On Tuesday Corient announced the start of its global expansion with the acquisitions of U.K.-based advisory firms Stonehage Fleming and Stanhope Capital Group in transactions that it said will add over $214 billion in client assets to Corient, boosting its total assets to $430 billion.
The purchases are being funded with an unspecified equity contribution and are expected to close in the first half of 2026, according to Corient.
The purchases are Corient’s first outside the U.S. and establish its presence in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, it noted.
The additions of Stonehage and Stanhope will add “distinct but complementary strengths” to Corient and further deepen its focus on serving ultra-high net worth (UHNW) families.
“With this expansion, Corient becomes the world’s largest independent advisory firm focused on the holistic needs of ultra-high-net-worth and high-net-worth clients,” Kurt MacAlpine, CEO and Partner of Corient, said in a news release.
“This combination of three storied firms creates a truly global wealth manager and multi-family office with formidable resources and deep expertise in serving the world’s wealthiest individuals and families,” according to MacAlpine.
“By integrating the strengths of each organization, Corient will be able to deliver seamless, end-to-end service to clients anywhere in the world – in a way that doesn’t exist today,” he went on to say.
He added, “Furthermore, our advantage extends beyond capabilities to how we deliver them. Under our international partnership, which will consist of more than 300 firm owners aligned under one vision, we’re building a new type of wealth management firm, one that is global, collaborative and evolving to meet the dynamic needs of sophisticated clients.”
As part of the transactions, Corient’s private partnership model, under which over 260 partners own and operate the firm, will extend to the international operations, it said.
“Our unique partnership structure was an important factor in attracting” Stonehage and Stanhope to Corient, according to MacAlpine.
He explained, “The partnership allows us to serve clients differently. Unlike most wealth management models that limit the client experience to a single advisor, the Corient partnership fosters teamwork across our expansive roster of experienced advisors and other professionals – ensuring that clients benefit from the capabilities of the firm as a whole. We are excited to extend our partnership to our international colleagues to create the first global professional services partnership in wealth management.”
Stonehage Fleming
Stonehage is a global provider of family office and fiduciary services that had more than $175 billion in combined assets as of Dec. 31 and offices in 12 jurisdictions, according to it and Corient.
“This next chapter enables us to remain true to our history while expanding our reach and impact for clients,” according to Giuseppe Ciucci, Executive Chairman of Stonehage Fleming.
“Corient shares our commitment to integrity and excellence, while its robust value proposition for ultra-high-net-worth clients will provide even greater scale and resources to the benefit of the families we serve,” he said.
Ciucci added, “We also see Corient as the perfect home for our people, given its unique partnership model and commitment to collaboration and professionalism.”
Stanhope Capital Group
Stanhope Capital was started in 2004 by Daniel Pinto, its CEO, Chairman and Founding Partner, and had nearly $40 billion in client assets as of July 31. The firm provides services including consulting, merchant banking, private investments and wealth management.
Stanhope Capital includes New York-based FWM Holdings, owner of FFT Wealth Management, a multi-family office providing investment management and family office services to UHNW families in the U.S. and other markets globally.
“Since our firm’s inception, we’ve focused on providing objective, innovative advice and solutions,” according to Pinto.
“Joining Corient allows us to accelerate these efforts alongside a team that understands the importance of unbiased, client-centered service,” he said. “We’re excited about joining the Corient partnership and the expanded capabilities this combination brings to the families and institutions we serve.”
Ciucci added, “Stonehage Fleming and Stanhope have known each other well for many years; our relationship is characterized by mutual respect and cultural compatibility, and we have a number of valued clients in common. We are looking forward to working together more closely in this exciting new partnership with Corient.”
After the transactions close, the merged business will operate globally as Corient, it said.
Ciucci will be Partner and Chairman, while Pinto will be Partner and CEO of Corient’s international business. Both will join Corient’s global board.
Stuart Parkinson, CEO of Stonehage Fleming, will become Partner and President of Corient’s international business; Keith M. Bloomfield, CEO and Founder of FFT Management, will join Corient as Partner and Vice Chairman.
Ciucci, Pinto and other members of their executive teams will become Partners and “significant” equity holders in Corient, the firm said.
Founded in 2020, Corient has more than 1,300 employees managing about $216 billion on behalf of UHNW and high net worth (HNW) individuals, families and businesses in the U.S., it said.
Jefferies is serving as lead financial advisor and Goldman Sachs is serving as financial advisor to Corient, while Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom is serving as its legal counsel.
Spencer House Partners is serving as financial advisor and Macfarlanes is serving as legal counsel to Stonehage.
Rothschild is serving as financial advisor and Macfarlanes is serving as lead legal counsel to Stanhope, along with Dechert and Borel & Barbey, Corient said.
Corient has also been expanding in the U.S. In August, it announced the completion of an acquisition of Messick Peacock & Associates, a Dallas-based Raymond James advisory team with $1.54 billion in assets. In January, Corient said it acquired Geller & Co.’s $10.4 billion multi-family office business.
Jeff Berman, Contributing Editor and Reporter at Wealth Solutions Report, can be reached at jeff.berman@wealthsolutionsreport.com.
