Estera boosts fund administration capabilities with Morgan Sharpe acquisition

Leading global fiduciary and administration provider, Estera, has acquired Guernsey-based Morgan Sharpe Administration Limited (“Morgan Sharpe”).

The deal was finalised on Monday 27 February and is subject to regulatory approvals, following which the business will be rebranded under the Estera name. 

Farah Ballands, CEO of Estera, said: “This is a great start to the new year following the success of our rebrand in 2016. The team at Morgan Sharpe is a perfect fit with the Estera group – they are committed to the high standards of service that our clients are accustomed to and we are pleased to welcome them. Under our ownership, Morgan Sharpe’s clients will benefit from additional resources and access to Estera’s expertise on a global basis.

“Estera is committed to enhancing its position as a leading player in existing and new jurisdictions. With this announcement, we are able to offer clients greater breadth of capabilities in private equity fund administration whilst strengthening Estera’s position in an important market – we are thrilled to boost our presence in Guernsey.”

Ethan Levner, Estera Group Head of Corporate Development said: “This acquisition represents our intention to be an active acquirer globally. Morgan Sharpe is an outstanding firm, and we are delighted that the transaction will bring greater depth to Estera’s service offering.”

Serena Tremlett and Mel Torode, founders of Morgan Sharpe added: “Partnering with a leading global player in fund administration and fiduciary services in an increasingly complex and international market was the next logical step for Morgan Sharpe. We have received many approaches from potential buyers in recent years, a great validation of our business model. Estera is the ideal partner for us given its global reach, excellent reputation, professionalism and commitment to both employees and clients. We are excited about the new opportunities for our clients and our team that will arise from this partnership.”

The acquisition of the 18-strong Morgan Sharpe team boosts Estera’s headcount to 370.

Advisers involved in this transaction included:

For Estera:  KPMG (Financial, Regulation, Tax/Structuring), Appleby (legal), Travers Smith (legal)

For Morgan Sharpe: Ferbrache & Farrell (legal)