Hawksford expands European offering with two further acquisitions

Hawksford is continuing to expand its specialist offering for corporates and private clients in the EU through the strategic acquisitions of two Netherlands-based businesses.

The acquisitions of Liberation Management (Liberation Management (Nederland) N.V.) and the United Group’s Netherlands business (United International Management B.V.) completed last week (1 October 2026), following the receipt of all regulatory approvals.

Together, these latest acquisitions reflect Hawksford’s commitment to growth in the European market and will see the firm significantly strengthen and scale its corporate services and capital markets capabilities, bringing the firm’s headcount in the Netherlands to more than 80 professionals. The expansion will be supported by continued investment in Hawksford's client service, compliance and operational infrastructure, helping ensure clients continue to benefit from consistent, efficient and high-quality support as the business grows.

As one of the industry’s first adopters of the ‘one source of truth and one client services platform’ strategy, Hawksford is well positioned to responsibly leverage emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to enhance service delivery while maintaining the importance of trusted client relationships.

The acquisitions will provide clients across Europe with additional opportunities to reach new markets globally, benefiting from Hawksford’s longstanding expertise and experience working across its own global office network.

Regulated by the Dutch Central Bank (DNB), Liberation Management is based in Breda and provides corporate, secretarial, administrative and family office services to corporate and private clients. The team is led by its two founding partners, Hans Jansen and Lucas Bagchus. The acquisition establishes Hawksford’s presence in the commercially vital Rotterdam-Breda area, which covers among others, one of the world’s largest ports and European gateways (Rotterdam) and the world’s quintessential chip manufacturing technology provider (ASML in Eindhoven).

Also regulated by the DNB, United Netherlands provides corporate administration and regulatory services aimed at helping businesses navigate local and international challenges. Led by Marius de Groot, the Amsterdam-based business specialises in supporting companies with their operational and strategic growth objectives through a comprehensive range of corporate administration services and management solutions.

The acquisitions form part of Hawksford’s ongoing growth strategy, with the Group having completed ten acquisitions since 2022 with the support of STAR Capital. The latest acquisitions build on the solid foundations Hawksford established in the Netherlands through its acquisitions of ACT Management Services in 2023 and the Dutch operations of Equiom in 2025. Together, these deals strengthen Hawksford’s European presence more widely as they come in the wake of the acquisitions of the United Group’s businesses in Luxembourg and Malta, as well as those of the YT Group and Equiom’s Luxembourg business in 2025.

Hawksford CEO Michael van Leeuwen

Commenting on the acquisitions, Hawksford CEO Michel van Leeuwen said: "We continue to focus on bolstering our footprint in the European time zone and enhancing our services palette whereby supporting the increasingly sophisticated needs of corporates, private clients and fund managers. With that in mind, these latest acquisitions in the strategically important Benelux region represent another key step in our journey, building on our existing presence while providing additional and complementary capabilities. I’m delighted to welcome our new colleagues to Hawksford.”

Hans Jansen, Partner, Liberation Management, added: “This is another significant milestone for Liberation Management, reflecting the calibre of our people and the ambition we share with Hawksford to provide clients with top-tier service and specialist expertise. As an organisation, Hawksford is closely aligned with our own cultural values making this move a natural and positive move for our team and our clients.”

Marius de Groot, Managing Director, United Netherlands, commented: “United Group has earned a reputation in the Dutch market for high-quality service over the years, and I’m pleased that our team will be joining a business in Hawksford that shares that same focus, making this move a highly synergistic one. Through this acquisition, our clients will benefit from having access to a global network and new opportunities, while our colleagues will also join a team that is clearly highly ambitious and geared up for further growth.”