SSAS firm WestBridge is rebranding as The WBR Group after completing its acquisition of failed pension firm Rowanmoor’s SSAS business.

WestBridge said it has rebranded the whole business to WBR Group to reflect its relaunch as a larger organisation.

It now has a total of more than 4,000 SSASs, more than £4bn under administration, more than 3,500 properties under management and 150 employees across three sites.

Rowanmoor Executive Pensions Limited’s (REPL) business comprised a book of 3,500 small, self-administered schemes. Before the acquisition WestBridge had a SSAS book of around 1,000 schemes.

The acquisition included REPL’s actuarial team who have joined the company’s professional services team at WestBridge to increase the services offered.

The group is based in Leicester and following completion of the acquisition has added offices in Bolton and Salisbury.

Tom Moore, chief executive of WBR Group, said: “We have made no secret that we are acquisitive for the right books of business and have shown how we can successfully integrate them into the model.”

Rowanmoor was the second major acquisition the business had made following the purchase of the James Hay SSAS book in March 2021. 

Mr Moore said: “We are creating a hub of SSAS excellence, with a dedicated account manager model that is hard to beat. We have been really pleased at the response we have had from clients, staff, financial advisers and other intermediaries and can’t wait to continue to develop our people and grow our business.”

The group, established in 2016, provides specialist tax advice to the owner-managed business sector and high net worth individuals in addition to independent administration, consultancy, actuarial and trustee services for SSASs.

Mr Moore said: “The business has grown and evolved since its launch in 2016, particularly in the last two years, and we want to ensure that our brand and identity work continues for many years to come. 

“It is important to acknowledge the businesses that have joined us through acquisition and to have a clear business strategy that everyone understands and can focus on. That is why we have also unveiled a fresh and modern brand identity and a new name, WBR Group.”