SHAREHOLDERS OF TRUINVEST SELL EQUITY STAKE TO STONEWOOD CAPITAL PARTNERS

Truinvest’s co-Founders, Mark Smith and Micky Johal have sold their equity stake to Stonewood Capital Partners (SCP), a business based in Guernsey. Stonewood Capital Partners is an Investment Holding company that invests its shareholders’ capital in businesses that operate in the Global Wealth and Investment Management industry.

Truinvest was acquired by Stonewood Capital Partners in 2019, SCP is now sole shareholder of the business.

Mark Smith, CEO of Truinvest said: “Micky Johal and myself are pleased to announce we have reached an agreement with Stonewood Capital Partners to acquire our interest in Truinvest Group as a result of the strong growth of the business.”

Micky Johal, has also commented: “Having taken a business from a simple strategy of bringing like-minded firms together all the way to execution, in just under three years, we looked after over £1bn ($1.3bn, €1.2bn) of client assets, employed over 75 staff across four locations.

“It was a fantastic journey, and we wish the team the best of luck.”

Chief executive of  SCP, Sean Patterson, now becomes group chief executive of Truinvest.

What this acquisition means for the buyer

For Stonewood Capital Partners, acquiring full ownership of Truinvest consolidates its control over a growing business within the global wealth and investment management sector. By bringing together full shareholding under a single investment holding structure, the transaction allows for clearer strategic direction and potentially more streamlined decision-making across the group.

With Truinvest having built scale across multiple locations and a client base exceeding £1bn in assets, full ownership may support further operational alignment and long-term value creation under Stonewood’s investment-led approach. The transition of leadership responsibilities also signals a move towards centralised governance within the wider investment structure.

Overall, the transaction reflects a consolidation of ownership designed to support continued development of the business under a unified investment holding framework.

What this means for sellers in the sector

For founders and shareholders of wealth and investment management businesses, this transaction highlights how private investment structures can evolve over time from partial ownership to full control. In some cases, initial investment partnerships may lead to eventual full divestment of founder equity as businesses scale.

It also reflects how business owners may choose to realise value following periods of rapid growth, particularly where external investment has supported expansion. For other sellers, this demonstrates the importance of considering long-term ownership pathways when entering into investment partnerships, including potential exit timing and control transitions.

Market trend context

The wealth and investment management sector continues to see increased private investment activity, with holding companies and investment partners consolidating ownership of advisory and asset management businesses. These structures often evolve from initial minority or strategic stakes into full ownership over time.

There is also a growing trend of founder-led firms scaling rapidly through consolidation strategies before transitioning ownership to institutional or holding company investors. This reflects a broader shift towards investment-led ownership models within the sector, particularly in multi-location wealth management groups.

How Capital & Trust typically supports transactions like this

Capital & Trust acts as a business broker, sourcing and introducing potential acquisition opportunities to firms seeking to expand their presence in the wealth and investment management sector. The firm facilitates introductions between parties and supports initial engagement where there is mutual interest in exploring a transaction.

Where appropriate, Capital & Trust may assist in coordinating communication between buyers, sellers, and their appointed professional advisers during early-stage discussions. Its role is limited to originating and facilitating introductions, while all regulated financial, legal, and technical matters are handled by external advisers appointed by the parties.

If you’d like a confidential, obligation-free discussion about selling or acquiring a Wealth Management / Asset Management business, please click here, alternatively contact us on 0207-043-4300 or email us.