A number of private equity firms, including KKR, Bain Capital, Advent International, and ChrysCapital, are looking to acquire APAC-focused private asset manager PAG’s majority stake in Nuvama Wealth Management, sources said.
PAG, which acquired a controlling stake in Nuvama Wealth in FY21, is exiting its investment, and sources said it was seeking a valuation in the range $1.7-2 billion. They added that the first option being explored by the firm was to exit its stake entirely, either by selling to a PE firm or to a strategic investor with deep enough pockets to buy it.
Nuvama Wealth manages client assets of ₹4.5 lakh crore, according to its corporate presentation.
“Under PAG, the business has grown rapidly, and it is looking for good returns,” said a source privy to the development but not directly connected to the deal. PAG holds a 54.93 per cent stake in the firm. Sources said that private equity firms, seeking broader investment opportunities in India, see this as an attractive segment with the potential to make good returns.
The rally in the stock markets after the Covid pandemic has created millionaires and billionaires, and to cater to them, wealth management has become a big business, attracting significant private equity interest. In 2022, Blackstone acquired a majority stake in ASK Investment Managers for a reported $1 billion. The sector is seen growing to $2.3 trillion by FY29 from $1.1 trillion in FY24, according to industry estimates.
Nuvama Wealth was formed when the wealth management business of Edelweiss Financial Services was demerged into a separate entity. With PAG as its promoter, Nuvama Wealth has grown rapidly. Between FY21 and FY24, its revenue more than doubled, with wealth management and asset management businesses leading the growth. Its operating profit has increased by 44 per cent annually over the last three years, while client assets have grown by 30 per cent annually during the same period. Its shares have risen 2.2 times since September 2023, when the company was listed.
In response to an email from businessline, a spokesperson for PAG said the firm would not comment on the transaction. Advent and Bain Capital also declined to comment, while KKR and ChrysCapital did not respond.
PAG has appointed Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan to advise it on the deal, sources said. Both MS and JPM did not respond to emails sent to them.
Published on April 8, 2025
