Nucleus Financial Platforms, which claims to be one of the UK’s largest adviser platform groups with £89bn of assets under administration (AUA) from 235,000 customers, has received approval from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for the acquisition of Third Financial.
Third Financial is an investment platform and software provider.
The acquisition enables the group “to further expand its ‘adviser-as-a-platform’ proposition, offering a complete range of platform, product and software solutions for advisory businesses and consolidators, as well as discretionary fund managers (DFMs).”
It’s fully aligned with Nucleus’ strategy of “building scale so it can continue investing in product, service and price, while Third Financial will benefit from the financial strength, opportunities and capabilities of the wider Nucleus group.”
Richard Rowney, Chief Executive Officer of Nucleus, said:
“We’re pleased to have received regulatory approval and now look forward to welcoming the Third Financial team into our group. The acquisition extends and complements our existing enterprise and ‘adviser-as-a-platform’ proposition, enabling us to offer a full spectrum of platform models to advisers, consolidators and DFMs of all types.”
As covered, the Nucleus Financial Platforms group “offers investment platforms and products exclusively to financial advisers, that ultimately help make retirement more rewarding.”
Known for its SIPP expertise, James Hay Partnership has “been working with larger financial advisory groups for more than 40 years, providing the means to administer pensions, savings and investments in a cost and tax efficient way.”
Their platform Nucleus was founded in 2006 “by advisers committed to altering the balance of power in the industry by putting the customer center stage.”
Curtis Banks is said to be one of the UK’s largest “administrators of SIPP and SSAS solutions for customers and businesses.”
It is one of Europe’s largest commercial property landlords, a specialist area for self-invested pensions. The business maintains a focus on providing high levels of technical support, robust service, modern technology and innovation.”
Together they’re reportedly one of “the UK’s leading, independent, adviser platform and product groups, with approximately £89 billion in assets under administration, helping nearly 5,500 advisers make retirement more rewarding for almost 235,000 customers.
As noted in the update, Third Financial is the UK’s investment platform “for the thinking wealth adviser and manager.”
It brings together its own market-leading technology and “the expertise of over 100 industry professionals within a culture of exceptional client service.”
It provides the core processing, asset servicing and market connectivity “for the management of over £50bn of assets.”
It delivers a full digital experience “to wealth professionals and their clients with the reassurance of friendly and expert support when required.”