WTW, the consultancy that provides advice to major institutional investors, has taken a minority stake in atomos, a UK-based wealth manager.
WTW says its backing of the firm will give atomos clients access to a broader range of asset classes and investment choices that are normally only available to institutional-sized investors.
Atomos is a digital-hybrid, advice-led wealth business providing financial planning and bespoke portfolio management to retail and professional clients.
Originating from the Sanlam Wealth UK business, atomos is led by CEO Jonathan Polin and has around £7 billion of assets.
The firm is backed by funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management.
Since 2022, WTW investment capability has supported atomos’ multi- asset investments.
WTW says the UK wealth market is “large and growing”, estimated to be worth £2.2 trillion. Through this investment WTW is boosting its presence in the UK wealth space.
Mark Calnan, head of investments for Europe, WTW, said: “This is an incredibly exciting development for WTW which reinforces our commitment to the wealth markets, a strategic focus area for us and one that has driven significant growth for our business in recent years. Our investment in atomos is the natural next step in our successful partnership and extends our investment capabilities to a wider audience.”
He said the investment would help WTW shape how the industry services the needs and aspirations of savers in the UK, which is “particularly important as individuals take increased responsibilities for their retirement through defined contribution schemes and personal savings”.
Federico Alvarez-Demalde, a managing director at Oaktree, said: “In a highly competitive market, WTW’s strategic minority stake in atomos is both a clear indication of the value of the UK wealth management sector, and an endorsement of the company’s differentiated vertically integrated business model.”
