Dyer Baade advises shareholders of Whitechurch Securities on sale to Ascot Lloyd
Exclusive financial adviser on a private equity-backed wealth management transaction in the UK
Dyer Baade & Company is pleased to announce that it has acted as exclusive financial adviser to the shareholders of Whitechurch Securities on the sale of the business to Ascot Lloyd, which is backed by Nordic Capital.
The transaction reflects continued momentum in private equity wealth management deals in the UK, as investors back scalable advice platforms to capitalise on consolidation opportunities.
Transaction overview: private equity wealth management deals UK
Ascot Lloyd has acquired Whitechurch Securities, further strengthening its position as a leading UK financial planning platform backed by private equity capital.
Whitechurch is a well-established financial planning business with a strong client proposition and long-standing reputation in the UK advice market. The acquisition supports Ascot Lloyd’s continued buy-and-build strategy, underpinned by its partnership with Nordic Capital.
This transaction sits within a broader wave of private equity-backed consolidation in UK wealth management, where high-quality advice businesses remain in strong demand from both financial sponsors and platform consolidators.
Seller: Shareholders of Whitechurch Securities
Buyer: Ascot Lloyd (backed by Nordic Capital)
Sector: Wealth Management / Financial Planning
Geography: United Kingdom
Transaction type: Private equity-backed acquisition
Dyer Baade role: Exclusive financial adviser to the shareholders of Whitechurch Securities
Delivering outcomes in highly competitive processes
Transactions involving private equity-backed buyers in the wealth management sector are increasingly competitive, with multiple well-capitalised platforms actively pursuing high-quality businesses.
In this transaction, Dyer Baade leveraged its deep understanding of the UK wealth management landscape and its strong relationships across the private equity and consolidator community to run a tightly controlled and competitive process.
The result is a transaction that aligns with shareholder objectives while securing a strong strategic partner for the business.
In this transaction, Dyer Baade acted as exclusive lead adviser:
Architected and executed a highly competitive process, engaging multiple private equity-backed platforms active in UK wealth management
Positioned Whitechurch as a scarce, high-quality financial planning business within a consolidating market
Leveraged deep sector expertise to articulate the business’s strategic value to both financial sponsors and consolidators
Activated Dyer Baade’s extensive network across private equity and wealth management platforms to generate targeted, high-conviction interest
Created and sustained competitive tension throughout the process, ensuring strong engagement from credible counterparties
Controlled all process dynamics and information flow to maintain negotiating leverage at each stage
Defined valuation expectations and transaction structure early, anchoring negotiations from a position of strength
Led negotiations with Ascot Lloyd and other interested parties, tactically managing dynamics to optimise terms for shareholders
Coordinated shareholders, management and counterparties to ensure alignment and momentum through to completion
Kean Seager, Chairman, Whitechurch Securities, said: “I found Dyer Baade professional, knowledgable and supportive. I was very impressed and very happy to have them help guide me through the M&A process.”
Dr. Daniel Baade, CEO, Dyer Baade & Company, commented: “It was a pleasure to advise the Seager family on this important transaction. We greatly enjoyed working with Kean and the team and are delighted to have achieved such a successful outcome.”
Private equity and consolidation in UK wealth management
The UK wealth management and financial planning sector continues to experience sustained levels of consolidation, driven in large part by private equity investment.
Key drivers of private equity wealth management deals in the UK include:
Fragmentation of the independent financial advice market
Recurring revenue models with strong visibility
Demand for scalable, acquisition-led growth platforms
Succession considerations among founder-led firms
Continued capital deployment from private equity-backed consolidators
As a result, high-quality firms such as Whitechurch remain highly sought-after assets within the market.
Sector expertise: advising on private equity wealth management transactions
Dyer Baade is a specialist adviser focused on wealth management and financial planning M&A in the UK, with deep expertise in private equity-backed transactions.
We advise on:
Sales to private equity-backed consolidators
Private equity investments and exits
Founder liquidity and succession planning
Buy-and-build platform strategies
Strategic M&A advisory
Our approach combines deep sector knowledge with rigorous process execution—designed to create competition, maximise strategic alignment and deliver strong outcomes.
Considering a private equity investment or exit in the UK wealth management sector?
If you are a shareholder or management team considering a private equity investment, partial exit or full sale, early preparation and the right advisory approach can materially influence the outcome.
Dyer Baade advises clients on building, positioning and executing transactions across the UK wealth management sector.
Speak to our team to discuss your options in confidence.