Acquisition Due Diligence - Thistle Initiatives

Since 2012 we have advised on acquisition transactions worth over £8 billion, both in the UK and internationally

You can count on us for robust acquisition due diligence reports, practical guidance and help you fully understand the regulatory risk in any transaction.

Our approach focuses on the key risks within the target’s business model, looking at governance, culture, advice history, portfolio management and testing consumer outcomes. As well as pricing and product line profit and adherence to the FCA’s Product Intervention and Product Governance Sourcebook.

Download our Acquisition Due Diligence brochure

We support acquisition due diligence to businesses in a wide range of sectors including Investments, Payment services, Insurance and Credit and Mortgages.

The regulatory compliance review and audit services we provide include:

FCA correspondence history (including any disciplinary action)
FCA financial returns and compliance with Prudential Regulation, including group consolidation
Internal governance and systems and controls against FCA objectives
Suitability as evidenced in investment and pension transfer files (including conducting file checks)
Investments sold (standard and non-standard)
Professional Indemnity Insurance cover (including exclusions)
Client money and client assets (CASS) controls
Complaints history
IT governance, systems, and controls against financial and cyber crime
Senior Managers and Certification Function persons’ roles, responsibilities and contracts
AML risk framework

How our process works

Step 1

Initial scoping exercise, includes senior management controls, culture, regulatory history, and financial exposure from legacy advice or management of assets

Step 2

Initial report flagging risks or issues before appointing accountants and solicitors and incurring those costs

Step 3

Undertake a full acquisition due diligence exercise covering everything from operations, systems and controls and IT, to culture and sustainability

Step 4

A detailed risk-based report and advise on its implications. As well as a risk-assessed report presented to your board, highlighting issues and a mitigation plan

Step 5

Expert assistance with your Section 178 Change of Controller application

Step 6

Liaise with the regulator prior to submission, draft and submit your application, and handle all follow-up with the FCA

Looking for sell-side regulatory due diligence?

If you are selling, we can help you prepare for either a full or partial sale. If you are seeking investment, our expert team can prepare you for the questions you will be asked about your business and its senior management.

If needed, we can also introduce you to solicitors and accountants, who can help you prepare your business, and to potential acquirers or investment companies.

Some of our recent deals

images

Titan Wealth acquisition of Independent Wealth Planners

Find out more

18 December 2024

Connection Capital

Connection Capital acquisition of Hood Group Ltd

Find out more

7 November 2024

CBPE

Clifton-Asset-Management

CBPE investment in Clifton Asset Management

Find out more

4 November 2024

Tavistock

Saltus acquisition of Tavistock

Find out more

9 October 2024

Oaktree

Close Brothers Asset Management

Oaktree acquisition of Close Brothers Asset Management

Find out more

2 October 2024

Wren Sterling

Wren Sterling acquisition of In Focus Group

Find out more

16 August 2024

Skerritts acquisition of Black Swan Financial Planning

Find out more

11 July 2024

My Pension Expert

Tenet&You

My Pension Expert acquisition of Tenet&You

Find out more

5 June 2024

Titan Wealth

Loveday & Partners

Titan Wealth acquisition of Loveday & Partners

Find out more

24 April 2024

Pollen Street

Mattioli-Woods

Pollen Street Capital acquisition of Mattioli Woods

Find out more

8 March 2024

Charlesbank

Perspective

Perspective Financial Group Limited being acquired by Charlesbank Capital Partners LLC

Find out more

12 February 2024

Chadwick McLean

Skerritts Group acquisition of Chadwick McLean

Find out more

19 December 2023

Liberate Wealth-2

Stafford House Investments-1

Liberate Wealth acquistion of Stafford House Investments

Find out more

11 December 2023

Telford Mann-1

Titan Wealth-1

Telford Mann on completion of its transaction with Titan Wealth

Find out more

24 November 2023

Titan Wealth-1

Titan Wealth on completion of its transaction with Parthenon Capital

Find out more

21 November 2023

Titan Wealth-1

Titan Wealth being acquired by Prism Financial Advice Ltd

Find out more

12 October 2023

Skerritts Group being acquired by Ambrose Fisher Ltd

Find out more

2 October 2023

One Four Nine Group acquisition of 1st Chartered

Find out more

25 September 2023

Wren Sterling-3

Stock and Co deal

Wren Sterling acquisition of Stockdale & Co deal

Find out more

22 September 2023

One-Four-Nine-Group

One Four Nine Group acquisition of Rainbird & Co

Find out more

18 July 2023

Wren Sterling-2

Wren Sterling acquisition of Ralston Bennett Financial Planning and Callisto Wealth

Find out more

25 May 2023

Titan Wealth-1

Titan Wealth acquisition of Ravenscroft Investments Management

Find out more

24 May 2023

Wren Sterling-1

Wren Sterling acquisition of Active Wealth Management Limited and HB&O Financial Services

Find out more

5 April 2023

Mercier Allen and Associates

Skerritts acquisition of Mercier Allen Associates

Find out more

4 April 2023

Craven Street

Bernard Barrett Associates

Craven Street Wealth acquisition of Bernard Barrett Associates

Find out more

10 March 2023

Parthenon Capital

Titan Wealth Holdings acquisition of Parthenon Capital Investment

Find out more

2 March 2023

Wren Sterling

Wren Sterling acquisition of Morfitt & Turnbull

Find out more

23 January 2023

Telford Mann

Telford Mann acquisition by Titan Wealth Holdings

Find out more

4 January 2023

Verso Wealth Management acquisition of IEP Financial

Find out more

15 December 2022

Final_heritage.complete

Verso Wealth Management acquisition of Heritage

Find out more

15 December 2022

Skerritts Group acquisition of PS Financial Advisers Ltd

Find out more

1 September 2022

Verso Wealth Management acquisition of Campbell Thomson Insurance Services

Find out more

22 August 2022

One Four Nine Group acquisition of Russell Gibson Financial Management

Find out more

12 August 2022

Preservation Capital Partners becoming majority shareholder of Saltus Group

Find out more

4 August 2022

One Four Nine Group acquisition of APC Financial Solutions & Consultancy Services

Find out more

22 July 2022

Wren Sterling Financial Group acquisition of Critchleys Financial Planning LLP

Find out more

15 July 2022

Baggette Asset Management being acquired by Titan Wealth Holdings

Find out more

5 July 2022