Four market-leading, SIPA member companies—BLR (Business and Legal Resources) and UCG-owned businesses DecisionHealth, Argosy and CCMI—have been merged and sold to Leeds Equity Partners, LLC. Leeds Equity created a new entity called Simplify Compliance Holdings, LLC to manage this new group. It will be led by Dan Oswald, the current CEO of BLR, and headquartered in Brentwood, Tenn.
 
Simplify Compliance represents the first investment for Leeds Equity Partners and will be a buy-and-build platform with an exclusive focus on the governance, risk and compliance market.
 
"We are excited to join the Leeds Equity team," said Oswald (pictured). "Leeds Equity's track record of providing support to leading businesses in the knowledge industries is unmatched, and we view our partnership with Leeds as a strategic asset of the company. We chose to work with Leeds Equity because of the depth of their experience and expertise, and we are confident that their resources will enable Simplify Compliance to continue its successful expansion through new growth initiatives."

BLR is an information company that helps U.S. businesses comply with state and legal requirements, with products that include events, training programs, web portals and subscription services. DecisionHealth publishes more than 50 newsletters, books and websites and offers news and analysis for the healthcare industry with brands such as Home Health Line and Part B News. Argosy provides award-winning business publications, databases, conferences, online information services, and resource directories for financial services professionals, regulators, lawyers, accountants and industry vendors. CCMI is a major source for telecom data and information, also delivering services and events to communication services providers and enterprise end-users.
 
Investment banker JEGI represented BLR and UCG in this transaction.
 
"Dan and his team, through this combination, have created a special business," said Scott VanHoy, managing director of Leeds Equity Partners. "The company operates a differentiated, scalable platform that enables its customers and clients to operate effectively in the complex and fast-changing environments in which they participate. We are excited to help the company continue to grow organically and through acquisitions."
 
Added Oswald: "Importantly, our customers will benefit from continued investments in our core solutions and our tireless dedication to providing critical training, workflow solutions, data and intelligence."

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Ronn Levine began his career as a reporter for The Washington Post and has won numerous writing and publications awards since. Most recently, he spent 12 years at the Newspaper Association of America covering a variety of topics before joining SIPA in 2009 and SIIA in 2013 as editorial director…