Gerald Edelman advises on the sale of leading financial services consultancy  

Gerald Edelman is delighted to announce that its Corporate Finance team has successfully advised the shareholders of Rockstead Group (“Rockstead”), a leading governance, risk, and compliance consultancy serving the regulated financial services sector, on its sale to private equity backed company, Broadstone Group (“Broadstone”).  

Founded by Brian Pitt and Richard Gater in 2008, Rockstead has built a strong reputation as a trusted provider of due diligence, loan book analysis, underwriting, servicer oversight, and compliance services. For nearly two decades, its flexible consulting model has supported blue-chip clients, including investment and retail banks, hedge funds, building societies, private equity firms, non-bank lenders, funders, originators, investors, asset managers, insurers and pension companies.  

Rockstead has conducted independent reviews and analysis on loan portfolios across the UK and Europe to the value of more than £400 billion, establishing itself as one of the most trusted advisers within the banking and credit community. 

Broadstone, a portfolio company of US-based private equity firm, Lovell Minnick Partners, is a leading UK consultancy delivering specialist advice to employers, insurers, pension scheme trustees, and lenders. The acquisition enhances Broadstone’s Banking & Credit Advisory practice by adding complementary capabilities and deep sector expertise, further strengthening its position in the market. 

Rockstead will form part of Broadstone’s rapidly growing Banking & Credit Advisory vertical, with the core delivery and management team remaining in place to support continued growth and integration. 

Gerald Edelman acted as lead sell-side adviser to the shareholders of Rockstead throughout the transaction. 

Brian Pitt, Executive Chairman of Rockstead, commented: 

“As one of the founders of Rockstead, it has been a pleasure to lead our growth over the past two decades, becoming the longest running specialist supplier of risk consultancy and management services to regulated financial services markets. 

This partnership with Broadstone represents a natural next step for Rockstead. Their scale, complementary capabilities and long-term vision make them an excellent partner as we look to expand our services and support our clients in an increasingly complex regulatory environment. 

I couldn’t recommend the team at Gerald Edelman highly enough. We set clear objectives at the outset of the process, and the outcome exceeded our expectations. They provided exceptional support and advice throughout the process. We are incredibly pleased with the result and grateful to the whole team at Gerald Edelman for their invaluable support and hard work.”  

Jack Bettell, Associate Director at Gerald Edelman, added: 

“This transaction marks a significant milestone for Rockstead and we are delighted to have advised on a successful outcome for the shareholders and the company.  

We achieved our primary objective, which was to secure a strategic, long-term home for Rockstead that not only accelerates the company’s remarkable growth trajectory, but also strengthens and preserves its culture and values. 

Broadstone’s complementary capabilities and sector focus make it an excellent strategic fit, and we are confident the business is well positioned for continued success. 

We wish both Rockstead and Broadstone every success for the future.”