Acolin
Acolin is a leading provider of regulatory and cross-border fund distribution services. Sovereign backed the MBO of the business, partnering with the management team to further develop Acolin's client base and service offering through a strategy of organic and acquisitive growth.
Sector
Business & Technology Services
Status
Current
Investment Date
2016
Location
Europe
Buy & Build
2
Investment background
Acolin was established in 2006 underpinning the founder's vision to create a business uniquely positioned to help asset management businesses access new markets, meet regulatory obligations and grow AUM across multiple jurisdictions in an open, transparent and cost-effective way.
By the time of Sovereign's investment in 2020, Acolin had grown significantly to become a leading provider in the market, operating from nine locations including Zurich, Geneva, London, Frankfurt and Belgrade. The management team wanted investment to grow the business further and enhance its service offering against a backdrop of increasing complexity in the cross-border fund distribution regulatory landscape. In parallel, the original angel and private shareholders were also keen to crystallise the value created in the business.
The story so far
Acolin connects clients to fund distribution opportunities by acting as an independent partner to quickly resolve complex cross-border fund distribution challenges. It provides compliant, smart and effective solutions for the distribution of collective investment schemes, connecting capital flows to move more freely across borders.
Acolin's proprietary network facilitates clients' access to a wide array of fund distribution channels across Europe, overseeing data and commission management for around €25bn of assets under services, together with ongoing monitoring and due diligence of distribution partners.
In February 2021, the business made its first strategic acquisition with Fundbase, the digital fund distribution and data management business, which provides asset managers with access to professional investors through a digital marketing and communication portal.
In April 2021, Acolin made its second acquisition, a SaaS-based data collection and analytics platform for asset managers and distributors.
Today Acolin provides services to over 600 asset managers, representing some 1,800 investment funds across 30 countries.
Sovereign is working with the management team to grow the business through strategic Buy & Build, to further develop its offering and geographic reach.
Sovereign encourages Acolin to truly reach its full potential. They do this by adding their extensive knowledge into the business model, with a focus on scalability, digital transformation and product and geographic diversification, all within a sustainable operating environment.