Wealth manager Brewin Dolphin is set to be acquired by the Royal Bank of Canada in a deal valuing the business at 拢1.6bn.
The investment specialist, which has a network of offices around the 海角视频 and Ireland including a strong presence in Newcastle, has recommended an offer to shareholders by RBC Wealth Management (Jersey) Holdings Limited, a subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada.
The two firms announced they have reached agreement on the terms of a recommended all cash offer, through which shareholders will be entitled to 515p per Brewin Dolphin share. The deal values Brewin Dolphin at 2.8% of its 拢55bn assets under management as of February 28 2022.
READ MORE: North East startups among winners of Tech Nation's Rising Stars competition
In a stock market announcement the Brewin Dolphin directors said they have been advised by Barclays and Lazard as to the financial terms of the acquisition, and consider the terms to be fair and reasonable.
Royal Bank of Canada said it is strategically focused on opportunities to grow its wealth management operations in its core markets of Canada, the US and Europe and that the acquisition of Brewin Dolphin represents 鈥渁n exciting strategic opportunity鈥 for RBC to combine RBC WMI, its existing wealth business in the 海角视频 and the Channel Islands, with Brewin Dolphin to create a market leader with 拢64bn of assets under management.
It said the acquisition is transformational to RBC WMI in the 海角视频, Ireland and Channel Islands and establishes an attractive platform for further growth.
With a heritage which traces back to 1762, originally as a provider of stock-broking services,
Brewin Dolphin manages 拢57bn for around 80,000 clients and has more than 2,000 employees across its office network.
Robin Beer, chief executive officer of Brewin Dolphin, said: 鈥淭he Brewin Dolphin Board is pleased to recommend the offer by RBC in the interests of our shareholders, our clients, our people and our business partners.
鈥淏uilding on the strong organic growth that we have achieved to date, the combined business will create an attractive platform for future growth. As part of RBC we would be able to provide our clients with a broader range of products and services, and expand our distribution channels through leveraging RBC鈥檚 global presence.
鈥淲e share complementary values which emphasise the importance of long-standing client relationships and an inclusive culture supportive of employees and local communities. Our focus will be on maintaining continuity, so that we build on what we have already achieved. I am looking forward to us working together to enhance our market position as a leading advice-focused, digitally enabled wealth manager.鈥
Doug Guzman, group head, RBC Wealth Management, RBC Insurance and RBC Investor & Treasury Services, said: 鈥淭he 海角视频 is a key growth market for RBC, and Brewin Dolphin provides us with an exceptional platform to significantly transform our wealth management business in the region.
鈥淏oth management teams are excited by a shared vision of high quality client service, client-centric culture and the exceptional growth opportunities that we can deliver together.鈥
Brewin Dolphin鈥檚 largest office outside of London is in Newcastle, where it has around 350 employees, and it also has bases in Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Bath, Bristol, Cheltenham, Birmingham, London, Exeter, Leeds, Ipswich, Cambridge, Lincoln, Manchester, Marlborough, Nottingham, Plymouth, Truro, Tunbridge Wells and Shrewsbury.
