The acquisitive Financial Planning and wealth management firm Kingswood has today completed its deal to buy South-Yorkshire-based DJ Cooke (Life & Pensions) in a deal worth £1.5m.

Royal London and LV=, two large mutual providers, have abandoned merger talks, both firms confirmed today.

Royal London confirmed this morning that it was in “exploratory” takeover talks with rival mutual LV=.

Acquisitive Financial Planning group Kingswood has acquired Essex-based IFA Joseph R Lamb for £15.3m as its buying spree continues.