MWA Financial (MWA) has acquired leading Kent-based independent financial adviser Knighthood Financial Advice (KFA) in a deal that will see the national advice business further expand its operations across the Southeast.

The acquisition, which is the first major deal done by MWA using long-term growth capital provided by independently owned private equity house Coniston Capital, adds c£100m of AUA to the Group, an established office in Kent and a loyal and engaged client-base of over 400 households.

Founded in its current form nine years ago by experienced advisers and long-term colleagues David Tyler, James Richards and Kevin Howard, KFA has built an enviable reputation for the quality of advice and ongoing service that benefits hundreds of families. The three advisers and their support staff will all remain with the business, integrating into and rebranding as MWA Financial Advice with immediate effect to benefit from the Group’s scale and centralised operating systems.

MWA was launched by chief executive Campbell Banks in 2016 with the ambition of recreating here in the UK the holistic advice model prevalent in his native Australia. Banks has more than 25 years’ experience developing financial advice networks in Australia for the likes of ING, AXA Asia Pacific and AMP.

Ed Rosengarten became executive chairman of MWA in 2021 to help accelerate and execute its growth strategy. Before joining, Rosengarten was head of funds at Smith & Williamson and, prior to that, spent 20 years at M&G, the last ten of which as chief executive of the firm’s equity business.

Coniston Capital took a minority stake in MWA towards the end of 2023 in exchange for an injection of growth capital that significantly increased MWA’s acquisition power. Since then, the business has been putting in place a pipeline of deals and initiatives designed to take AUA above the £1bn mark.

Headquartered in London, MWA Financial currently has offices in Hertfordshire, Hampshire, Essex, Oxfordshire, London, Cornwall, Kent and the Scottish Borders.

Commenting on the deal CEO Campbell Banks said: “The acquisition of KFA marks another important milestone for the Group and an exciting next step for our growth strategy. In addition to a profitable business with a highly engaged and happy client base, we have gained an experienced and efficient team with the ambition, ability and incentive to play a major role in the future direction and growth of MWA. It is the perfect example of the kind of business that sits at the heart of our acquisition strategy and we are thrilled to have them on board.”

Commenting David Tyler said: “What Cam, Ed and the team have created at MWA is testament to the considerable experience they have in the sector and the unwavering passion they have for building a market-leading advice business. From our earliest conversations there were clear and obvious synergies in both our thinking and business practices that made the decision to agree a deal an easy one.“

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For more information contact:

Andrew Appleyard, MRM - 07909 684 468 / andrew.appleyard@mrm-london.com