Nationwide, Investec to bid for UK lender Aldermore as FirstRand fields offers

Nationwide and Investec are expected to submit first-round bids for UK alternative lender Aldermore ahead of Tuesday's deadline, with South African owner FirstRand seeking a sale. The auction signals consolidation in UK challenger banking, though bid terms and valuation remain uncertain. A deal would reshape the UK SME lending landscape and could trigger further M&A among mid-tier lenders.