Act one complete - a new chapter begins

Every great story unfolds in acts - not endings.

For Opera, the acquisition of Meritus (pending regulatory approval) marks the close of our first deliberate growth phase and the opening of something even greater.

Building something greater together

From Oak as the first to join, through Amber (now Oak Bahamas), HFL and Accuro (pending regulatory approval), to Meritus (pending regulatory approval) completing this first wave, each firm has brought distinct strength, heritage and perspective.

Together, they form more than the sum of their parts: a collective platform built to serve clients with agility, expertise and trust.

This is not assimilation.

It is amplification – of culture, capability and purpose.

Act one: purposeful growth through Project Overture

Each firm joining the Opera group has marked a pivotal step in Project Overture, our five-year transformation to unite exceptional, values-led businesses that share ambition and a long-term view.

This first stage was deliberate: building patiently, aligning carefully and ensuring cultural and strategic fit at every turn. It demanded discipline, foresight and a commitment to sustainable value creation.

With the arrival of Meritus, that phase reaches its natural conclusion. The stage is now set for the next act - connecting, integrating and enhancing what we have built, ensuring our collective capabilities continue to grow stronger while preserving the individuality that defines each firm.

Act two: discovery and integration by design

Our next phase which is well underway is discovery.

When we say integration, we don’t mean assimilation - we mean understanding. Learning how each business operates, what makes it exceptional and how we can connect our strengths to deliver something even greater.

As COO, my focus is on creating the conditions for sustainable growth - connecting systems, people and purpose so that what we’ve built operates as one cohesive platform. Integration isn’t a sprint to sameness; it’s a disciplined act of design.

By understanding where each firm excels and how we can scale that excellence, we turn diversity into advantage. That’s how we move from acquisition to acceleration.

A platform built around clients

At Opera, we’re reimagining how trust, corporate and fund administration should work.

Our goal is simple: to create a seamless, AI-enabled platform that gives clients control, independence and real-time transparency - without losing the human touch that defines our industry.

That means:

• Real-time visibility: instant access to data, documents and approvals across jurisdictions.

• Reduced friction: automation that removes administrative layers so clients can act quickly and safely.

• Expertise at the core: every technology decision anchored in the knowledge and judgment of our specialists.

• Integrated ecosystems: secure data connections with banks, advisers, brokers and new asset classes, from traditional portfolios to tokenised investments.

The outcome: a unified view of wealth and structures, available anywhere, at any time - with the reassurance that expert guidance is always within reach.

A collective force, guided by values

Pending regulatory approval of Accuro and Meritus, Opera will bring together the five businesses with nearly 600 talented experts, united by shared purpose and ambition.

Together, we form a collective force - one defined by values, not by uniformity. Clients will experience the same depth of personal service, now enhanced by broader capability, insight and reach. While our tools evolve, our principles remain constant.

Each strengthens the whole.

A different kind of ownership

Backed by patient, private capital from aligned family offices, including Stephen Lansdown CBE, co-founder of Hargreaves Lansdown and like-minded shareholders, Opera has the freedom to think long term.

No short-term pressures.

No compromises on culture.

Just sustained focus on delivering lasting value to clients, employees and stakeholders.

This foundation allows us to invest intentionally – in our people, our systems and the future we are building together.

Innovation that adds real value

Under the leadership of Kim Sgarlata, the Opera group continues to enhance infrastructure and elevate client experience through thoughtful digital innovation.

Across the group, we are modernising systems and processes to create greater agility and resilience without losing the personal touch that defines our service.

As someone passionate about transformation, I see technology not as a replacement for relationships but as a means to deepen them, enabling our people to deliver exceptional service, powered by insight and purpose.

For Opera, innovation is not about replacing relationships with technology; it’s about strengthening them.

By investing in intelligent systems and automation, we’re freeing our people to focus on what matters most - complex decision-making, thoughtful structuring and proactive advice.

Built to lead, globally

Opera’s expansion is not about consolidation; it is about creation.

With strong foundations in place, we are actively shaping our next phase.

Each firm’s regional fluency and sector expertise help guide our growth into new markets, ensuring we scale with intention and integrity.

The next chapter starts now

Act one has been about building. Act two will be about becoming - about transforming potential into performance and collaboration into lasting value.

For clients and intermediaries, Act two is where the benefits of Opera’s collective strength become tangible.

Expect greater agility, faster response times and more intuitive access to information - all while maintaining the trusted relationships that have always defined our service.

Now, with our Opera house complete and our vision aligned, we begin the next movement - building the future of fund, corporate and fiduciary services, together.

Act two begins.