PHILADELPHIA and NEW YORK, May 10, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Institutional Financial Markets, Inc. (NYSE MKT:IFMI) (“IFMI”), a financial services firm specializing in credit-related fixed income investments, today announced that it has entered into definitive agreements with Mead Park Capital Partners LLC (“Mead Park Capital”) and Cohen Bros. Financial, LLC (“Cohen Bros. Financial”), pursuant to which each will make investments in the Company, totaling $13.7 million in the aggregate. Mead Park Capital is a vehicle advised by Mead Park Advisors LLC, a registered investment adviser and a subsidiary of Mead Park Holdings LP (“Mead Park”), and controlled by Jack J. DiMaio, CEO and founder of Mead Park, and Christopher Ricciardi, a partner in Mead Park and former President of IFMI. Cohen Bros. Financial is a limited liability company that is wholly-owned by Daniel G. Cohen, IFMI’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Upon the closing of the transaction, Mr. DiMaio and Mr. Ricciardi will join the Company’s Board of Directors. Mr. DiMaio will be named Chairman, and Mr. Cohen will be named Vice Chairman of the Board. In addition, Mr. Cohen has decided to transition to President and Chief Executive of IFMI’s European operations and will continue to focus on growing the Company’s European capital markets and asset management operations. The Board’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, along with Mr. Cohen, are currently undertaking a search for a successor to Mr. Cohen as Chief Executive Officer. Until a successor is appointed, Mr. Cohen will remain as IFMI’s CEO.
