Evercore Partners Inc has agreed to purchase a 45% non-controlling interest in ABS Investment Management, LLC, an institutionally focused equity long/short hedge fund-of-funds manager. Under the terms of the purchase agreement, Evercore will pay approximately USD45 million in cash to the current partners of ABS.

Following the closing of the transaction, which is expected in the fourth quarter, ABS' founders and employees will own 55% of the company. ABS founders Alain De Coster, Laurence Russian, and Guilherme Ribeiro do Valle, will continue to lead the company, and the investment processes and day-to-day operations will remain unchanged. The founders will sign long-term employment contracts and will invest and hold a majority of the after-tax sale proceeds in investment products managed by ABS.

Founded in 2002, ABS is an institutionally focused equity long/short hedge fund-of-funds manager with approximately USD3.5 billion in assets under management with 24 employees and offices in Connecticut, Zurich and Hong Kong. ABS' founding partners have created one of the highest quality franchises in equity long/short investing with a focus on generating attractive risk/reward returns. Since inception, ABS has experienced consistent asset growth driven by strong client relationships, a disciplined investment process and an exemplary commitment to client service.

Ralph Schlosstein (pictured), Evercore's President and Chief Executive Officer, says: "We are excited to partner with ABS, an outstanding asset manager with strong long-term client relationships, significant scale and a high quality team of investment professionals that have a long history of working together.

"This investment is consistent with our strategy of partnering with exceptional investment firms and leveraging the best skills and attributes of both these investment firms and Evercore. Consistent with our financial approach, this acquisition is expected to be accretive to earnings per share in 2012."

Alain De Coster, of ABS, says: "Evercore is an ideal strategic partner. They share our respect for the integrity of the investment process and our commitment to our clients. Evercore will help solidify our global institutional footprint and provide proven insights as we continue to build a strong and independent firm."