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LONDON - W.H. Ireland Group Plc announced Monday it has entered into a conditional agreement to sell its wealth management business to Oberon Investments Limited for £1 million in cash, as the company plans to delist from London’s AIM market and wind down operations.
The transaction, expected to complete around October 31, follows the disposal of W.H. Ireland’s Capital Markets division in July 2024 and comes as the wealth management unit continues to be loss-making. The deal requires shareholder approval at an upcoming general meeting scheduled for October 9.
According to the company, the wealth management business has been struggling financially, with assets under management falling to £1.0 billion by March 31, 2025, down from £1.2 billion a year earlier. The company expects to report a group loss of approximately £9.2 million for the fiscal year ended March 2025.
As part of the agreement, W.H. Ireland will deposit £900,000 into an escrow account to cover potential termination costs related to its custodial services agreement with SEI Investments, which will be novated to Oberon at completion.
Following the sale, W.H. Ireland intends to delist from the AIM market and liquidate the company, with plans to return any remaining distributable reserves to shareholders. The board currently estimates this distribution at approximately 0.5 pence per ordinary share within twelve months of completion.
Simon Moore, Non-Executive Chair of W.H. Ireland, stated in the press release that "the sale of W.H. Ireland Wealth Management is, in the Board’s view, the most appropriate outcome for the business and its stakeholders."
The company cited ongoing losses, declining revenue, and the need for substantial investment to achieve profitability as key factors behind the decision to sell. W.H. Ireland noted that raising additional capital would be "highly dilutive and difficult to execute in current circumstances."
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