IMS Group completes second US bolt-on of 2012

Sovereign Capital, the UK private equity Buy & Build specialist, today announces that its financial services regulatory compliance investment, The IMS Group, has completed its second US acquisition of 2012, of IMS Consulting US LLC (“IMS-US”).  This follows shortly after the acquisition of HedgeOp Compliance LLC and it is the Group’s third bolt-on since it was acquired by Sovereign 15 months ago.

IMS-US was IMS Group’s US affiliate and following the deal has become a wholly owned subsidiary of IMS Group.  It provides similar regulatory compliance consulting services, such as SEC registration applications, ongoing compliance support and compliance projects. Headquarted in New York, IMS-US was founded in 2009 by qualified attorney Micah

Taylor.  Taylor and his team will retain their current roles post deal and will continue to serve both US and global clients who will now benefit from being an integrated part of the global IMS family.

Commenting on the transaction, Neil Cox, Investment Director at Sovereign Capital, said: “We are delighted to have already completed two international bolt-ons this year, both of highly regarded companies. With the introduction of the Dodd-Frank Act, clients are increasingly looking for their compliance provider to have a presence on both sides of the Atlantic and the acquisition of IMS-US strengthens the Group’s international coverage and expands its team of experienced consultants.” 

Michel van Leeuwen, Chief Executive of IMS Group, commented: “We see this as a consolidation of the Group’s interests in the US, where we have recently acquired HedgeOp. We continue to search out quality businesses globally to become part of the IMS Group, with a current focus on the US given the increase in regulation in the region.”