Alter Domus to acquire MSC Group

Global administrator Alter Domus will take over MSC Group as it expands its footprint in Asia Pacific.

The acquisition of MSC Group will allow Alter Domus to add trustee, custody and debt capital markets services to its administration offering in Australia and select APAC areas.

The agreement covers about $32 billion in assets. The value of the deal was not disclosed.

Alter Domus opened its Sydney office in 2015, providing alternatives asset administration. It currently has 39 global offices.

In Australia, Peter Zanapalis serves as the head of South APAC and private credit based in Sydney.

Singapore-based Alter Domus global head of client delivery and APAC Babloo Sarin said acquiring MSC Group "brings together two complementary teams and underscores our commitment to offering industry-leading services to Australia's growing alternative assets market."

"This will see Alter Domus adding licensed capabilities in Australia and in key APAC areas to serve expanding demand among private credit and alternative asset clients," Sarin said.

MSC's core businesses are MSC Trustees, MSC Certane, MSC Abacus and MSC Capital Partners.

MSC Group founder and group managing director Matthew Fletcher said: "Joining the Alter Domus global platform enhances our service delivery with increased resources, technology investment and expanded capabilities."

The transaction is set to close later this year following regulatory approvals.

MSC Group provides corporate trustee, custody, fund administration, licensing and debt market services.

Fletcher founded MSC Group in 2012, which operates offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

Last September, MSC Trustees and MSC Abacus were appointed as the trustee and administrator for third-party litigation funder Ninety Mile Capital.

In 2024, MSC Trustees acquired Certane Corporate Trust, the fund administration and corporate trustee business formerly owned by the now-defunct Sargon Capital.

The group underwent several senior leadership and operational changes last year, including the appointment of Shelley Brown to become second-in-command as chief operating officer.

Adam Swanwick was named as general manager of risk and compliance, while Sheridan Handley assumed the role of senior legal counsel.

Editor's note: Figures for this article were updated at 3.15pm.