Phillips & Cohen Associates (UK) Ltd, the Manchester-based deceased account management business, has completed the acquisition of Ardent Credit Services Ltd, the Liverpool-based debt recovery and credit management services provider, following approval from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Ardent will now formally become a wholly owned subsidiary of PCA’s UK business.
Adam Cohen, Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Phillips & Cohen Associates, says the announcement will help accelerate plans for integrating the two companies: “An approval process that we expected to take months has been completed in weeks. In our view, this reflects the confidence the FCA has in the credibility, professionalism, and senior leadership of our two organisations,” he says.
“We can now move quickly with our plans for closer collaboration, building on our long-term strategy to further extend the range of services we can deliver to our clients in the UK and internationally.”
Plans for the intended acquisition were announced in February and were subject to FCA approval. Steve Murray, the Founder and CEO of Ardent Credit Services, will stay in an advisory capacity in the short term to ensure a smooth transition of the business. John Ricketts continues as Managing Director, reporting to the Chief Operating Officer at Phillips & Cohen Associates, Nick Cherry.
In completing the acquisition, PCA is adding 26-years of proven expertise and excellence in the UK collections industry, having been attracted by Ardent’s ‘digital first’ approach to business and a like-minded approach to how customers should be treated, which goes above and beyond the remit of Treating Customers Fairly.
Nick Cherry says that the ambition now is to grow: “It’s an exciting time for the business, our people, and the local community as we have the ‘green light’ from the FCA to write the next chapter in the PCA/Ardent history,” he concludes.
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About Phillips & Cohen Associates, Ltd.
Phillips & Cohen Associates, Ltd. is a specialty receivable management company providing customized services to creditors in a variety of unique market segments. Phillips & Cohen Associates, Ltd is domestically headquartered in Wilmington, DE, with additional offices in Colorado and Florida as well as its International Headquarters in the UK, offices in Canada, Spain, Germany, and Australia. The PCA family of companies includes Invenio Financial, a wholly-owned debt acquisition company and The Estate Registry (TER) line of products, including InheritNOW, NotifyNOW and LegacyNOW. For more information about Phillips & Cohen Associates visit www.phillips-cohen.com. PCA provides Equal Employment Opportunity for all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, genetic information, and any other basis protected by federal, state, or local laws.
About Ardent Credit Services Ltd.
Established in 1997, Ardent Credit Services Ltd is a highly regarded provider of early arrears (including white label) and post charge-off collections to a wide range of blue-chip companies. Based in Liverpool, UK, Ardent employs 115 staff and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. We pride ourselves on being passionate, dedicated and thoughtful in our service delivery, whilst placing the customer at the heart of all our decisions. For more information visit www.ardentcredit.co.uk.