Fairstone is predicting a record number of firms will join its Downstream Buy-Out (DBO) acquisition programme in 2026.
The wealth management group is forecasting a 30% increase in DBO sign-ups in 2026 compared with 2025, which was also a record year, driven by regulatory requirements, entrepreneurial ambition and opportunities presented by inter-generational wealth transfer.
Fairstone CEO Steven Cooper, who joined the business in November last year, said market conditions are also expected to boost the momentum of the DBO pipeline, which the business is looking to capitalise on with targeted acquisitions in selected regions across the country.
“We see 2026 as a key year in our ongoing growth with our DBO programme playing a crucial role,” he said.
The DBO model offers initial, minority equity investment, operational resource, and regulatory support to partner firms, allowing them to focus on unlocking growth and building profitability without being held back by increasing regulatory headwinds or by back-office or compliance workload.
Partner firms, once fully integrated, are then able to sell to Fairstone, ensuring they realise maximum value when the time is right for them and then continue to share in the proceeds of their growth following full acquisition.
More than 100 firms have joined the programme since Fairstone began using the DBO model in 2012.
Steve McNicol, chief development officer at Fairstone, said: “The DBO is a proven model that delivers consistent, sustainable growth for selling principals and for Fairstone as an acquirer.
“The period between our initial minority investment and full acquisition is entirely flexible. This allows firms and their clients to get used to becoming part of Fairstone, minimising disruption during integration, while our investment and regulatory support enables them to realise latent value, growing further before a final sale.
“It also means that we have a highly predictable stream of full acquisitions into the group. We are in regular dialogue with principals and have visibility of their growth plans and when a full sale will work for them.”
