New co-investment agreement to drive rapid expansion and innovation in fund & corporate services
Walkers, a leading international law firm, today announced the
signing of a definitive agreement for a strategic co-investment
into its WPS business with Vitruvian Partners, a leading global
growth-focused investment firm with a long track record in the fund
services market. This partnership marks the start of a long-term
collaboration aimed at building a global, market-leading fund &
corporate services provider.
The newly formed alliance is set to position WPS for accelerated
growth, enabling it to capitalise on emerging opportunities and
navigate evolving market dynamics. Under the terms of the
partnership, Walkers and Vitruvian Partners will share ownership of
WPS and jointly commit to expanding the business, leveraging their
combined expertise and resources to deliver enhanced value to
clients worldwide.
Client service remains central to this strategic decision. Walkers
recognises the increasing demand from clients for a comprehensive
suite of integrated, market-leading services delivered seamlessly
across key investment hubs. The partnership with Vitruvian Partners
is designed to ensure that service standards are further
strengthened by the infusion of capital and sector expertise.
Ingrid Pierce, Global Managing Partner of
Walkers, commented: “Our vision is to be the premier law firm
and corporate services provider across all major investment
centres, offering our clients cohesive, end-to-end solutions. This
partnership with Vitruvian Partners presents a significant
opportunity to extend WPS into new markets, enhance its service
range, and drive efficiencies. We are excited to embark on this
journey in support of our clients’ ambitions”.
Steven Manning, CEO of WPS, added:
“Partnering with Vitruvian Partners will enable WPS to
accelerate its growth trajectory and further enrich the services
for clients. Leveraging Vitruvian Partners’ strategic
investment and resources, we are confident in our ability to
deliver an expanded, market-leading offering that surpasses the
capabilities of many competitors”.
Luuk Remmen, Partner at Vitruvian Partners, said: “We are
delighted to partner with Walkers and WPS, whose strong leadership
and impressive client base present a unique opportunity to create a
global leader in fund & corporate services. Our investment will
support the roll-out of best-in-class technology for WPS, as well
as the expansion of its service offering, and its presence in new
markets, accelerating growth and innovation across the
board”.
The completion of the transaction is subject to customary
regulatory approval.