London-listed pension consolidator Chesnara has announced a return to profit in the first half of 2026, recording a pre-tax profit of £61m. This marks a significant turnaround from a £5m loss in the same period last year.
The firm's revenue soared to £255.9m, up from £136m, following the integration of HSBC Life UK's portfolio. This acquisition added £5bn in assets under administration and 440,000 active policies to Chesnara's holdings.
Chesnara is also anticipating a further boost from its £100m takeover of Lloyds' Scottish Widows Europe, which is expected to formally conclude "around the end of 2026." This deal, agreed in February, is projected to add approximately €1.7bn in assets under administration and about 46,000 in-force policies.
Chief executive Steve Murray stated that the company is actively exploring additional takeover opportunities, citing a "healthy M&A pipeline." The addition of HSBC's portfolio also contributed to a 79 per cent increase in the group's total operating capital generation, reaching £96m. Chesnara has also increased its dividend by six per cent to 8.16 per share, marking its 22nd consecutive year of increased returns.