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DWF advises NorthEdge on investment in Contollo Group

19 February 2024

DWF, the global provider of integrated legal and business services, has advised NorthEdge private equity on its investment in Contollo Group (Contollo), a newly formed built environment consultancy, through the NorthEdge SME Fund.

NorthEdge has invested in Contollo, supporting its development of a national professional services platform that supports clients across a range of sectors to achieve their regulatory and sustainability targets in the built environment. 

The investment will allow Contollo to undertake a UK-focused buy and build strategy, which will support the business to serve the rapidly increasing demand for tech-enabled smart buildings. This demand is driven by board-level ESG agendas and underpinned by growing regulatory pressure on built environment stakeholders to progress towards Net Zero. NorthEdge is backing Oliver Dennis, Executive Chair, and Ruth Percival, CEO, who both bring significant M&A and Private Equity experience in the professional services sector to build the platform.

Upon completion of the investment, Contollo secured its first acquisition, a sector-leading Manchester-based cost management consultancy, Abacus. Ellis Goodfellow, Co-Founder of Abacus, will join Contollo as Chief Commercial Officer.

Partner Jonathan Robinson led the Corporate team at DWF, who advised NorthEdge alongside partner Darren Ormsby.

Jonathan Robinson said: “We are delighted to have advised NorthEdge in connection with its investment to support Contollo’s national growth ambitions and increase investment in local Northern businesses. We look forward to continue supporting NorthEdge on furthering its sustainability agenda and raising awareness of the growing demand of ESG driven consulting.”

Liam May, Director at NorthEdge said “This investment brings together a number of NorthEdge’s focus areas: Contollo is another example of a regionally-based company with national reach; our Business Services sector team have been tracking the built environment for a number of years; the investment strategy is highly aligned with our ESG and sustainability commitments; and Contollo represents another buy and build investment in our portfolio following the successful completion of a number of bolt-on acquisitions to accelerate growth across the portfolio over the last decade.” 

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