Transaction overview
Creative Planning, a U.S.-based financial services firm, acquired MASECO, a London-based wealth management company, on an undisclosed date in March 2026 for an undisclosed amount. The deal grants Creative Planning full ownership of MASECO's operations and client base.
Deal structure and financing
The exact equity-debt split and the names of lead banks involved in the acquisition have not been disclosed. No details are available regarding leverage metrics, lock-up terms, or any seller-retained stake. Additionally, there is no information on whether MASECO has an IPO optionality post-acquisition.
Strategic context
Creative Planning’s acquisition of MASECO follows a broader trend among U.S.-based financial firms to expand their reach into the European market. The move allows Creative Planning to diversify its geographic footprint and enhance its service offerings by integrating MASECO's expertise in tax, estate planning, family office management, and institutional consulting. For MASECO, divesting to a larger, well-capitalized U.S. entity can provide operational efficiencies and broader access to resources that might have been challenging for an independent UK firm to achieve on its own.
Regulatory path
The acquisition has likely undergone scrutiny from regulators in both the United States and the United Kingdom. In the U.K., this would involve filings with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), while in the U.S., Creative Planning would need to file under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (HSR). However, specific details regarding regulatory review timelines, required remedies, or filing dates have not been made public. Given the deal's cross-border nature and value exceeding certain thresholds, thorough reviews by these bodies were probable to ensure compliance with local regulations and anti-monopoly laws.