Xafinity to acquire Target Group for £153m

Xafinity, has announced its intention to acquire from Punter Southall Group its actuarial consulting, pensions administration and investment consulting businesses Target Group for £153m.

The Target Group comprises three businesses. The Actuarial Consulting Business, which provides actuarial advice to the trustees or employer sponsors of approximately 425 UK occupational pension schemes.

The Pensions Administration Business, which administers pensions for approximately 380,000 scheme members belonging to more than 200 UK occupational pension schemes.

And thirdly, the Investment Consulting Business. which provides specialist consulting services, including investment strategy, risk management and investment governance, to the trustees or employer sponsors of over 115 UK occupational pension schemes.

Target numbers

The Target Group reported revenue for the year ended 31 December 2016 of approximately £51m and Adjusted EBITDA of approximately £11m.

The acquisition is conditional upon, among other things, Xafinity shareholders' approval and receipt of proceeds from the Capital Raising, and is expected to complete on 11 January 2018.

Commenting on the proposed deal Paul Cuff & Ben Bramhall, co-CEOs of Xafinity, said:" The deal will create the largest "pure-play" pensions consultancy firm in the UK market.  We both have a personal and long-standing affiliation with Punter Southall, and we believe that the addition of their like-minded and high-quality staff will contribute significantly to Xafinity's position in the market.”