A&O and Inflexion Join Forces to Propel aosphere’s Growth

Allen & Overy (A&O) and Inflexion Private Equity have unveiled an exciting strategic partnership aimed at driving the ongoing expansion of aosphere. The legal and compliance data subscription platform is set to evolve into a stand-alone entity, with A&O retaining a significant minority stake in the profitable business it initially established back in 2002.

Under the terms of this partnership, Inflexion’s Partnership Capital II fund will make a strategic investment, joining forces with A&O and Endicott Capital, a US-based investor renowned for its specialization in the information services industry. Endicott Capital is comprised of experienced operators who have a track record of constructing and leading successful companies as part of their shared growth ambitions.

aosphere, known for its cutting-edge offerings, caters to over 725 blue-chip clients, which include banks, asset managers, and corporates. The platform provides online legal analysis on a subscription basis, covering a wide range of critical compliance topics, particularly in complex areas such as financial derivatives, shareholder disclosure requirements, cross-border marketing, and data privacy. The platform’s strength lies in delivering standardized legal analysis on intricate, multi-jurisdictional regulatory subjects, continually maintaining up-to-date, high-quality information by collaborating with local counsel from around the globe.

This strategic partnership sets the stage for aosphere to evolve into a global regulatory data business, extending its reach into various cross-jurisdictional domains. With the support of Inflexion and Endicott, the company is poised to further invest in enhancing and expanding its product portfolio while upholding aosphere’s well-earned reputation for delivering top-notch service and information quality. A key focus for aosphere is expanding its footprint in the United States and considering potential acquisition opportunities.

David Whileman, Partner and Head of Partnership Capital at Inflexion, expressed his confidence in this venture, stating, “The sector is one we’ve tracked for some time as heightened regulatory scrutiny and complexity have led to growing demand for efficiency and thus outsourcing in legal spend. We have been very impressed by what Marc-Henri and his team, with the support of A&O, have built. The quality of aosphere’s offering and its reputation in the market are truly unique. We see incredible potential in continuing to expand the platform and are excited to partner with Marc-Henri and A&O to continue this journey together.”

Marc-Henri Chamay, Chief Executive of aosphere, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership’s potential, saying, “This partnership creates a significant opportunity for us to accelerate our growth. Inflexion shares our vision of providing clients with the most comprehensive, reliable, and user-friendly legal and regulatory information and services. By combining our strengths and capabilities, we will be able to offer our clients more choice, more value, and more impact. We are excited to embark on this journey with Inflexion, Endicott, and A&O.”

“We are delighted to announce this strategic partnership with Inflexion, which we believe will bring significant benefits to aosphere and its clients. Inflexion is a world-class partner, and we look forward to working with them and the Endicott team to support aosphere’s continued success and growth,” commented Wim Dejonghe, Senior Partner, Allen & Overy.

Lazard is serving as the financial advisor to aosphere and A&O, providing their expertise in guiding this strategic partnership forward.