BrazilAnkura expands ME footprint with Navigant disputes and forensics pick-up
Professional services firm Ankura has closed its purchase of Navigant’s disputes, forensics & legal technology and transaction advisory lines for $470 million, expanding the firm’s presence in the Middle East.
The pick-up of specialist advisory Navigant’s disputes, forensics and legal technology (DFLT) and transaction advisory services (TAS) lines has seen Ankura significantly boost its global footprint, with the 2014-founded consulting firm now boasting over 1,400 professionals generating $500 million in combined annual revenues across 37 offices worldwide, including locations in Dubai and Doha.
“Bringing Navigant’s global DFLT and TAS businesses to Ankura represents a milestone opportunity to establish a global footprint, enhance our client offerings, deepen our relationships with our clients, and provide new and exciting opportunities for our people,” Roger Carlile, Ankura’s Chief Executive Officer, said of the $470 million purchase.
“Ankura was founded to create a different kind of business advisory firm based on collaboration and innovation, and our success and growth is a testament to our approach. Navigant’s DFLT and TAS professionals are leading experts in their fields who share these same beliefs, and we are excited to welcome our new colleagues to our growing platform,” Carlile added.
Navigant
Chicago-headquartered Navigant, which in 2016 recorded over $1 billion in revenues and primarily serves the healthcare, energy, and financial services sectors, will meanwhile look to reinvest in strategic M&A and growth opportunities while sharpening its focus on the management consulting and managed services segments. Expected proceeds from the sale are also set to deliver a return of up to $175 million in capital to shareholders.
“The sale of the DFLT and TAS businesses advances Navigant’s transformation,” said Navigant CEO Julie Howard. “By separating those businesses from Navigant’s management consulting and managed services businesses, we believe each organisation will be advantageously positioned for growth and success in their respective markets.”
Ankura
For Ankura, which among other provisions offers expertise in investigations, risk, management and compliance, strategy and operations, turnaround and restructuring, and analytics and digital transformations across numerous industries – including the healthcare, energy, construction and financial services sectors – the deal marks another step in its evident growth push, coming on the back of multiple key appointments and the recent acquisition of management firm c3/consulting.
Among those recent appointments was Amin Salam, a Washington-based Ankura Managing Director and international business policy expert who served for eight years as ultimately Vice President of International Business Development & Strategy for the National US-Arab Chamber of Commerce, and who previously worked in the UAE as a senior policy advisor for strategic defence consultancy and think tank INEGMA.
New faces
As part of the acquisition, Ankura will also now welcome Navigant former Managing Director and leader of its Global Construction practice Darin Buchalter to its Board of Directors and Executive Committee, along with David Tortorello, Navigant’s former head of Disputes, Forensics & Legal Technology – who recently brought in Jacqui Record and Kassem Younes as the segment’s new managing and associate directors for its Dubai practice.
“At the beginning of the process, I knew it was important that the DFLT and TAS businesses find the right partner to start its journey as a privately-owned company.” Tortorello said. “Joining Ankura and its well-respected leadership team ensures that the DFLT and TAS businesses are set to thrive and grow. We are thrilled to be a part of this innovative, solutions-oriented firm and to help build upon Ankura’s collaborative, nimble approach to client service.”
Philip Daddona, Ankura co-president, added; “There is strong cultural alignment and complementary expertise between Ankura and the DFLT and TAS businesses, which supports our vision to build Ankura as a firm based on collaboration and known for how we solve problems… We are confident that the addition of our new colleagues advantageously positions, and continues to differentiate, Ankura in the marketplace.”
