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Following a successful five-year investment in Beckett from the Foresight East of England Fund, WestBridge announced its intention to invest in August 2026, subject to FCA regulatory approval, which has now been received.
Established in 1988, Beckett provides investment planning, retirement strategies, wealth management and employee benefits solutions. With four offices, the firm manages £2.1bn of assets and supports over 5,000 clients.
CEO Gavin Wood will continue to lead the business, supported by the existing management team who have facilitated Beckett’s growth to date. WestBridge’s Peter Barkley and Luke Gilbert join the board as directors, and Madeleine Finn becomes a board observer, coordinating value creation initiatives. The WestBridge transaction team also included Guy Davies, Zoe Shan, Rory Whitrow and Matt Williams.
Ares Credit funds are providing a senior debt package that includes a facility to fund future acquisitions as Beckett continues its buy-and-build strategy.
Luke Gilbert, Investment Director at WestBridge, said: “Beckett epitomises the type of business we look to back. Its growth has been driven by a strong culture and an organic-first approach, which will remain central to its expansion plans.
Strong organic momentum, data capabilities and proven M&A track record provide an excellent foundation for our partnership. We look forward to accelerating both organic and acquisitive growth.”
Gavin Wood, CEO of Beckett, said: “Our partnership with Foresight over the past five years saw us acquire eight quality firms in the local region and build a top-quality team committed to delivering the best possible service to our clients.
“It was vital to find a partner who would support and challenge us when needed, while allowing us to grow the Beckett brand without changing our DNA. WestBridge’s openness, honesty and authenticity stood out, and I am incredibly excited about the opportunities ahead for our team.”
Peter Barkley, Managing Partner at WestBridge, added: “Beckett is our largest investment to date and a significant milestone for WestBridge. It is the fifth investment from WestBridge III, which closed earlier this year with £225m of total committed capital, and brings the fund to almost 60% deployment of its platform investment capital. We are joining Beckett at an exciting time and are thrilled to partner with such a high-calibre team.
“WestBridge III is building on the strong performance of its predecessor funds, both of which independently benchmark in the top quartile for their vintages. Backing a business of Beckett’s quality supports our ambition to deliver market-leading returns by investing in high-growth niche businesses.”