Wheelhouse Advisors launches following Pelican-backed MBO

Submitted 27/05/2020 - 9:29am

Wheelhouse Advisors, a specialist provider of services to the financial services sector, has launched following a private equity backed management buyout of the Financial & Regulatory Reporting and Tax divisions of ACA Compliance Group.

The London-headquartered business has operated since the early 2000s, initially as the boutique firms HedgeStart and Sigma Partnership, before their merger as Cordium Accounting Limited. The incumbent management team has been bolstered by the addition of Louis Hunter as Finance Director to help drive strategic acquisitions.

Backed by private equity firm Pelican Capital, the 40-strong Wheelhouse Advisors team provides holistic solutions across disciplines to its clients, whether conducting regulated business under FCA authorisation or via a regulatory hosting platform. Wheelhouse Advisors’ clients include start-ups, spinouts and established international firms expanding operations to the UK, as well as established overseas investment managers marketing funds into the UK and EU.

“The new brands reflects our roots as an independent specialist provider. We are committed to delivering quality solutions to the wide-ranging challenges facing the sector. We are experts in our field, but where we identify that the most appropriate response to a particular need it best addressed by the specialists of one of our network of partner firms, we introduce them for the benefit of our clients,” says Matthew Crisp, CEO of Wheelhouse Advisors. “We are looking forward to our next chapter as an agile, forward-looking business. Supporting clients through the current challenges and helping them thrive, despite the ever-increasing burden and complexity of regulatory and fiscal requirements is that we’re passionate about. There will undoubtedly be changes to come from the pandemic and the UK’s exit from the European Union and we are ready and able to assist our clients. With the support of Pelican Capital, our experienced team and our loyal clients, Wheelhouse Advisors will go from strength to strength.”

Shvetank Shah, CEO at ACA Compliance Group, says: “ACA is a governance, risk and compliance business that constantly works to enhance core services. This strategic move concentrates our focus on developing our compliance advisory team – one of the largest globally – as well as our performance, technology, cyber and risk solutions. As Wheelhouse Advisors is headed up by former ACA colleagues, we are familiar with the high levels of professionalism and knowledge provided and we are confident that clients will continue to receive the standard of service that they have experienced to date. We wish Wheelhouse Advisors great success with their new venture.”

Anthony Francis, Partner at Pelican Capital, says: “Wheelhouse Advisors is a high quality, resilient business and we are committed to supporting the leadership team in driving its success. It is well placed to benefit from the ongoing increase in financial regulation, using its leading industry experience to help clients navigate change.”

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