Simplified Pathway to Public Listing
Partial Liquidity With Significant Retained Upside
Permanent Equity Capital
Preservation of Full Autonomy
NEW YORK and DENVER, April 23, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Berkshire Capital Securities LLC, a leading merger and acquisition boutique for investment management firms and the successful sponsor of Highbury Financial Inc., in partnership with a premier group of experienced, investment management industry professionals, is pleased to announce the launch of HF2 Financial Management Inc. ("HF2") (Nasdaq:HTWO), a permanent capital solution for the investment management industry.
HF2 is a newly formed public company with $178 million of net cash on hand, no debt and no legacy operations designed to facilitate a business combination with a high-quality investment management or other financial services firm with a minimum of $25 million of EBITDA.
Richard S. Foote, President and Chief Executive Officer of HF2 commented, "HF2 provides a simplified pathway for the public listing of a privately held investment management firm while achieving liquidity for its owners. HF2 also provides the potential for significant retained upside, access to permanent equity capital, a public mark to facilitate compensation and retention programs and continued autonomy. HF2 delivers this solution without the same level of uncertainty regarding price and time and more cost-effectively than a regular-way IPO."
Mr. Foote continued, "HF2 Financial also provides a streamlined solution for a corporate parent to divest a portion of the equity of an investment management subsidiary, potentially resulting in an increase in regulatory capital, better alignment of equity incentives and productivity, and faster growth with reduced risk."
Mr. Foote concluded, "Finally, HF2 Financial may facilitate the aggregation of private funds and separate accounts into a liquid, pooled, permanent capital vehicle with internal or external management, a solution we believe is especially attractive to private funds and separate accounts focused on investments in real estate, infrastructure and energy assets."
In the weeks ahead the team will call selected targets to arrange meetings to discuss this solution in detail. Should you wish to make an inquiry, please contact Drew Murphy, Vice President, Berkshire Capital, by telephone at 212-207-1824 or by email at dmurphy@berkcap.com.
About Berkshire Capital Securities LLC
Berkshire Capital is a leading global boutique investment bank focused on M&A in the asset management and securities industries. With more completed transactions in this industry than any other investment bank, we help clients create successful, long lasting partnerships. More information regarding Berkshire Capital is available at www.berkcap.com.
Member, FINRA / SIPC
About HF2 Financial Management Inc.
HF2 Financial Management Inc. is a blank check company formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination. HF2's efforts to identify an initial business combination are not limited to a particular industry or geographic region, although it is focused on companies operating in the financial services industry. More information regarding HF2 is available at www.hf2financial.com.
Certain matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Actual results and the timing of certain events could differ materially from those projected in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including changes in the securities or financial markets or in general economic conditions, the availability of equity and debt financing, competition for acquisitions of interests in investment management firms, the ability to close pending investments, the investment performance of any target and its ability to effectively market its investment strategies, and other risks detailed from time to time in HF2 Financial Management Inc.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Reference is hereby made to the "Risk Factors" set forth in the Company's Form S-1 filed in March 2013.