Chartered Financial Planning firm Fairstone signed up London-based Premier Portfolio Financial Services to its downstream buy-out programme.

The firm is the third to join Fairstone’s proprietary acquisition framework this year, with the aim of fully integrating the company prior to full-acquisition.

The deal brings four staff and total ongoing fee revenue of £550k and £40m AUM to the wider business.

Fairstone services 41,000 private clients with over £8.1bn in investment and pension assets.

Founded in 1995, Premier Portfolio Financial Services is a firm of independent financial advisers predominantly working in the corporate sector together with a number of high net worth clients.

The firm provides wide-ranging advice on pensions, including SIPPs and SSAS.

Fairstone says the downstream buy out approach ensures that companies are fully-integrated with the company prior to final acquisition, ensuring a “seamless transition” for clients and a “business-as-usual environment” for staff.

Commenting on the deal, Adam Salomon, company principal at Premier Portfolio Financial Services, said: “We wanted to put in place a plan for the business which will protect our valued client relationships long into the future.

“Fairstone offered the opportunity to join a company with world class infrastructure, professionalism and a partnership that puts the interests of our clients first.”

Fairstone CEO, Lee Hartley, said: “We are very pleased to bring another successful, high quality business into our downstream buy out programme.

“Premier Portfolio Financial Services will now be able to take advantage of Fairstone’s support and infrastructure to grow the business without compromising on client service or independence.”

He added: “Our DBO programme continues to be a core driver of growth for the business and to already have signed up our third firm of the year highlights the strength of our proposition.”