Financial conglomerate Marex Group set to acquire Winterflood Securities in a £103.9 million transaction.
Marex to Acquire Winterflood Securities for £103.9 Million
Marex Group, a high-growth, global financial services company, has announced its intention to acquire Winterflood Securities from Close Brothers for approximately £103.9 million. The acquisition aims to bolster Marex's UK cash equities business, diversify earnings, and expand distribution to UK institutions.
Winterflood Securities, a leading UK equity market maker with a market share of approximately 15%, will bring its strong presence and capabilities in UK equity market making to Marex. This acquisition is expected to transform Marex's existing equity market making business into a leading franchise.
The deal will also see Winterflood's proprietary technology platform integrated into Marex's operations, aiming to improve client connectivity and support operational efficiency. Winterflood Securities' clients, numbering over 400 institutional clients, will continue to be served by the same team post-acquisition. They will also benefit from the backing of a larger company and access to a broader range of products and services from Marex.
Bradley Dyer, CEO of Winterflood Securities, sees Marex as an excellent steward for the business going forward. Ian Lowitt, CEO of Marex, expresses delight about Winterflood Securities joining Marex Group. He believes that the acquisition will provide opportunities to improve profitability through economies of scale, operational synergies, and leveraging established client relationships.
Marex also plans to introduce additional products and services from its platform to a new set of clients through the acquisition. The deal, pending regulatory approval and expected to close in early 2026, is aligned with Marex’s strategic objective to become a leading UK equity market franchise and to broaden its institutional client coverage with enhanced product distribution.
For Winterflood Securities, the acquisition implies integration into a larger diversified financial services platform, potentially benefiting from expanded product offerings and greater scale, while continuing to leverage its technology and client network under Marex’s ownership.
Marex believes it can materially improve Winterflood's profitability and pay back its premium within two to three years. The acquisition will also add Winterflood’s Business Services, which provide outsourced dealing, settlement, and custody services, thereby diversifying Marex’s service offerings to institutions, platforms, wealth managers, and retail aggregators.
The acquisition is expected to diversify Marex's earnings by expanding services and client offerings across a broader product range. It will also expand Marex's distribution capabilities to UK institutional clients, particularly asset and wealth managers, strengthening client relationships and access to new clients.
In summary, the acquisition of Winterflood Securities by Marex Group is a strategic move aimed at enhancing Marex’s UK cash equities business, diversifying earnings, expanding distribution capabilities, and leveraging Winterflood’s technology and client network. The deal is pending regulatory approval and is expected to close in early 2026.
The acquisition of Winterflood Securities by Marex Group will not only enhance Marex's business in the UK cash equities industry, but also expand their distribution in the banking and insurance sector by serving Winterflood's institutional clients, including asset and wealth managers.
This strategic move is anticipated to diversify Marex's earnings by incorporating Winterflood's Business Services into their operations, providing outsourced services to a wider range of clients such as platforms, wealth managers, and retail aggregators.
