September 7, 2017
Willkie client Genstar Capital, in partnership with management, announces acquisition of Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) from Vestar Capital Partners.
On September 7, it was announced that Willkie client Genstar Capital has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (ISS), a leading provider of corporate governance and responsible investment solutions to financial market participants, from Vestar Capital Partners for $720 million.
ISS will continue to operate independently once the transaction is completed and the current ISS executive leadership team will remain in place. The transaction is expected to close by early fourth quarter, subject to customary closing conditions.
ISS is the world’s leading provider of corporate governance and responsible investment (RI) solutions for asset owners, asset managers, hedge funds, and asset service providers. San Francisco-based Genstar Capital manages funds with total capital commitments of approximately $9 billion and targets investments focused on targeted segments of the financial services, software, industrial technology, and healthcare industries.
In May, Willkie represented Genstar in separate agreements to recapitalize independent fund administrator Apex Fund Services and simultaneously acquire Equinoxe Alternative Investment Services. The firm has also previously represented Genstar in numerous other acquisitions, including Sphera, Ascensus, AssetMark, Altegris, Strategic Insight and Mercer Advisors.
The Willkie deal team on the current transaction was led by partners Jeffrey Poss and Manuel Miranda, and included partners Daniel Alvarez, Elliot Gluck, Jeffrey Goldfarb, Jordan Messinger and Christopher Peters; counsel Jeffrey Clancy, Daniel Mun, Spencer Simon, Andrew Spital and William Thomas; associates David Axelson, Philip Coletto, Melissa Fischetti, Stephen Forster, Sabine Houben, Gerry Kelly, Elana King, David Lee, Katie Luton, Annise Maguire, Geri Ann McEvoy, Alex Moyer, Patrick Quinn, Thomas Spencer and Edward Torres; and law clerk Peter Coulson.
