Sovereign Takes Majority Stake in £1.3bn Equilibrium Financial Planning
- Simon Bourke
- Oct 1
- 2 min read
1st October 2025
Private equity firm Sovereign Capital Partners has acquired a 56% stake in Equilibrium Financial Planning, a financial advice and discretionary fund management firm based in Cheshire, which oversees approximately £1.3bn in assets. This deal, which has received regulatory approval, marks Sovereign’s return to the advice market just months after selling its stake in consolidator Shackleton to Lee Equity Partners.
Equilibrium, founded by Colin Lawson in 1995, serves 1,300 clients with a team of ten advisers and seven paraplanners. The firm has a recurring turnover of £13.1m, projected to increase to £14.6m next year. Lawson and his partner Debbie Jukes, along with other advisers, will retain a 40% shareholding, ensuring continuity in leadership.
Sovereign’s strategy with Equilibrium differs from Shackleton’s aggressive national roll-up approach. Instead, the focus will be on targeted acquisitions within the Northwest and selective regional expansions. James Dargan, a partner at Sovereign, noted that Equilibrium’s higher average client size and low compliance risk make it a distinct proposition. Growth is expected to concentrate on fewer, but higher-value, deals.
For Sovereign, the appeal lies in Equilibrium’s strong brand, its dual capacity to serve both mass affluent and high-net-worth clients, and its well-established investment proposition. The partnership will provide Equilibrium with the resources and expertise to expand while remaining committed to its client-first values. Lawson emphasised that the firm will continue "as usual," maintaining the same focus on quality, culture, and purpose that has driven its growth over the past 30 years.
This acquisition underscores the ongoing evolution of UK wealth management, where private equity is playing a critical role not only in scaling firms but also in shaping regional strategies and long-term succession planning..
At Chapters Capital, we specialise in financial planning and wealth management M&A and understand the importance of strategic acquisitions for growth. Whether you are considering a sale, merger, or expansion or want to learn more about buyers in the space, please contact one of our professional associates today for a confidential, no-obligation consultation.
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