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Foresight sells majority stake in financial planning firm Beckett Investment Management Group to WestBridge

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Foresight sells majority stake in financial planning firm Beckett Investment Management Group to WestBridge

Marking the first realisation from the £100m evergreen Foresight East of England Fund with a return of over 5.0x invested capital and an IRR of more than 40%

  • Foresight sells majority stake in Beckett Investment Management Group following a period of organic and acquisitive growth, marking the first realisation from the £100m evergreen Foresight East of England Fund with a return of over 5.0x invested capital and an IRR of more than 40%
  • AUM increased from £0.8bn to £2.1bn, helped by seven acquisitions completed during Foresight's investment period while maintaining a 97% annual client retention rate
  • Employee numbers increased from 70 to over 120 as the Company expanded its presence across Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire
  • Beckett became one of the first UK financial services firms of its scale to achieve B Corp accreditation
  • The Company supported more than 12,000 individuals and 2,500 SMEs across the East of England
  • The Foresight East of England Fund will reinvest for an ongoing minority stake in the medium term
  • The exit remains subject to regulatory approval

 

Cambridge, 12 August 2026: Foresight Group ("Foresight"), a leading regional private equity and real assets investment manager, announces the successful majority exit of Beckett Investment Management Group ("Beckett" or the "Company") to Westbridge.

Beckett is an independent financial planning and wealth management business serving more than 5,000 predominantly mass affluent and high net worth clients across Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.

Since Foresight’s investment in April 2021, Beckett has completed seven acquisitions of local private client advisory businesses, expanding its regional footprint across the East of England. Employee numbers increased from 70 to over 120, and AUM from £0.8bn to £2.1bn, reflecting both organic growth and the successful integration of acquired firms, while the Company maintained a 97% annual client retention rate.

During the investment period, Beckett became one of the first UK financial services firms of its scale to achieve B Corp accreditation. The Company also published gender pay gap and impact reports, implemented formal ESG policies and governance frameworks, and increased female Board representation. Beckett was accredited as a Great Place to Work for a third consecutive year and launched a formal management training programme, with women representing 50% of the first cohort.

Beckett also delivered meaningful regional impact, supporting more than 12,000 individuals with long-term financial planning advice and providing employee wellbeing and benefits support to more than 2,500 SMEs.

Gavin Wood, CEO at Beckett shared: “Foresight has been a supportive partner throughout our growth journey, enabling us to continue investing in our people and client proposition and supporting with a number of acquisitions. We are proud of what has been achieved together and look forward to the next chapter with Westbridge.”

Matt McLoughlin, Partner at Foresight Group said: “Since our investment in 2021, Beckett has evolved into a scaled financial planning platform with a strong regional presence and an outstanding management team. This transaction reflects the quality of the business and the significant value created during our investment period. It’s been a pleasure working with Gavin, Ian and the wider team at Beckett and we wish them all the best in this new phase of growth.”

Foresight is one of the UK and Ireland’s leading investor into growing companies. With more than a dozen offices around the UK and Ireland, its investment teams back promising, growing companies, providing equity or debt to meet the needs of founders and management teams wherever they are on their journey. 

By working collaboratively, Foresight provides much more than investment, sharing operational insights, guidance and helping management teams make strategic connections. We are passionate about enabling founders and management teams to build resilient and prosperous companies that have a positive impact on their local communities.

 

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