Aldermore

Acquirer: Lloyds, Nationwide, and Investec (Potential Bidders)

South African financial services group Firstrand has placed its UK-based specialist bank, Aldermore, up for sale. The bank, which holds a £17 billion loan book, is attracting strong interest from major UK lenders and private equity giants despite ongoing industry exposure to motor finance regulatory investigations.Summary of transaction details:Value: £1.35 billion (estimated)Sector: FintechAdvisor: None disclosedKey Entities: Firstrand (Seller), Aldermore (Target), Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide, Investec (Potential Acquirers)Location: United KingdomNote: Firstrand's decision to exit comes after Aldermore set aside £750 million due to the UK motor finance commission scandal. However, its attractive buy-to-let portfolio (40% of its loan book) and full UK banking license make it a highly valuable asset for buyers looking to scale their mortgage and retail lending operations.