Prime Highlights
- Schroders has agreed to a £9.9 billion takeover by US investment firm Nuveen, creating one of the world’s largest fund managers with $2.5 trillion in assets.
- The deal ensures Schroders retains its London headquarters, its brand, and around 3,100 employees, offering stability and growth opportunities.
Key Facts
- The acquisition values Schroders’ family stake at £4.4 billion and offers shareholders 612p per share, a one-third premium over the recent closing price.
- Founded in 1804, Schroders has shifted focus from investment banking to asset management, with the takeover expected to complete in Q4 2026 pending shareholder approval.
Background:
British asset management firm Schroders has agreed to a £9.9 billion takeover by US investment company Nuveen, bringing an end to more than 200 years of family ownership. The deal will create one of the world’s largest fund managers, controlling around $2.5 trillion (£1.8 trillion) in assets.
Chicago-based Nuveen confirmed the acquisition on Thursday. Schroders will keep its London headquarters as its main office, retaining approximately 3,100 employees and continuing under the Schroders brand.
The takeover marks the exit of yet another FTSE 100 company from the London Stock Exchange, amid growing concerns over the UK market’s competitiveness. Companies such as Just Eat, Flutter, and Tui have also recently delisted in favour of markets in the US and Europe.
Founded in 1804 by Hamburg financier Johann Schröder, Schroders started as a merchant bank in London and listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1959. The Schroder family, now led by heiress Leonie Schroder, holds an estimated net worth of £3.93 billion and owns a 485-hectare estate in Hampshire. Their 44% stake in Schroders is valued at £4.4 billion under the takeover.
Schroders’ chief executive, Richard Oldfield, said the deal would create “exciting opportunities for our clients and people” and accelerate the company’s growth with broader global reach.
The acquisition offers a 612p per share deal, including 590p in cash and a 22p dividend, representing more than a one-third premium over Schroders’ recent closing price. Shares surged nearly 30% to 587p on Thursday.
The company has been cutting costs and reshaping operations, including closing joint ventures and exiting Brazil and Indonesia, to remain competitive against US rivals BlackRock and Vanguard. The takeover is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to shareholder approval.