ACOLIN completes acquisition of GFA to add distribution oversight and data analytics capabilities

26th April 2021

ACOLIN, a leading provider of regulatory and cross-border fund distribution services across Europe, is pleased to announce the acquisition of GFA.

Founded in 2014, GFA operates a SaaS-based data collection and analytics platform for asset managers and distributors to manage their increasing compliance obligations and to enable asset managers to gain valuable insights into their distribution networks and identify opportunities to further improve business performance.

Following the recent acquisition of Fundbase, this is the second transaction since Sovereign Capital Partners, the UK private equity Buy and Build specialist, backed ACOLIN’s management buy-out in June 2020. GFA delivers a number of the growth objectives set out at the time, specifically the establishment of a meaningful presence in Luxembourg which is a key European financial centre for cross-border fund distribution, the addition of a modular, technology-enabled proposition in a core area of regulatory compliance which delivers recurring SaaS revenues, and further management capability with GFA founder Gert Rautenberg taking up the role of Group Head of Strategic Business Development.

Theo Splinter, CEO of ACOLIN commented: “GFA’s sophisticated and flexible technology platform will allow ACOLIN’s asset management clients to substantially strengthen their relationship with distribution partners through fully customisable oversight tools and state-of-the-art analytical tools, generating transparent and strategic insights into their distribution activities. At the same time, we are able to permanently strengthen our presence in the important European fund centre of Luxembourg, and we are delighted to welcome Gert Rautenberg and his fantastic team to the ACOLIN family.”

Gert Rautenberg, CEO of GFA said: “We are thrilled to be joining a successful team, with whom we share a strategic vision as well as a passion for service excellence and technology innovation. The integration of GFA into the ACOLIN Group will allow for the provision of a wide set of integrated support services on one truly integrated platform, offering our clients transparency, efficiency and growth opportunities in their distribution endeavours.”