Kingswood H. Regulatory News (KWG)

16th February 2022

KINGSWOOD HOLDINGS LIMITED 

Acquisition of Aim Independent Limited

Kingswood Holdings Limited ("Kingswood") announces the acquisition of Aim Independent Limited

The transaction boosts Kingswood's UK client facing advisory team to 94 people and increases UK funds under advice/management to a new milestone of over £7.2 billion from circa 19,300 active clients.

Kingswood Group assets under administration ("AuA") will total over £9.1 billion from a combination of both global retail and institutional clients matching our ambition to grow globally as an international integrated full service wealth and investment manager 

Kingswood Holdings Limited (AIM: KWG), the international, fully integrated wealth and investment management group, is pleased to announce it has exchanged and completed on an acquisition of Aim Independent Limited ("Aim") an independent financial advice business based in Eastleigh serving clients throughout Hampshire.

David Lawrence, UK CEO at Kingswood, commented:''My ambition for Kingswood is to become a leading wealth management advisory and Investment management business, breaking the £7bn AUA/M mark is a huge signal to that as we continue to grow our geographical footprint across the UK. Our acquisition of Aim will further expand that reach into a new county in the South. Aim was founded in 2000 and is run by Phil Watson and Andy Davies, who between them they have over 60 years' experience and an unrivalled commitment to their clients, which fits in perfectly with the culture and ethos at Kingswood. 

''This is our fourth acquisition of 2022 and we continue to have a strong pipeline of high-quality UK opportunities under negotiation, three of which are in exclusive due diligence. Our next near-term target is to build our UK AUA/M to in excess of £10bn in the U.K. and £14bn globally and we have the balance sheet to do so.''

About Aim Independent Limited

Aim provides financial advice to over 750 clients. Alongside Phil Watson and Andy Davies, they have three other advisers and six support colleagues looking after clients mainly based in Hampshire, holding around £217m AuA/M. In the year ending 31 July 2021, Aim generated revenue of £1.2m and profit before tax of £479k.

Following regulatory approval, the business will be acquired for total cash consideration of up to £3.6m, payable over a two-year period, £1.8m will be paid at closing and the balance paid on a deferred basis.

Phil Watson, Company principal, commented: ''We had two objectives we wanted to achieve when we began to search for a potential buyer, succession planning and economies of scale. With Kingswood we believe we have found the qualities of leadership, talent and knowledge to build on our reputation and create a stronger company with new pathways for growth. We are confident that we have made the right choice for both our colleagues and our clients for their future prosperity."

Consideration

On completion, the acquisition will be funded from funds recently received by Kingswood from the issue of new convertible preference shares, under the terms of its Convertible Preference Share subscription agreement with HSQ INVESTMENT LIMITED, a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of funds managed and/or advised by Pollen Street Capital Limited ("Pollen Street"). Kingswood's partnership with Pollen Street grows in strength, and to date has provided growth equity of £77.4 million to support existing and future acquisitions.

ENDS

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About Kingswood

Kingswood Holdings Limited (trading as Kingswood) is an AIM-listed (AIM: KWG) international fully integrated wealth management group with circa £9.0bn billion of Assets under Advice and Management. It services circa 19,000 clients from a growing network of offices in the UK including Abingdon, Beverley, Conisbrough, Darlington, Derby, Eastleigh, Grimsby, Harrogate, Hull, Lincoln, London, Maidstone, Newcastle, Sheffield (2), Worcester and York with overseas offices in Johannesburg, South Africa and Atlanta, New York and San Diego in US.

Kingswood offers a range of trusted investment solutions to its clients, which range from private individuals to some of the UK's largest universities and institutions, including investment advice and management, personal and company pensions and wealth planning. Kingswood is focused on becoming a leading player in the wealth and investment management market through targeted acquisitions in the UK and US, creating a global business through strategic partnerships.

Registered office address: Mont Crevelt House, Bulwer Avenue, St. Sampson, Guernsey, GY2 4LH