Foros Group
Foros Group is a New York-based boutique investment bank founded in 2009 that provides M&A advisory, strategic assessments, and fairness opinions to public and private clients. It has advised on 99 announced transactions exceeding $73 billion in value across 14+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Foros Group does
Foros Group is a premier boutique investment bank headquartered in New York City, founded in June 2009 by Jean Manas. The firm provides M&A advisory and strategic financial advice to public and private U.S. and international clients for both domestic and cross-border transactions. Its core services span strategic assessments, acquisitions, whole-company sales, divestitures, fairness opinions, financings, go-privates, and independent board/committee advisory. Since founding through 2023, Foros has advised on 99 announced transactions with over $73 billion in aggregate transaction value, serving 88 clients across technology, software, healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, and communications sectors. Notable clients include HP, F5 Networks, Zuora, Sanmina, IMS Health, Dassault Systèmes, and Ciena.
The firm's revenue model is professional services fees on a transaction-based pricing structure typical of boutique M&A advisory, likely combined with retainers for ongoing advisory relationships. Its affiliated broker-dealer entity, Foros Securities LLC, holds FINRA and SIPC memberships and supports advisory services tied to underwritings, though Foros does not act as a retail broker-dealer, provide research, or sell securities to retail customers. Customer segmentation spans public companies, private companies/PE sponsors, and international counterparties across 14+ countries including the UK, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, China, Australia, Canada, and Singapore.
Foros positions itself as a no-conflict advisor: it does not lend, does not bank industries, and does not work with activist investors. The team comprises approximately 20-30 professionals, including senior Managing Directors recruited from bulge-bracket firms (notably Roberto Mendoza, former JP Morgan Vice Chairman, and Michael Lynch, former JP Morgan Vice Chairman and Goldman Sachs Partner). Distribution is purely relationship-driven through direct senior banker engagement, with thought leadership published via the "Foros Perspectives" series. The firm has no proprietary technology platform; the service is fundamentally human-capital-intensive deal advisory.
Foros Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Foros Group
- Legal name
- Foros Group LLC
- Website
- https://forosgroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Foros Group is a New York-based boutique investment bank founded in 2009 that provides M&A advisory, strategic assessments, and fairness opinions to public and private clients. It has advised on 99 announced transactions exceeding $73 billion in value across 14+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Foros Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Investment Banking
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Management Consulting Services (54161)
- SIC
- Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Management Buyouts (MBO/MBI) & Sponsor-Led Transactions Advisory (FSAEAGAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Buy-Side Search & Acquisition Advisory (FSAEAIAD), Governance & Board Effectiveness Advisory (BPAHAFAC)
Keywords
Where Foros Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Foros Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations
Revenue model
- M&A Advisory Fees: Professional services revenue from providing M&A advisory, strategic advice, fairness opinions, and transaction execution for corporate clients. Revenue is generated through transaction-based fees, likely with retainers for ongoing advisory relationships.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
Foros Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Foros Group is a boutique investment bank that advises public and private companies, private equity firms, and international clients on mergers and acquisitions, strategic alternatives, and corporate finance matters. Engagements are led directly by senior bankers and include sell-side and buy-side advisory, strategic assessments, and fairness opinions.
Product overview
Foros Group is a premier boutique investment bank offering a single, unified advisory service focused on M&A and strategic financial advice. The firm provides advisory services including strategic assessments, acquisitions, whole company sales, divestitures, fairness opinions, financings, go privates, and independent board/committee services to public and private U.S. and international clients for both domestic and cross-border transactions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- M&A Advisory Services Sell-side, buy-side, and cross-border mergers and acquisitions advisory for public and private companies and private equity sponsors, including transaction structuring, buyer/seller identification, valuation, negotiation support, and deal execution.
- Strategic Advisory & Alternatives Review Strategic assessments, evaluation of strategic alternatives (including divestitures, recapitalizations, and minority transactions), and related corporate finance advice for boards and management teams.
- Fairness Opinions
Quantifiable outcome
- 99 announced transactions with over $73 billion in transaction value since 2009
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Foros Group
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Foros Group technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Foros Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered regulatory.
- FINRAregulatoryForos Securities LLC, a Foros affiliate, is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. Provides advisory services in connection with underwritings.
- SIPCregulatoryForos Securities LLC is a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Foros Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lincoln International: Global mid-market M&A advisor with strong technology coverage. Comparable to Foros in boutique scale, technology M&A specialization, and sponsor-led transaction experience.
- Houlihan Lokey: Larger independent advisory firm known for M&A and restructuring. Comparable to Foros in independent advisory positioning, though with significantly broader scale and product breadth.
- Robert W. Baird & Co. Employee-owned investment bank with strong middle-market M&A franchise. Comparable to Foros in mid-market M&A advisory and private company client focus, though considerably larger.
- Perella Weinberg Partners: Independent advisory boutique serving M&A, capital markets, and restructuring clients. Comparable to Foros in its boutique structure, senior-bank pedigree, and focus on advisory-only services.
- Qatalyst Partners: Elite technology-focused boutique M&A advisor with offices in San Francisco and New York. Highly comparable to Foros given overlap in software/TMT advisory, conflict-free positioning, and similar senior-banker-from-bulge-bracket DNA.
- Centerview Partners: Premier independent advisory boutique founded by veterans of Unilever and Wasserstein. Closest comparable peer to Foros in terms of conflict-free pure advisory, board-level fairness opinions, and serving large-cap public-company clients.
- Allen & Company: Highly selective boutique advisor to media, technology, and financial services clients. Comparable to Foros in its boutique scale, elite-client focus, and senior relationship-driven model.
- PJT Partners: Independent advisory firm spun out of Blackstone, focused on M&A, restructuring, and strategic advisory. Directly comparable to Foros as a public alternative that competes for the same high-end advisory mandates.
- Greenhill & Co. Pure-play independent M&A advisory boutique founded in 1996. Closely comparable to Foros in size, business model (no lending, no underwriting), and senior-banker-driven coverage of mid- and large-cap M&A.
Broad incumbents
- Evercore: Larger independent investment banking advisory with global M&A, capital markets, and equity research. Comparable to Foros in independent-advisory DNA but operates at meaningfully greater scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Foros Group social profiles
Digital presenceForos Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Foros Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Foros Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Foros Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Foros Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Foros Group
What does Foros Group do?
Foros Group is a boutique investment bank that advises public and private companies, private equity firms, and international clients on mergers and acquisitions, strategic alternatives, and corporate finance matters. Engagements are led directly by senior bankers and include sell-side and buy-side advisory, strategic assessments, and fairness opinions.
Is Foros Group a public or private company?
Foros Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Foros Group founded?
Foros Group was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Foros Group based?
Foros Group is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Foros Group make money?
One revenue line is on record: M&A Advisory Fees.
Who are Foros Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lincoln International, Houlihan Lokey, Robert W. Baird & Co., Perella Weinberg Partners, Qatalyst Partners, Centerview Partners, Allen & Company, PJT Partners and Greenhill & Co.. Evercore is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Foros Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Foros Group.
What industry is Foros Group in?
Foros Group's product category is Investment Banking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEAGAI, Management Buyouts (MBO/MBI) & Sponsor-Led Transactions Advisory, with a secondary code of FSAEAIAD, Buy-Side Search & Acquisition Advisory. Its NAICS code is 52394 and its SIC code is 6211.