Mourant has secured new investment from partnership capital provider MML to fund technology, expansion and acquisitions as the professional services group grows its integrated business.
The minority equity investment will strengthen the balance sheet of Mourant Group Limited, the group’s holding company. The companies did not disclose the financial terms of the agreement.
Mourant said the funding will be used to invest in technology, including AI-enabled systems and data infrastructure, while also supporting employee development through expanded career pathways and programmes aimed at developing the next generation of talent.
In a press release on 4 August, the group added that it also plans to use the capital to support measured expansion across leading international financial centres.
That strategy includes selected mergers and acquisitions, strategic partnerships with law firms and lateral hires.
Mourant’s existing owner-managers are investing alongside MML as part of the transaction.
The group said the additional capital reflects its strategy of offering legal, governance, corporate, entity management, fund administration and consulting services through a single integrated platform.
The company employs around 1,000 people and operates offices and separate law firm entities across nine international financial centres. Its clients include private capital firms, banks, institutional investors and global corporations.
Chief executive officer Jonathan Rigby said the investment would accelerate the group’s long-term plans while maintaining its existing business model.
“This investment does not change what we are building. It changes the pace at which we can build it,” he said.
“Bringing deep sector experience, MML shares our high conviction in the integrated services platform, in the opportunity ahead of us, and in the team we have assembled.
“Our clients can expect the same Mourant they know, for the long term, with greater capability and momentum behind it.”
Rigby said the integrated model allows Mourant to support clients across multiple locations through teams that include lawyers, governance specialists, accountants and regulatory and tax compliance professionals.
Robert Devonshire, partner at MML, said the firm’s investment reflects its focus on taking minority stakes in professional services businesses with long-term growth plans.
“MML is focused on true partnership investments, backing exceptional teams in sector leaders with distinctive models and clear paths to growth,” he said.
“We are strongly of the belief that Mourant is the most compelling platform in its market.
“We are backing a leadership team that we have come to know well over an extended period of time; investing to support the long-term growth of Mourant and realise the ambitious plans of its existing and next generation shareholders.
“As specialist minority investors with a long track record in the professional services space, we are really excited about the combination and what we can achieve together.”
Mourant said the transaction will not change ownership or control of the group.
Mourant Group Limited will continue to own its governance and consulting businesses, operational infrastructure and brand, while the separate law firm entities will remain under the ownership and control of their locally qualified partners.
The company said regulatory notifications and approvals are being progressed in each country where it operates.
Mourant was advised by Rothschild and Co, Dejonghe and Morley, Addleshaw Goddard, PwC, Deloitte and FractionGC, while MML was advised by Baird, Oliver Wyman and Pinsent Masons.
