The financial services business has announced it is divesting its lending aggregation business, excluding the back book, to Astute Financial Management.
Centrepoint Alliance, which provides a range of financial services to financial advice firms and customers, announced today (17 February) that it is divesting its lending aggregation business to Astute Financial Management as part of a strategic pivot toward its core advice operations.
As at June 2025, Centrepoint had a loan book of $3.4 billion with 75 brokers providing lending services to financial advisers.
Under the terms of the agreement, Centrepoint will transfer its “front-book” aggregation capability to Astute, while retaining its existing back-book revenue. Astute will then be able to receive all new-business revenue generated from the lending aggregation business.
Centrepoint will also secure the financial advice licence margin from Astute-aligned advisers operating under the Centrepoint Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL).
The transaction, expected to be completed by 31 March 2026, formalises a long-term commercial operating model between the two firms, allowing each to focus on its respective specialisations.
According to Centrepoint, the move represents a “simplification” of its business model. By offloading a “non-core, sub-scale” aggregation arm, the group aims to sharpen its focus on licensee services, managed accounts, and platforms.
Despite the divestment, Centrepoint will retain its Lending-as-a-Service (LaaS) business, credit licence, and salaried brokers. This will help ensure its advisers can still access integrated lending solutions without the group needing to operate a full-scale aggregator.
Astute Financial, meanwhile, will use the acquisition to bolster its national broker network, consolidating lender relationships and processing under its specialist aggregator platform.
The group stated the deal is earnings-accretive and will provide greater margin stability through the secured recurring licence fees.
The revenue exchange is projected to deliver an uplift in Centrepoint’s earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amorisation of approximately $0.4 million per annum starting from the financial year 2027.
Speaking of the deal, John Shuttleworth, CEO of Centrepoint, described the agreement as a “natural next step” in the company’s transformation.
“By divesting a non-core, sub-scale aggregation business and securing the full licence margin from Astute-aligned advisers under our AFSL, we strengthen our recurring revenue base and sharpen our focus on delivering high-quality advice services,” Shuttleworth said.
“We have enjoyed a long and constructive relationship with Astute, and this new operating model aligns both organisations to what they do best.”
Astute director Brad Wood noted that the deal allows the firm to expand its aggregation platform and deliver greater value through scale.
“The combined strengths of both organisations will ensure advisers and clients benefit from a co-ordinated, high-quality lending and advice experience,” Wood said.
Both organisations have committed to a “business as usual” transition, ensuring no disruption to brokers, advisers, or clients during the migration process.
More to come.
