£450m Manchester wealth planning firm acquired by London headquartered Brown Shipley

North West financial planning and wealth management company The Roberts Partnership has been acquired by London firm Brown Shipley.

The deal will see Manchester-based Roberts, which has seven advisors and £450m in funds under management, become a subsidiary of Brown Shipley and join its existing Spinningfields office.

The acquisition will complete on November 1 2016.

Brown Shipley, a provider of wealth planning, investment management and private banking services, made the decision to acquire Roberts in a bid to enhance its regional presence and bolster its wealth planning offer.

Founded more than 200 years ago, Brown Shipley is a UK-authorised bank and forms part of European private banking network KBL European Private Bankers (KBL epb).

The Roberts Partnership chairman Tony Antczak said: “Brown Shipley and The Roberts Partnership are an excellent fit.

“Both firms have highly skilled people providing their clients with wealth planning and investment services.”

He continued: “We are excited to be joining Brown Shipley; it is a business with clear growth plans and a vision for the future.

“Joining Brown Shipley means we will be able to offer clients an even wider range of services and will enhance career opportunities for employees.”

Brown Shipley’s chief executive officer, Ian Sackfield, said of the acquisition: “I am pleased to announce today’s acquisition of The Roberts Partnership.

“Following on from our acquisition of Hampton Dean last year and KBL epb’s acquisition of Insinger de Beaufort, it further supports our growth plans, particularly in terms of enhancing our wealth planning proposition to meet the current and future needs of our clients.”

Speaking further, Mr Sackfield said he believes Brown Shipley and Roberts have “natural synergies”, in particular with their “shared emphasis on leading with advice for clients”.

He added: “I am confident the new team will make an important contribution to Brown Shipley and its future success.”

Brown Shipley was advised by law firm Irwin Mitchell on the transaction.