We have advised all of the shareholders of Independent Governance Group (IGG) including LDC in relation to the exit to ECI Partners (ECI).
The transaction represents LDC’s initial exit alongside ECI’s investment for a majority stake in IGG. LDC, which has backed IGG since its investment in Ross Trustees in November 2020 and overseen an increase in revenue and headcount of over 300%, has also reinvested in the business alongside ECI.
Formed following the merger of Ross Trustees and Independent Trustee Services (ITS), IGG is one of the UK’s leading providers of professional pensions trusteeship and governance services. It provides professional services to 386 pensions schemes with total scheme assets of £324bn.
Post-merger and over the past 18 months, IGG has established a strong regional presence in Bristol, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Manchester alongside its London headquarters, and added pensions and employee benefits communications and investment governance expertise to its core services.
Gateley Legal’s corporate team was led by partner and national head of corporate Beth Mather, alongside senior associate William Bowler, solicitors Rosie Butler and Jessica Snape, paralegals Valerian Beaujot and Gabriel Weeks, with support from banking partner Alison Davidson-Cox, and tax senior associate Jo Dugdale.
Beth Mather commented: “We are proud to have advised IGG during LDC’s investment and then the shareholders, including LDC, on the transaction with ECI. IGG has experienced huge levels of growth over the past few years with LDC’s backing, and it is well positioned for continued success through further expansion of its services to meet evolving client needs and the creation of new talent opportunities. This deal represents a pivotal moment in IGG’s impressive journey, and we are delighted to have played a role in facilitating it.”