Financial Planner and wealth manager Tavistock Investments has acquired Liverpool-based fintech AI agent and support firm Plus Group in a deal potentially worth up toup to £16m to boost its AI capabilities.
The new owner is expected to rebrand the enlarged company as Vertex following the takeover.
The deal is for an initial £900,000 cash payment, with an additional £3.6m due over 18 months and up to £11.5m in deferred consideration, dependent on performance.
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Tavistock has acquired 87.9% of Plus Group, which provides AI agent technology and paraplanning services to UK financial advisory firms.
Plus Group’s turnover in its last financial year to 30 September 2025 was just under £1m and it posted profit before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of around £340,000.
Tavistock said the deal strengthened its AI capability and technology offering and aligns with its strategy to become a technology-enabled financial services group, rebranding as Vertex.
In a statement to the stock market, Berkshire-based Tavistock said: “Artificial intelligence is expected to transform financial services over the coming decade and beyond. Tavistock believes the greatest opportunity lies not in replacing advisers, but in equipping them with intelligent tools that ease administrative burdens and improve consistency, thereby allowing them to spend more time delivering value to clients.”
Tavistock had previously said it planned to become an “industry disruptor” after completing the £6m acquisition of Lifetime Financial Management in April, a move it said would help roll out its AI and hybrid advice ambitions.
Tavistock is planning to rebrand the whole business as Vertex, its fintech brand name, as it seeks to launch a hybrid advice model and target a wider audience.
Brian Raven, chief executive of Tavistock Investments (pictured, left), said: “The acquisition of Plus Group marks another important milestone in Tavistock’s long-term strategy to build a modern, technology-enabled financial services business for retail investors.
“As we rebrand into Vertex Group, we are keen to become a dominant force in providing personalised, human-centric financial advice to everyone regardless of wealth. In our view, AI adoption will disrupt financial services but not by eliminating the need for advisers. Rather, it will supercharge productivity and truly open up financial advice to retail investors, beyond the privileged few.”
Scott Daniels, founder of Plus Group (right), added: “We share a common vision of using technology to support advisers rather than replace them, allowing professionals to focus on building stronger client relationships whilst intelligent automation supports the work behind the scenes.”
Tavistock also acquired asset manager Alpha Beta Partners in February 2025 as part of a move to refocus its business on providing financial wellbeing to every segment of the UK population “regardless of wealth.”
