Wealth M&A deals triple in six years as PE buyers dominate market

The report, The Next Phase of Wealth Management Consolidation, found that the PE-backed share of transactions has risen steadily, from 43.6% in 2019 to 2020 to 67.5% in 2021 to 2025.  In the first half of 2026, PE-backed buyers were behind 68 of the 92 deals recorded – accounting for 73.9% of all transactions, the research found. Most deals were additions to established businesses The vast majority (95%) of deals were additions to established businesses, the research found. Only around one in 20 created a new ‘platform', which is when a PE firm buys a company large enough to mak...