Hilton Capital buys minority stake in New Century Advisors, creating $7.7B platform
What's the deal? Hilton Capital Management has acquired a strategic minority, non-controlling stake in New Century AdvisorsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → (NCA), the firms announced on September 30, 2026. Terms were undisclosed. The two firms remain separate investment advisers, each retaining responsibility for its own client accounts.
By the numbers: As of August 31, 2026, Hilton Capital reported about $3.6 billion in assets under management, while NCA reported roughly $4.1 billion. Together they oversee approximately $7.7 billion across fixed income, equity, and alternative strategies.
Who's who? Founded in 2001 and based in Garden City, New York, Hilton Capital is an operating company of Rafferty HoldingsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a diversified firm with holdings in asset management and fintech. NCA, founded in 2002 in Chevy Chase, Maryland, is an institutional manager specialising in fixed income, inflation-sensitive, and small-cap equity strategies.
What's the endgame? The deal expands Hilton Capital's asset management platform and adds NCA's institutional fixed income and small-cap capabilities. "NCA's extensive investment expertise brings long-standing institutional fixed income, inflation-sensitive and small-cap equity capabilities that complement our current Hilton Capital investment solutions," said Jeffrey Seeley, chief executive officer of Hilton Capital.
What changes? Little, for now. NCA remains majority woman-owned and employee-owned, operating under its existing leadership, led by founder and co-chief investment officer Ellen Safir. The team has run client portfolios with the same philosophy since 2002.
Why now? Michael Rafferty, chief executive officer of Rafferty Holdings, framed the move as part of a broader buildout. "Collaborating with NCA advances our plans to build out Hilton Capital's asset management platform and brings together complementary investment expertise," he said.
The signal: The deal reflects steady consolidation among mid-sized asset managers seeking scale without full mergers. By taking a minority stake, Hilton Capital gains complementary strategies and shared distribution while leaving NCA's independent identity and investment process intact — a model that lets smaller firms pool resources without surrendering autonomy.
Read more: finance.yahoo.com
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