ECI Partners has agreed to invest in Shaw Gibbs, a top 35 UK accountancy, tax and advisory practice serving around 25,000 clients across the UK and Ireland. The deal provides a full exit for private equity firm Apiary Capital, which has backed Shaw Gibbs since 2022. During Apiary's ownership, Shaw Gibbs completed 14 add-on acquisitions, including Alliotts, Martin and Company, and Crowleys DFK in Ireland, expanding the group's footprint.

Shaw Gibbs selected ECI Partners for its next growth phase, citing ECI's experience with relationship-led businesses and its track record of financial services investments, including KB Associates and IGG. "Shaw Gibbs stood out to us as one of the most client-centric businesses in the accountancy space, with the platform to scale their consistently high-quality service," said Michael Butler, partner at ECI Partners. The firm's focus on employee value proposition, including training and development programs, has supported growth and contributed to employee retention and long-standing client relationships.