The latest mergers, acquisitions and other corporate actions in the wealth management sector.

Lync Wealth Management
Lync Wealth Management has bolstered its presence in Northern Ireland by acquiring two more Belfast-based financial planning firms. Carleton Financial Planning and RJ Savage Asset Management have both joined Lync Wealth Management, adding approximately £300 million ($405 million) in assets under advice (AuA).

Combined with Lync's existing Northern Ireland business, North Financial Management, the acquisitions bring regional AuA to more than £350 million.

The transactions form part of Lync's strategy to build a wealth management business across the UK, with Northern Ireland identified as a key growth market. Lync has 22 offices with 120 advisors serving clients with about £4 billion AuA.

Carleton Financial Planning was advised by Beltrae Partners, Matt McCullough and Dan McCrea, and Mills Selig, Chris Guy and Lyndsey McSherry. 

Backed by its owner, an affiliate of the 7IM Group, Lync's ambition is to build a Northern Ireland business serving more than £1 billion of client assets through a combination of organic growth, advisor recruitment and further acquisitions, the firm said in a statement.

“This is an exciting chapter for our business, with Northern Ireland continuing to be one of the UK’s major financial services centres. By joining forces with Lync, we’re combining the strengths and resources of three excellent firms to create a strong regional base, meaning clients can expect even greater value, delivered with the same personal service and expertise,” John Bamber MBE, of Carleton Financial, said.