Listed investment company WAM Capital , led by chairman Geoff Wilson , has increased its stake in Emerging Leaders Investments to about 18 per cent from 15 per cent, sources told Street Talk Online on Wednesday. An announcement disclosing the purchase is expected Wednesday afternoon.

The move is consistent with WAM Capital’s strategy of taking select opportunities to grow by picking off the smaller listed investment companies. The group received the green light to merge with Premium Investors in December, forming a $300 million company with more than 8500 shareholders.