SEI Announces Acquisition of National Pensions Trust and Strategic Partnership with XPS

14 July 2023

Deal Supports Long-Term Business Growth and Enhanced Member Outcomes

SEI® (NASDAQ:SEIC) today announced that SEI Investments (Europe) Limited (SIEL), its wholly-owned operating subsidiary in the United Kingdom, has entered into an option agreement to acquire the outstanding equity of XPS Pensions (Nexus) Limited, principal employer and scheme funder of the National Pensions Trust (NPT), from its parent company, XPS Pensions Group PLC (XPS). The transaction reinforces SEI’s focus on the use of strategic transactions to accelerate growth, and it enhances SIEL’s competitive market presence and defined contribution proposition for employers and pension scheme members.

Wayne Withrow, Head of Global Asset Management at SEI, said: “As we continue our global focus on investing in three key strategic areas of talent, culture, and growth, this opportunity reinforces our commitment to the UK region while increasing our competitive presence in the defined contribution market. We’ve identified the master trust business as an opportunity for SIEL to participate in a high-growth area of the pensions industry. This builds upon our purchase of the Atlas Master Trust in 2021, which marked the beginning of our execution on an inorganic growth strategy to acquire assets and increase our market presence in this segment. We believe that adding the National Pensions Trust further enhances that foundation from which we seek to achieve scale and drive growth.”

The total cash consideration payable to XPS for Nexus is up to £42.5 million, comprised of a £35 million initial consideration paid at closing and deferred consideration of up to £7.5 million that may be earned over two years after the closing, subject to the achievement of certain post-closing performance measurements. The transaction is expected to close before year end, subject to applicable regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions.

• Completion of a carve out of the target business whereby NPT and certain related assets are transferred from XPS to Nexus
• Applicable regulatory approval
• Other customary closing conditions

The transaction is not a material acquisition for SEI.

Founded in 2009, NPT is a leading master trust in the UK with over 60,000 members and £1.4 billion in assets. Total combined assets of NPT and the SEI Master Trust, one of the first commercial master trust providers in the UK, will be approximately £3.4 billion. SIEL will welcome nine employees to its Institutional business, and one of the NPT trustees will join SEI Trustees Limited.

The deal also creates a long-term strategic partnership between XPS and SIEL, in which XPS will continue to support the NPT with pensions administration and consultancy to help ensure continuity of service to members and clients, as well as provide wider support to the SEI Master Trust in the future.

Paul Cuff, Co-CEO of XPS Pensions Group, said: “We are delighted to reach this agreement with SIEL to benefit our clients and their members with a market-leading master trust. This is an exciting journey, and with this strategic partnership, both organisations will continue to bring the best of what we each do.”

Steve Charlton, Managing Director of Defined Contribution, EMEA and Asia, for SEI’s Institutional business, added: “As we continue to expand the SEI Master Trust, we are well-positioned to provide the premier service, investment management, and technology solutions for our members. Our expertise—combined with the addition of XPS’ high-quality pension administration services—will further enable us to deliver improved member outcomes. We look forward to welcoming the National Pensions Trust clients, members, and team, so we can build upon both of our success.”

Source: SEI