Aust Unity result bolstered by FP acquisitions


Australian Unity's financial planning and estate planning acquisitions over the past 18 months have paid dividends for the company, according to its full-year results released to the Australian Securities Exchange today.
The results, revealing a 22.4 per cent increase in profit before tax to $42.9 million on the back of a 7.5 per cent increase in revenues to $1.4 billion, also pointed to the Australian Unity Personal Financial Services business increasing earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation increasing by 70 per cent to $3.9 million.
Dealing specifically with the Personal Financial Services business, the Australian Taxation Office announcement pointed to the outcome being strengthened by the company's strategic acquisitions with funds under advice increasing 70.2 per cent to $5.9 billion.
Commenting on the outcome, Australian Unity group managing director, Rohan Mead said it had been a year of strong growth and activity for the Personal Financial Services business.
He pointed to the acquisitions of Premium Wealth Management, Waratah Insurance Brokers, and Flinders Australia as having bolstered the business in a number of strategic operational areas.
"This acquisition activity adds to the existing strength of its position regarding opportunities emerging from the very significant regulatory and environment impacting the financial advice sector," Mead said.
Discussing the Premium Wealth Management acquisition, he said that it meant that Personal Financial Services now had 183 advisers, 102 financial planning practices, and 22 mortgage brokers.
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