The boards of OneFamily and Scottish Friendly have announced proposals to merge, bringing together two mutual life assurance providers with almost £10bn assets under management and serving more than 2.3m members across the UK.
The merger is expected to be effective from early 2027. The proposal will be subject to all necessary approvals, including regulatory approval.
Operating under the group name of OneFamily, the Scottish Friendly brand will remain as part of a multi-brand group alongside the OneFamily and Beagle Street brands.
Insurer Guardian is an appointed representative of Scottish Friendly with all products supplied by the mutual.
It confirmed to Health & Protection that if approved, Guardian will become an appointed representative of the new entity as it is currently with Scottish Friendly.
“The announcement has no impact on our customers, our staff, or the products and policies we provide,“ it continued.
On OneFamily’s Beagle Street launch into the intermediary market will be affected, it added: “Our commitment to bringing the Beagle Street brand into the intermediary market remains.
“We are focused on continuing to build a first-class technology solution and protection proposition, listening closely to advisers. We are excited to share more on this soon.”
Two bases remain
The two mutuals noted the combined organisation will bring together both workforces and they will continue to invest in their Brighton and Glasgow bases, with no immediate impact on staff.
John McGuigan, chairman of Scottish Friendly will chair the combined organisation, while Jim Islam, CEO of OneFamily, will take the role of CEO.
These appointments will take effect when the merger is effective, and are subject to regulatory approval.
The boards of both organisations have agreed the principles of the merger, and a detailed integration plan will be developed and put in place in the months ahead with the merger expected to be effective early in 2027, subject to regulatory approval, the mutuals said.
John McGuigan, chairman of Scottish Friendly, said: “This is a powerful opportunity to build long-term value for our members.
“Joining together with OneFamily will create a strong and future-focused mutual life assurer that will be one of the largest in the UK. It’s an important new chapter that builds on our successful heritage and sets a pathway for sustainable growth.
“Our organisations have a great deal in common, and we share pride in our mutual values. By combining, we will benefit from increased scale that will enable us to maximise our potential and make a difference in the market.
“Our shared values, our members and our colleagues will be at the heart of our thinking as we shape our future plans together.”
Steve Colsell, chairman of OneFamily, said: “Both our boards recognise the significant opportunity that this presents for us to accelerate the development of our mutual proposition.
“OneFamily has taken some bold steps to progress in recent years, investing in technology and modernisation, and extending the range of products we can offer customers.
“Joining together with Scottish Friendly is the next step forwards on that journey.
“We are delighted to have reached this agreement together and are excited to see our plans take shape.”
Jim Islam CEO of OneFamily, said: “Bringing together these two successful mutuals is an exciting prospect.
“I am inspired by the potential to pool our strengths and capabilities. Together we will offer a comprehensive investment and protection platform that will support today’s families as they build their financial futures.
“This is an important moment to build a stronger and more sustainable mutual.
“There is a great deal of commitment from the UK and Scottish Governments in encouraging the growth of the mutual sector, and we see many consumers choosing purpose-led organisations that focus on creating value for members. That’s what sets mutuals apart. Our proposal will mean we will be better placed to maximise this opportunity.”
Stephen McGee, CEO of Scottish Friendly, added: “A merger with OneFamily joins two organisations built on common values, organisations that put customers at the heart of everything we do and who care deeply about their colleagues and their communities.
“By combining and leveraging our respective strengths, we can build on what we have already achieved and accelerate the delivery of our vision.
“Together, we have a significant opportunity to create even greater value for our members, both today and in the future.”
