Transactions
Background
Investment Metrics, LLC is a Darien, Connecticut-based provider of performance measurement, investment analytics, risk attribution, market intelligence and reporting software to the investment management industry. Marlin & Associates had been talking with Investment Metrics’ CEO, Sanjoy Chatterjee, for many years, as well as building a relationship with the company’s private equity owners and an independent board member. Investment Metrics’ software was originally developed as an in-house tool for RogersCasey, a leading investment consultant that Marlin & Associates knows well.
As Investment Metrics continued to expand its marquee client base and invest in its performance analytics and reporting solution, the management team and board of directors felt a new equity partner could help the company in its next phase of growth – both domestically and internationally. In 2016, management and the company’s board of directors asked Marlin & Associates to help the firm evaluate strategic and financing alternatives as its exclusive strategic and financial advisor.
Marlin & Associates worked collaboratively with Investment Metrics’ management team to develop materials that clearly communicated the strength of the company’s product, its positioning in the marketplace and its high-caliber client roster. Additionally, the Marlin team helped the company communicate its growth plan in the evolving wealth management industry, leveraging marquee client wins with Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo.
After thorough preparation, Marlin & Associates diligently managed a process which brought several high quality suitors to the table – both strategic and financial. The management team met with more than 10 prospective parties, including an operationally-focused software private equity firm, Resurgens Technology Partners. Resurgens Technology Partners brought relevant operational and industry expertise that management and the board believed was a critical quality of any new equity partner. In addition, Resurgens partnered with HarbourVest Partners, a global private markets asset manager with more than $40 billion in assets under management, that brought a complementary skill set to the table. In June 2017, management and the board agreed to sell a significant equity stake in Investment Metrics to Resurgens Technology Partners and HarbourVest Partners.
Marlin & Associates diligent approach to preparation was critical to the success of this transaction. The company’s sophisticated performance analytics and reporting platform served very complex needs of the investment management industry and communicating the value proposition to the market had to be clear and comprehensible. Marlin & Associates helped the company tell its “story” to the marketplace and brought an investor who not only understood the market well, but had relevant experience operating in the sector.
Sanjoy Chatterjee, Investment Metrics’ CEO, said “The team at Marlin & Associates was pivotal to completing this transaction. Their professional expertise in terms of understanding our business and ability to prepare and position us in the marketplace were very instrumental in getting us across the finish line. They’re smart, available whenever needed, and bring a positive work ethic to get the deal done.”