Fairstone announce acquisition of Mantle Financial Planning

Fairstone, one of the UK’s fastest growing wealth management businesses, kick start 2023 by announcing the acquisition of Mantle Financial Planning, adding more than £450m in FUM to the group.

The deal marks a solid start to the year for Fairstone, boosting the group’s strategic growth plans and nationwide coverage.

Principals Colin Caulfield and Clive Shaw explained that they joined Fairstone to get support in dealing with “the increasing difficulties of being a medium-sized IFA directly regulated by the FCA.”

Specialising in holistic financial planning for high-net-worth individuals, Mantle Financial Planning is based in Surrey, one of the country’s most affluent areas. Their acquisition brings 11 advisers and 16 staff into the group as well as more than 2000 clients.

Mantle joined Fairstone’s Downstream Buy Out (DBO) acquisition model in June 2020. Since then the business has utilised Fairstone’s support services to grow to deliver a 7% increase in client numbers and a 20% increase in new business revenue growth.

The firm will continue to receive ongoing support post acquisition to grow further and unlock additional opportunities to create long-term value, including a secondary capital event, through Fairstone’s five layered proposition. This provides the potential for firms to effectively double the market value of their business.

Mantle Financial Planning Principal Colin Caulfield said:

Colin Caulfield said: “Joining Fairstone was the right decision as they are an independent, Chartered, national firm which is not just interested in the client bank, but the company as a whole.

“We all look forward to becoming a full part of the successful Fairstone Group and firmly believe this will be in the long-term best interests of both our clients and the company.”

Fairstone’s proprietary DBO model integrates dynamic, forward-thinking IFA firms into the group, before final acquisition. The unique proposition provides firms with a series of upsides both pre and post-acquisition, which allows them to participate in the ongoing success of the group and secure long-term value.

Fairstone CEO Lee Hartley said:

“Mantle Financial Planning is a quality firm with first-class individuals, who share our dedication to exceptional service and are committed to long-term organic growth, making them an excellent addition to the Fairstone family.

“We have supported their growth through the integration phase, which is borne out in the increase in revenue and clients they have seen over the past two years.

“This demonstrates the unique strength of our acquisition model in that it gives firms the opportunity to be supported on a variety of levels to grow and maximise profits ahead of a sale, at a time determined by the business owner, safeguarding business value even during periods of market downturn.

“In simple terms we act as an investment partner for businesses joining us, providing the centralised resource, technology and capital to support sustainable growth ahead of a sale, making a real impact on profits and valuation.

“I am delighted to say we go into 2023 in an extremely strong position and look forward to announcing further expansion within the group.”