Nucleus, one of the UK’s leading independent financial planning and retirement-focused platforms, was formed in 2021 through the combination of James Hay Partnership and Nucleus Financial Group, a merger on which Macfarlanes also advised.

This deal will see HPS acquire a majority stake in Nucleus, with Epiris retaining a significant minority interest alongside Nucleus’ management team.

The Macfarlanes team for this matter was led by corporate and M&A partners Stephen Drewitt and Adam Campbell, alongside senior solicitor Felicity Powell and solicitors Jon Webb and Helen Connolly.

Finance advice was provided by partner Kirstie Hutchinson alongside solicitor Owen Giles with tax expertise coming from senior counsel Sarah Shucksmith and senior solicitors Saba Palizi and Mark Petch. Advice on commercial matters came from partner Will Hedges and senior solicitor Rosie Duckworth and competition expertise came from partner Malcolm Walton. Partner Camilla Barry and senior solicitor Stacey Yon provided advice on pensions aspects of the deal, with partner Andrew Henderson and senior solicitor Joy Davey advising on financial services law.