Aquiline Capital Partners, a private investment firm focused on financial services and related technologies, will acquire a majority stake in UK pensions, reward and benefit and investment advisory business Isio Group.
Aquiline is acquiring its majority shareholding from Exponent Private Equity, with the existing Isio management team continuing to retain a significant minority investment.
Aquiline’s investment will support Isio’s expansion of its core services and adjacent practices, including rewards & benefits, investment advice and private capital. This will be achieved through a combination of targeted M&A to build additional service lines and advisory capabilities, and by attracting new talent to the business.
Aquiline’s previous investments in the global retirement and wealth management services sectors include Smart Pension, a global pension software and solution provider; Wealth at Work, a provider of workplace financial education and advice; and Landytech, a private markets investment management technology provider.
Isio has completed two acquisitions since its 2020 launch and “has undergone four successive years of double-digit organic growth”, according to a statement. Isio employs 1,200 and operates 10 offices across the UK.
Aquiline was advised by RBC Capital Markets and Herbert Smith Freehills. Exponent and Isio were advised by Evercore and Macfarlanes. Isio’s management team was advised by Liberty Corporate Finance and Proskauer.
