First Manhattan
First Manhattan (FM) was founded in 1964[1] by a group of financial industry executives led by the late David "Sandy" Gottesman. FM remains independently owned and operated, with operating subsidiaries that include an SEC-registered investment adviser and a broker-dealer registered with FINRA. FM is currently led by CEO and Portfolio Manager, Zac Wydra.
Industry | Financial Services, Asset Management, Wealth Management |
---|---|
Founded | 1964 |
Headquarters | New York City |
Key people | Robert Gottesman (Executive Chairman) and Zac Wydra (CEO) |
Products | Investment management, Private investment funds, and ETFs |
AUM | US$20+ billion (2022) |
Number of employees | 130 |
Website | www |
FM is based in New York City.
Background
FM provides investment advisory and wealth planning services to high-net-worth individuals, as well as to partnerships, trusts, retirement accounts, and institutional clients. The firm manages investments on a fully discretionary basis for accounts ranging from under $1 million to over $100 million. The firm currently manages in excess of $20 billion,[2] utilizing a research-driven, long-term, value-oriented investment approach.[3]
The firm's clients are significant owners of Berkshire Hathaway stock,[4] and the firm has established a reputation for utilizing investing strategies similar to that espoused by Warren Buffett.[5] The firm's founder, David Gottesman, was an early investor in Berkshire Hathaway and he has maintained a long-standing friendship with Mr. Buffett.[6] The firm's investment approach is to establish long term positions in portfolio companies, most often relying on fundamental analysis and targeting value in the public equity and fixed-income markets of the United States.
Leadership
David Gottesman founded the firm in 1964.[6] Mr. Gottesman was a member of the Board of Directors of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. He was a director of the Securities Industry Association. Mr. Gottesman passed on September 28, 2022, at the age of 96.[7]
Robert Gottesman, David Gottesman's son, joined First Manhattan in 1987 and is currently the firm's Executive Chairman and a Portfolio Manager.[8]
The firm's Management Committee, led by CEO Zac Wydra, is responsible for the management and day-to-day operations of the firm.[3]
Recent Developments
The firm launched an exchange-traded fund, FMC Excelsior Focus Equity ETF (ticker: FMCX), an actively managed ETF that invests in First Manhattan's highest-conviction ideas driven by its rigorous, fundamentals-based research. Himayani Puri is the Portfolio Manager for FMCX and a Senior Managing Director and the Director of Research at FM.[9]
Additionally, MRJ Capital, a $168M AUM registered investment adviser founded by Matt Greenberg, joined First Manhattan in March 2022.[10]
References
- Schroeder, Alice (2008), "29 (footnote six)", The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life, Random House, ISBN 9780553905496
- Thrasher, Michael (March 14, 2022). "A $20 Billion, Stock-Picking RIA Is Looking for Like-Minded Advisors".
- "Home". firstmanhattan.com.
- http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/brk-a/institutional-holdings
- "CORRECTING and REPLACING First Manhattan Reminds Vivus Shareholders That Time is Running out to Save Vivus". Business Wire. July 8, 2013.
- "#1054 David Gottesman". Forbes. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
- Hagerty, James R. (2022-09-30). "David S. Gottesman, Friend of Warren Buffett, Has Died at Age 96". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
- "Executive Profile Robert William Gottesman". Bloomberg Business. September 1, 2015.
- "First Manhattan Co. Launches Inaugural Actively Managed ETF—FMC Excelsior Focus Equity ETF (Ticker: FMCX)". www.businesswire.com. 2022-04-25. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
- "MRJ Capital Joins First Manhattan Co". www.businesswire.com. 2022-03-15. Retrieved 2023-05-31.