bell financial group (ASX:BFG) Announces $58 million offer to acquire 100% of Selfwealth (ASX:SWF) Through a scheme of arrangement. The offer includes a price of $0.25 per share, representing a 108% premium over SelfWealth’s last closing price of $0.12 prior to initial negotiations.

Bell Financial Group is a diversified financial services and wealth management business. Headquartered in Melbourne, the company offers financial products across retail and institutional broking, a proprietary technology platform, lending, cash and investment solutions. Bell manages more than $94 billion in client assets and operates domestically and internationally with offices in cities including New York, London and Hong Kong.

Selfwealth is an online brokerage that offers a flat-fee, user-friendly trading platform for individual investors. Known for its transparent pricing model, Selfwealth provides access to ASX and US equities. The platform also features a unique peer comparison tool, allowing users to benchmark their portfolios against top-performing investors.

SelfWealth shareholders can choose between cash, Bell Financial scrip, or a combination of both, with the scrip option capped at 50% of the total consideration. The deal is expected to add 130,000 active portfolios to Bell’s platform and increase sponsored holdings to $94 billion.

SelfWealth’s Board of Directors has unanimously recommended the proposal and is awaiting independent expert advice and shareholder approval.

Planning meetings are expected by March 2025, with completion subject to regulatory and court approvals.

Bell Financial Chairman Brian Wilson expressed confidence in the seamless integration, saying the acquisition will “maintain the SelfWealth brand” and enhance service to customers.

SelfWealth shares rose 4% to 26 cents.