Montag & Caldwell Announces Closing of Employee-Led Buyout

ATLANTA, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- The employees of Montag & Caldwell, an investment management firm founded in 1945 specializing in growth equity investing with $14 Billion under management, announced today the closing of their agreement to buy the Company from BNP Paribas Fortis.  As of Sept. 24, 2010, employees own 100% of the firm.  Specific terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

In an outstanding display of continuity and enthusiasm for the transaction, every Officer of the Company including Portfolio Management, Research, Marketing and Trading, participated in the transaction and are owners of the firm.  Ron Canakaris, the Company's Chairman and Chief Investment Officer, said, "Our entire team at Montag & Caldwell is very proud to complete the purchase of this quality franchise, and we are excited to continue pursuing superior investment returns and the highest quality service for clients. Our new ownership structure only reinforces the tightly-knit and independent culture that has been a hallmark of Montag & Caldwell for many years."

"The keystone of our success has always been the consistency of our people, process and philosophy," said Bill Vogel, Chief Executive Officer at Montag & Caldwell.  "All 49 of our employees are highly enthusiastic about completing this buyout and advancing our mission forward, with a commitment to excellence in client service and a disciplined, fundamentals-based investment approach."

Financial Adviser to Management was Keith Mitchell of Mitchell Hartley Advisers.  For more information or to speak to Mssrs. Canakaris and Vogel, please contact Amiee Watts at 973-784-0025 or [email protected] or Bill Long at 404-836-7161 or [email protected].

About Montag & Caldwell

Montag & Caldwell has a long history of providing superior investment results and exceptional client service.  The Company credits this record to its experienced and long-tenured team of professionals employing a consistent and disciplined investment process.  Today, Montag & Caldwell manages large and mid-cap growth, balanced and fixed income strategies, through separately managed accounts and mutual funds. The Company serves a wide range of institutional and individual clients including retirement plans, endowment funds and foundations, state and local governments, hospitals, insurance companies, and Taft-Hartley funds.

SOURCE Montag & Caldwell