UK and Ireland law firm Browne Jacobson has advised BGF and the shareholders of Mortgage Support Services Ltd (MSS) on its sale to BetterHome Group, South Africa's largest mortgage distributor, in a cross-border deal in the UK financial services sector. 

MSS is the parent group behind Stonebridge Mortgage Solutions and a range of mortgage, protection and technology businesses. BetterHome Group commands approximately 35% of South Africa's mortgage market and facilitates the sale of 20% of all properties in the country. The acquisition brings Stonebridge into the same group as HLPartnership, significantly increasing the South African firm’s inward investment into the UK market. 

The transaction reflects growing international interest in the UK mortgage and property sector, with BetterHome Group bringing decades of expertise and a proven, scalable model from its operations across the full home journey, spanning property search, mortgage advice, and insurance. 

The team was led by Corporate Partners Sam Sharp and Mark Hughes supported by Principal Associate Rachael McDonald, Associates Lydia Mills and Joe Harris, Senior Corporate Advisor Jade Williamson (tax), and Partner Shaun McCabe (banking). 

Mark Hughes commented: "This is a landmark cross-border transaction for the UK mortgage sector, bringing together two highly respected businesses with a shared ambition to support growth across the property and mortgage market. It also reflects a broader trend – inbound M&A into the UK has increased in 2026, with foreign-led deals accounting for the majority of UK M&A by value so far this year. BetterHome Group's acquisition of MSS is a clear expression of that confidence, and we were pleased to support Stuart Warriner, Rob Clifford and the MSS team through this process.” 

Recent corporate transactions it supported in the financial services sector include advising on the sale of Acre Platforms Limited, a leading technology solutions provider to the mortgage industry to the ClearScore Group; acting for Clearwater UK on its acquisition by KeyCorp, a leading US regional bank; and advising Rcapital on the cross-border sale of Surface Technology International to Swedish Nasdaq-listed NOTE AB.