Buckles, the Welsh IFA firm which is majority-owned by South Africa’s Sanlam group, plans to buy three UK advisory firms early next year along with restarting its graduate recruitment programme, Money Marketing reports.

Nigel Speirs, currently Buckles’ chief executive, is reported to have said that the firm was still “very much in acquisition mode” and will acquire three IFA firms in the next quarter. Buckles is also looking to recruit 22 graduates over the course of 2010, continuing an expansion programme that has seen the firm acquire UK IFAs ML Financial Services and Highgrove Investments over the past year.

Buckles has also named its new chief executive following Mr Speirs' appointment as Sanlam’s head of distribution, according to the publication. He will remain as chairman of Buckles when current sales director Chris Kerin takes over at the helm.

Buckles had not responded to WealthBriefing’s enquiries on the matter at the time of publication.

Sanlam bought its 60 per cent stake in Buckles in April 2008 as part of its aim to establish an advisory and wealth management business in the UK.