Funds advised by Apax Partners have announced that they have reached a definitive agreement to acquire ECi Software Solutions, a provider of enterprise resource planning software solutions to small- and medium-sized businesses across the distribution, field services, building and construction and manufacturing industries. ECi is currently owned by affiliates of The Carlyle Group and Level Equity. Carlyle will retain a minority ownership position in the company. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2017, subject to customary closing conditions.

Latham & Watkins LLP represents ECi Software Solutions and funds affiliated with The Carlyle Group in the transaction with a corporate deal team led by partner Paul Sheridan and counsel Marc Granger, with associate Mariclaire Petty. Advice was also provided by partner David Della Rocca, with associate Marysia Mullen on benefits and compensation matters; by partner Andrea Ramezan-Jackson, with associate Gaston Soler on tax matters; by counsel Kieran Dickinson on intellectual property matters; by partners Les Carnegie and Brian Kowalski, with associate Jennifer Kendrex on regulatory and export control matters; by partner Jennifer Van Driesen, with associate Katherine Putnam on finance matters; and by partner Marc Williamson and counsel Farrell Malone on antitrust matters. All lawyers are based in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, with the exception of Ms. Putnam, who is in London.