
Investor: IK Partners
Business: Kestrel Capital
Sector: Wealth Management / Financial Planning
Geography: UK and Ireland
Transaction type: Private equity investment
Dyer Baade role: Lead adviser
Private equity and wealth management: a consolidating UK and Ireland market
The UK and Ireland wealth management sector has become one of the most active areas for private equity investment in recent years.
Key dynamics driving deal activity include:
Fragmentation across independent financial advice and wealth management firms
Recurring revenue models with strong visibility and cash flow characteristics
Ageing shareholder bases seeking liquidity and succession solutions
Significant opportunity for buy-and-build strategies
Increasing demand for professionalised, scalable advice platforms
As a result, private equity-backed consolidators and platform investments continue to shape the competitive landscape across both the UK and Ireland.
Advising on private equity wealth management deals
Dyer Baade advises founders, shareholders and management teams on private equity wealth management transactions across the UK and Ireland. With more than 40 deals in this sector, Dyer Baade & Company is one of the most active and specialised M&A advisor in this segment.
In this landmark transaction - the first direct Private Equity investment into the Irish Wealth Management market, Dyer Baade acted as lead adviser:
Architected and led the full transaction strategy, taking control from initial positioning through to final terms
Positioned Kestrel Capital as a scarce, high-quality private equity platform, driving investor conviction around its scalability and growth trajectory
Curated and engaged a tightly controlled universe of high-quality financial sponsors, ensuring relevance, focus and competitive tension
Created a disciplined, high-pressure process designed to maximise competitive dynamics and strategic alignment
Defined valuation parameters and deal structure early, anchoring negotiations from a position of strength
Led all negotiations with investors, maintaining momentum and protecting value throughout the process
Acted as the central point of coordination across shareholders, management and counterparties, ensuring alignment at each stage
Anticipated and managed key execution risks, removing obstacles before they could impact the process
Drove decision-making at critical inflection points to maintain leverage and avoid loss of competitive tension
Our approach focuses on ensuring that businesses are positioned not just for valuation, but for the right long-term partner.
John Crowe, Founder and CEO of Kestrel Capital, said: “This investment from IK marks an important milestone in the development of Kestrel as we seek to further strengthen our position in the Irish Wealth Management sector. With the expertise and experience brought by the IK team, we will be able to capitalise on the market opportunity and pursue a growth strategy in an industry that is poised for consolidation. We would like to thank Daniel and the team at London-based M&A specialists Dyer Baade & Company, who served as lead adviser on this transaction. Their deep industry knowledge and strong relationships with the Private Equity community were instrumental in delivering a highly successful process.
Dr. Daniel Baade, CEO Dyer Baade & Company commented: “ We are delighted to have advised the shareholders of Kestrel Capital on this landmark transaction. This is the first direct investment from an overseas Private Equity firm in the Irish Wealth Management sector and will almost certainly shape the future development of the market. "
Sector expertise: UK and Ireland wealth management M&A
Dyer Baade is an adviser focused on wealth management and financial planning M&A in the UK and Ireland, with particular expertise in private equity transactions.
We advise on:
Private equity investments (majority and minority)
Exits to private equity-backed consolidators
Buy-and-build platform strategies
Founder liquidity and succession planning
Corporate carve-outs and strategic divestments
Our sector focus allows us to run highly targeted processes, engaging the most relevant buyers and investors in each situation. For a list of our most recent transactions: Dyer Baade & Company Transactions.
Considering a private equity investment or exit in the UK or Ireland?
If you are a shareholder, founder or management team exploring a private equity investment, partial exit or full sale in the wealth management sector, the structure and positioning of the process will directly influence the outcome.
Dyer Baade advises clients across the UK and Ireland on preparing for and executing transactions with private equity investors.
Speak to our team to discuss your options in confidence.