Fast-growing national Financial Planning firm Wren Sterling has completed the acquisition of south coast adviser business the In Focus Group, for an undisclosed amount.

The deal will see £450m of assets and 2,500 clients transfer to Wren Sterling.

In Focus’s Fareham office will become Wren Sterling’s new Solent office on the south coast.

The deal is Wren Sterling’s third deal of the year. It completed the acquisition of the Financial Planning division of the Kent-based insurance broker and financial adviser the Howe Maxted Group in July.

In March it bought £265m AUM Newcastle-under-Lyme firm TW Financial Planning.

The In Focus Group is led by managing director Nick Stewart and is comprised of two other companies previously acquired by In Focus: Certus and Hughes Carne.

Nine advisers and 10 support team members will transfer to Wren Sterling.

James Twining, Wren Sterling’s chief executive, said: “Nick and his team have built a business through careful acquisition but also high levels of entrepreneurialism, which aligns with our strategy to give our advisers the freedom to grow their business.

“The south coast is an important strategic location for us too. It gives us the ability to expand across Southampton, Portsmouth and the surrounding area.”

Nick Stewart, said: “Access to Wren Sterling’s resources and structure will allow us to continue to grow. What’s more, Wren Sterling’s experience in completing acquisitions means we could transition with the minimum of disruption to our clients.”

Wren Sterling has expanded rapidly in recent years. Last summer it added £400m in AUM after taking over Guildford-based IFA Messer & Matthews in July and also acquired a majority stake in Cornwall-based The Stockdale Group. The two deals added around 1,000 clients.

In May last year Nottingham-based Wren expanded into Northern Ireland with the acquisition of Ralston Bennett Financial Planning and Aspects Financial. The firm has also expanded its presence in the North West with the acquisition of St Helens-based Callisto Wealth, which has become part of Wren Sterling’s North West hub in Wilmslow.

Other acquisitions in recent times included Active Wealth Management and HB&O Financial Services, adding 860 clients and £330m in assets.

Wren Sterling Group is backed by Lightyear Capital, a New York-based private equity business that specialises in financial services investments, following a secondary management buyout that took place in December 2021.