SUCCESSION HOLDINGS’ RESULTS – YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2015

SUCCESSION HOLDINGS’ RESULTS – YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2015

Succession Holdings, the vertically integrated, financial services organisation incorporating a bespoke wealth planning service, Succession Group, and platform and consultancy business, Succession Advisory Services, has reported strong growth in 2015.

Turnover for the year to 31 December 2015 was £24.5m (2014: 14.8m) and the business achieved an operating profit of £1.3m (2014: £0.8m loss) before goodwill and intangible asset amortisation.

Investment platform

Audited accounts, filed on 30 September 2016 at Companies House, confirm total revenues from platform and membership fees were £7.7m, reflecting year-on-year increase of 22%. This growth follows a 12% increase to £2.30bn in funds under management at the end of 2015, and continues apace in 2016 to £3bn (Sept 2016).

A key factor in the company’s success and continued strong growth is that clients of acquired firms are attracted, when it is in their best interests, to placing their investments on the Succession Investment Platform, because it is part of the same group as their advisory firm. This is a unique position in the marketplace, which continues to deliver strong retention of client funds.

The growth of the award winning investment platform (Winner of Schroders Best Wealth Management Platform, 2016), offering one of the widest choice of funds available, resulted in a profit before taxation of £1.6m for the financial year (2014: £1.4m).

Advice

Succession has undertaken significant investment in operational infrastructure to rapidly integrate acquired firms and deliver a comprehensive wealth planning service to clients. Increasing economies of scale will be achieved as further acquisitions are implemented.

An experienced management team, and an operational and integration support structure, will manage the significant anticipated future growth in the business as Succession continues its long term consolidation strategy, acquiring the best 50 firms from its affiliated membership.

Succession has additionally invested in management personnel to support proprietary technology initiatives for the front, middle and back office, and prime regional locations for its client servicing hubs.

Ten acquisitions were made in 2015, taking the total number of acquired businesses to 21, representing an investment of almost £55m.

Turnover for the advisory business, Succession Group, increased from £8.5m to £16.7m. Operating profit (before goodwill amortisation and parent company operational running costs) improved by £2.3m to £1m.

Group Chief Executive Simon Chamberlain commented: “We are at the half way point in our strategic plan to create the UK’s largest independent wealth management business and have achieved robust performance in all business areas. Funds under management continue to grow strongly, our advice and platform trading arms are profitable and all this helps to demonstrate the strength and appeal of our proposition for clients and business owners.”

Looking ahead, Mr Chamberlain said: “We will continue with our plan to grow the business. We have already made 25 acquisitions, including four this year, and we are on target to acquire 50 firms by the end of 2018. We have financial strength and the continued support from our shareholders to execute our plan.

Our proven acquisition and integration model continues to attract interest from ambitious wealth planning businesses, as well as appealing to high quality individual IFAs who are seeking security and recognition within a supportive and rewarding framework. We fully expect that the significant investment in the acquisition and development of newly acquired firms will lead to strong growth in our assets and in our future operating profits. Economies of scale, enhanced technology and improved management should all have a very positive impact on future profit numbers.”

For further information, please contact:

Nicola Bryson, Head of PR, Whitehall Communications, Tel : 07717 854536

OR

Jane Day, Managing Director, Whitehall Communications, Tel : 07795 262865