Inflexion Private Equity and Allen & Overy (A&O) have announced a strategic partnership to drive the continued growth of aosphere.
The legal and compliance data subscription platform will become a stand-alone entity with A&O retaining a significant minority stake in the profitable business it created in 2002.
As part of the transaction, Inflexion’s Partnership Capital II fund will make a strategic investment alongside A&O and Endicott Capital, a US-based investor specialising in the information services industry and comprised of experienced operators who have built and led successful companies through similar growth ambitions.
aosphere serves over 725 blue-chip clients including banks, asset managers and corporates, providing online legal analysis on a subscription basis across a range of key compliance topics in complex areas such as financial derivatives, shareholder disclosure requirements, cross-border marketing, and data privacy. The platform creates efficiencies for users by providing standardised legal analysis on complex and multi-jurisdictional regulatory areas, maintaining up-to-date, high quality information working with local counsel across the globe.
The partnership will see aosphere create a scaled, global regulatory data business across a range of cross-jurisdictional topics. With Inflexion’s and Endicott’s support, the company will continue to invest to strengthen and expand its product, while maintaining the high level of service and information quality aosphere is widely known for. In particular, aosphere is looking to grow the business in the US and where appropriate through acquisition.
David Whileman, Partner and Head of Partnership Capital at Inflexion commented: “The sector is one we’ve tracked for some time as heightened regulatory scrutiny and complexity have led to growing demand for efficiency and thus outsourcing in legal spend. We have been very impressed by what Marc-Henri and his team, with the support of A&O, have built. The quality of aosphere’s offering and its reputation in the market are truly unique. We see incredible potential in continuing to expand the platform and are excited to partner with Marc-Henri and A&O to continue this journey together.”
Marc-Henri Chamay, Chief Executive of aosphere, said: “This partnership creates a significant opportunity for us to accelerate our growth. Inflexion shares our vision of providing clients with the most comprehensive, reliable, and user-friendly legal and regulatory information and services. By combining our strengths and capabilities, we will be able to offer our clients more choice, more value, and more impact. We are excited to embark on this journey with Inflexion, Endicott and A&O.”
Lazard is serving as financial advisor to aosphere and A&O.
