Opera Group has announced plans to acquire Bermuda-based trust company Meritus to grow its business in the Americas, subject to regulatory approval.
It’s the fifth in a string of acquisitions by the Group after Pula, the family office of Stephen Lansdown became the majority shareholder.
Meritus, which provides fiduciary services to UNHW across the world, was preceded by the acquisition of Accuro, Amber, HFL, and Oak Group.
If approved, the firm will have a presence across the Crown Dependencies, London, Bermuda, Geneva, Mauritius, and The Bahamas with combined assets under administration over $71.6bn.
Opera says the first phase of its growth plan is now complete, with Group CEO Kim Sgarlata saying they are doing “something rare in financial services.
“This completes an intentionally sequenced and focused phase of growth, bringing together businesses that share our values and complement each other across services and jurisdictions.
“By addressing core questions around offering, infrastructure, governance, brand and culture in one coordinated step, rather than revisiting them with each transaction, we’ve created a strong foundation for the future.
“Opera now moves into a new chapter focused on thoughtful integration, collaboration and long-term growth. For us, this isn’t just growth. It’s growth with meaning and built to last.”
Michelle Wolfe, Chair and Founding Partner of Meritus, added: “At Meritus, we have always believed in building long-term, meaningful relationships with the families we serve. Our goal has always been to honor the past while building momentum for tomorrow, and in Opera, we’ve found a partner who understands both the responsibility and opportunity of that vision.
“As expectations rise and the industry evolves, we are proud to help lead the next chapter, grounded in our values and strengthened by Opera’s global reach and shared philosophy.”