Apex’s Third Acquisition in Six Months Will Add $50bn in Assets under Administration and Custody (“AuA” and “AuC”) Bringing Apex Closer to Achieving its Goal of Becoming one of the Top 5 Largest Administrators Globally
HAMILTON, BERMUDA, SAN FRANCISCO, and NEW YORK (January 8, 2018) – Apex Group Ltd. (“Apex”), Genstar Capital (“Genstar”), and SALU Capital (“SALU”), today jointly announce Apex’s acquisition of M.M.Warburg & CO’s Asset Management and Servicing business in Luxembourg (“Warburg”). Upon completion of the transaction, Apex, a Genstar portfolio company, will have nearly $350 billion of AuA.
The transaction is the third for Apex in the space of six months following the acquisition of both Equinoxe Alternative Investment Services and Deutsche Bank’s Alternative Fund Services business in 2017. This latest move reaffirms Apex’s position as the fastest growing fund administrator in the world and brings it closer to achieving its goal of becoming one of the top five largest fund administrators globally. Apex and Genstar partnered with SALU Capital, led by Managing Partner Markus Philipp Ehrhardt, whose market knowledge and network was instrumental in the successful origination and execution of the transaction.
The transaction will see Warburg Invest Luxembourg S.A. and M.M.Warburg & CO Luxembourg S.A. become part of Apex, adding a further $50bn to Apex’s global AuA. The Group’s unique operating model and globally connected service provision opens up additional jurisdictional expertise and investment options to Warburg clients.
The full depositary services and private equity depositary solutions provided by the Warburg Luxembourg units brings will add further weight to Apex’s strength in delivering a complete service to European regulated funds, and will further complement the services integrated via the Deutsche Bank AFS acquisition.
Parent company, M.M. Warburg & CO (AG & Co.) KGaA, and Apex will form a strategic partnership for Luxembourg based asset management services businesses whilst Warburg Invest (Germany) will also continue to focus on its German asset management business.
Terms of the agreement are not being disclosed. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval and is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2018.
“The addition of the Warburg team and product suite further strengthens our capabilities in the highly regulated European market as we continue to develop the most complete service offering in the sector. There are benefits for both the transitioning Warburg clients and existing Apex clients in this combined offering and as we continue to grow we want to help them to grow with us,” stated Peter Hughes, Founder and CEO at Apex.
Joachim Olearius, Spokesman for the Partners of M.M.Warburg & CO, stated, “In Apex we have found a partner for this transaction that perfectly meets the requirements and expectations of our customers. Apex’s independence and unfailing dedication to delivering exemplary service to its clients means we can be confident that the transition will be smooth and service levels maintained. Our continued commitment to working closely with Apex as a strategic partner aptly demonstrates our trust and confidence in this combination.”
“With our first deal, we are proud to be part of this significant transaction with strategic partners of the caliber of Apex and Genstar, and with a seller as reputable as M.M. Warburg & Co, proving our ability to originate and execute on complex investment opportunities,” says Markus Philipp Ehrhardt, Managing Partner of SALU Capital.
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP and Arendt & Medernach provided legal counsel to Apex and Genstar.
Apex, established in Bermuda in 2003, is one of the world’s largest independent fund administration and middle office solutions providers with offices in 35 locations worldwide. Apex has continually improved and evolved its product suite by surrounding these core administrative services with additional products spanning the full value chain; from information delivery and regulatory products to a full middle office solution and fund listings database. Apex now administers the investments of some of the largest funds and institutional investors in the world. www.apexfundservices.com
Genstar Capital (www.gencap.com) is a leading private equity firm that has been actively investing in high quality companies for nearly 30 years. Based in San Francisco, Genstar works in partnership with its management teams and its network of strategic advisors to transform its portfolio companies into industry-leading businesses. Genstar manages funds with total capital commitments of approximately $9 billion and targets investments focused on targeted segments of the financial services, software, industrial technology, and healthcare industries. Genstar’s current and previous investments in financial and business services companies include Ascensus, AssetMark, Strategic Insight, Mercer Advisors, Institutional Shareholder Services and Altegris.
SALU Capital (www.salucapital.com) is a special situations and private equity investment firm with focus on the global financial services and insurance sectors. SALU works with an established network of family offices and institutional investors enabling the firm to target investments with an equity value of between $20 million and $300 million for individual transactions. SALU’s leadership and investment partners have deep and broad experience in global financial markets, private equity and the investment management industry, and SALU relies upon a network of senior advisors that includes former CEOs and senior operators with decades of experience in the sectors that SALU invests in.
Founded in 1798, M.M.Warburg & CO is an independent German private bank. As a universal bank, it provides sophisticated banking services to discerning private clients, corporate clients, and institutional investors in its core business segments of Private Banking, Asset Management, and Investment Banking. The Warburg Banking Group has own funds of EUR 423.7 million, assets under management of EUR 54.1 billion, and 1,232 employees (as of December 31, 2016). It comprises M.M.Warburg & CO as well as the subsidiaries Marcard, Stein & Co, M.M.Warburg & CO Hypothekenbank and Warburg Invest.
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Genstar Capital
Chris Tofalli
Chris Tofalli Public Relations, LLC
914-834-4334
Apex
Rosie Guest
Global Marketing Director
rosie@apexfunds.co.uk
+44 (0) 7770 858 280
SALU
Markus Philipp Ehrhardt
Managing Partner
mehrhardt@salucapital.com
