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Transactions

December 2019
Denver, CO
has received a majority equity investment from
New York, NY


Background

NinjaTrader is a Denver, Colorado and Chicago, Illinois-based provider of award-winning software and brokerage services that empower more than 60,000 active traders across the globe through best-in-class technology, discount commissions, and real-time support.

Marlin & Associates (M&A) had an ongoing dialogue with NinjaTrader’s owners and management team for several years. Two years prior to this transaction, the Company engaged M&A to help them evaluate strategic options. However, after discussions with several potential partners, the shareowners decided to focus on their growth plan and revisit strategic options at a later date.  Two years later, after completing a record-breaking year, NinjaTrader’s board asked M&A to advise them on developing strategic alternatives.



Overview

M&A leveraged its deep sector expertise in capital markets and worked in collaboration with NinjaTrader’s management team to develop materials that highlighted the strength and depth of the company’s product offering, its competitive positioning, and its impressive financial profile. Then, together with management, M&A identified, contacted, and answered questions from a small group of potentially interested parties that had relevant sector expertise and strong track-records indicating potential to add clear value to NinjaTrader’s aggressive growth plans. Ultimately, management and NinjaTrader’s board of directors concluded that the strongest fit and most attractive opportunity was a majority investment from Long Ridge Equity Partners, a growth equity firm specializing in supporting high-growth financial technology companies.

M&A Role

M&A acted as the exclusive strategic and financial advisor to NinjaTrader on this transaction, working closely with NinjaTrader’s management team and its advisors to develop discussion materials; identify potentially interested parties; engage in dialogue with possible investors; manage the due diligence review process; negotiate value, structure, and terms; select the best partner; negotiate definitive legal agreements; and complete the transaction.

Press

NinjaTrader Announces Majority Growth Investment led by Long Ridge Equity Partners

January 09, 2020

CHICAGO, IL, January 6, 2020 – NinjaTrader, a leading provider of trading software and brokerage services to active traders, announced that it has received a majority growth investment led by Long Ridge Equity Partners, with participation from DRW Venture Capital. The investment will help accelerate NinjaTrader’s growth as it executes its vision to provide institutional grade tools for retail traders across the globe.

NinjaTrader serves over 60,000 active traders, providing a best-in-class trading platform that offers advanced charting, strategy backtesting, and trade simulation. NinjaTrader Brokerage lowers the barrier for retail investors to enter the futures markets through cost-efficient access to high-performance, institutional grade tools. The unique combination of high-performance trading software, discount brokerage and real-time support make NinjaTrader the preferred platform for active futures traders.

“We are excited to partner with Long Ridge and DRW Venture Capital, who bring proven technology expertise and decades of experience innovating in global financial markets,” said Martin Franchi, CEO of NinjaTrader. “Working together will provide us with the resources, relationships and expertise necessary to accelerate our growth plans. The timing is right given the demand we’ve seen from the recent introduction of retail-focused futures products, specifically the CME’s introduction of E-Micros, which have brought new investors to the platform.”

“We are eager to build on NinjaTrader’s successful history of technical innovation, while maintaining the entrepreneurial spirit that has guided our organization,” said Raymond Deux, Founder of NinjaTrader. “As we accelerate our growth and expand our offering, we also remain committed to ensuring we provide our existing customers with the premium experience they expect from our team.”

“NinjaTrader provides the platform of choice for retail futures traders, with world-class support and a valuable ecosystem of third-party apps and training providers”, said Jim Brown, Long Ridge’s Managing Partner. “Both Long Ridge and DRW VC recognize there is growing demand for access to high-performance, institutional-grade trading tools, especially with reduced barriers to trading futures, and we’re excited to offer our expertise to help further this growth.”

In connection with the investment, Jim Brown and Jason Melton from Long Ridge will join the board of directors of NinjaTrader.

Marlin & Associates served as financial advisor and Jones & Keller PC served as legal counsel to NinjaTrader. Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP served as legal counsel and Katten Muchin Rosenman, LLP served as regulatory counsel to Long Ridge.

About NinjaTrader

NinjaTrader provides award-winning trading software and brokerage services to active traders. Founded in 2003, NinjaTrader has evolved into an industry leader supporting over 60,000 traders around the globe with best-in-class technology, discount commissions and world class support. To learn more about NinjaTrader, please visit: www.ninjatrader.com.

About Long Ridge Equity Partners

Founded in 2007, Long Ridge Equity Partners is a private investment firm focused on financial services and business services sectors. Leveraging deep sector knowledge and an extensive network of industry resources, Long Ridge serves as a value-added partner to high-growth businesses. Long Ridge manages over $400 million of committed capital. For more information on Long Ridge Equity Partners, please visit: www.long-ridge.com. 

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