** Shares of U.S. asset investment firm Monroe Capital
up 17.2% at $9.48 premarket
** French investment company Wendel to buy 75% stake in Monroe Capital for $1.13 bln; to also invest $1 bln in Monroe's capital
** Wendel and may pay up to 250 mln euros (~$271 mln) for remaining stake over 2028-2032 based on growth of Monroe's fee-related earnings
** As of last close, MRCC up about 15% YTD
($1 = 0.9238 euros)
(Reporting by Sukriti Gupta in Bengaluru)
((Sukriti.Gupta@thomsonreuters.com;))