Castanea Partners and Boston Ventures Limited Partnership VI today announced the acquisition of Medley Global Advisors (MGA), in partnership with existing management. MGA is the premier provider of policy information on monetary, fiscal, regulatory and political developments to many of the world’s leading banks, mutual funds, hedge funds, and other institutional investors. Headquartered in New York City, MGA has satellite offices in Washington DC, London, Tokyo and Hong Kong.
MGA was founded in 1997 by Richard Medley, Chief Political Strategist and Partner at Soros Fund Management and a former policy advisor to the US House Banking Committee and Senate Democratic Leadership. Mr. Medley will remain involved in the company.
Sassan Ghahramani, who joined the firm in 1998 and has been CEO since 2002, will continue to serve as CEO of the firm.
“This partnership opens up a whole new range of possibilities for MGA, enabling us to offer broader and deeper coverage and provide greater value to our customers,” commented Mr. Ghahramani.
Mr. Ghahramani added, “Our new partners bring the added capital, financial and operating experience needed for MGA to respond to the many attractive opportunities in the global financial services market.”
Rob Smith, Managing Partner of Castanea Partners, said, “We are pleased with this opportunity to invest in a high quality, value-added, information services company with an impressive management team. Castanea has extensive investment and operating expertise in the publishing and information industry and we are delighted to work closely with Sass and his team, and with our partners at Boston Ventures, to help MGA continue to build its franchise.”
Vikrant Raina, Managing Director of Boston Ventures, commented, “This opportunity fits exactly with Boston Venture’s strategy of investing in leading providers of user-paid information serving large markets with high demand for information products. MGA’s market position is impressive, and its products are integral to the decision making of traders and portfolio managers at many leading financial institutions. We look forward to working with management and our partners at Castanea to take advantage of the many attractive growth opportunities available to MGA.”
About Boston Ventures
Boston Ventures Management, Inc., (www.bostonventures.com) is a private equity firm that has been an active investor and financial partner to management teams in the media, entertainment, publishing and information and communications sectors since 1983, earning the firm a franchise position in the private equity community. Boston Ventures’ general partners and principals are accomplished and experienced professionals who have a diverse and complementary range of skills, and a broad network of domestic and international relationships. Since its inception, Boston Ventures has invested approximately $2.2 billion in its target industries. The existing Boston Ventures Fund VI Partnership has attracted leading U.S. institutions and individuals from 16 countries.
About Medley Global Advisors
Medley Global Advisors (www.medleyadvisors.com) is the leading provider of geopolitical and macroeconomic policy information serving a client base comprised of leading banks, asset managers, and hedge funds. From an initial focus on G3 macro markets, MGA has expanded its network and services to cover US Equity Markets, Oil & Energy Markets, Geopolitics, and Emerging Markets. The Company has an established reputation as a highly valued and trusted source of research on monetary, fiscal, regulatory, and political developments that directly affect financial markets.
About Castanea
Castanea is a private equity firm that works in partnership with founders and management teams of innovative passion brands to grow their businesses through a combination of capital investment and operating expertise. We are focused on select consumer verticals including beauty, food and beverage, multi-unit services, and enthusiast lifestyle. We typically invest between $15 to $150 million of equity in minority or majority transactions. Our team of talented operating executives offers critical expertise in key verticals and functional areas, and provides our partner companies with strategic and tactical support. Castanea has more than $1 billion in assets under management and is currently investing from a $735 million fourth fund. For more information about Castanea Partners read our story.