Salamanca Group, the merchant banking and risk management business, has combined with existing management to acquire the Investec Trust group of companies, from Investec Bank plc for an undisclosed sum.

Investec Trust Services currently has over £4.5 billion in assets under administration. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval.

The business will be run as a stand-alone division and will be re-branded Salamanca Group Trust Services. It currently has offices in Jersey, Switzerland, South Africa and Mauritius and employs around 100 people, administering some 600 trust structures on behalf of clients. Clients include high net worth individuals and entrepreneurs; financial and professional intermediaries; family offices and corporate entities. Additionally the business regularly partners with specialist legal and tax advisers to achieve bespoke solutions for clients.

Martin Bellamy, chief executive of Salamanca Group, said: "The addition of Trust services has been a strategic objective for Salamanca Group for some time and having undertaken an extensive analysis of the market place, the group concluded that the acquisition of Investec's Trust business represented the ideal opportunity. We have bought a business with a first class management team and the highest levels of corporate governance."

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Avron Epstein of Investec Bank plc said: "As a professional services business we feel the trust company would benefit under independent ownership. We believe Salamanca, together with management, is best placed to take this business forward and to provide certainty and clarity to our clients and people. The professionalism and excellent service our staff have demonstrated throughout is testament to the strength and quality of the business. We wish them all the best and look forward to continuing our mutually beneficial relationship with the trust company."

Salamanca Group Trust Services services include:
• Complex and vanilla trusts, foundations and company structures
• Multi-family office services
• Wide experience of holding financial and non-financial assets
• Experts in working with entrepreneurs
· Philanthropy

Mr Bellamy added: "Salamanca Group's primary focus is establishing long-term, trusted relationships with our clients. This acquisition provides the Group with another significant medium through which to achieve this, expanding our offering to include a comprehensive range of high-end, tax compliant wealth preservation and succession planning services."

Xavier Isaac, chief executive of Investec Trust Division, said: "The acquisition by Salamanca Group and our existing management of the Investec Trust Group is a fantastic opportunity to deliver on our vision. High and ultra-high net worth individuals are no longer looking for traditional trust and fiduciary services in an increasingly complex environment. They expect independent thinking and high touch administration services complemented by multi-family office capabilities."

Fenchurch Advisory Partners acted for Investec Bank Plc and Salamanca Advisory acted for Salamanca Group and management.