MindGeek, a technology and media company, owner of a large portfolio of adult entertainment properties, including Pornhub, has been acuired by a Canadian private equity firm Ethical Capital Partners (ECP).
The terms of the transaction are private and are not being publicly disclosed.
“At ECP, we seek out innovative and ethically-driven companies that operate at the frontier of new, evolving industries. In MindGeek, we have identified a dynamic tech brand that is built upon a foundation of trust, safety and compliance, and with ECP’s resources and broad expertise spanning regulatory, law enforcement, public engagement and finance, we have a unique opportunity to strengthen what already exists,” Fady Mansour, founding partner, ECP, said in a statement.
MindGeek also owns YouPorn, Redtube, Brazzers, Men.com, Sean Cody, Trans Angels and Nutaku.
ECP investment in MindGeek is based on the following:
- Leveraging ECP’s experience and expertise to further position MindGeek as the internet’s most popular platform for adult content. ECP’s partners and advisors, who represent a broad range of experts and stakeholders across law enforcement, legal, regulatory, public engagement and finance, will partner with MindGeek to ensure its platforms are at the forefront of innovation, and trust and safety on the internet, and remain home to an inclusive global community of adult creators, performers, artists and users celebrating creative and sexual expression.
- Investing in MindGeek as the internet leader in fighting illegal online content. ECP believes the internet should be safe for all – with child protection, intimate image security and digital self-determination at the core of our values, and that MindGeek must play a leading role in the fight against illegal content across the internet.
- Unlocking shareholder value through state-of-the-art tech and IP investments. ECP will add to the success that MindGeek continues to build by unlocking further value by way of investing in world-class content companies, safety technologies, and audience engagement.
“The adult entertainment industry will always be the subject of significant legal and regulatory scrutiny. We are highly aware that mere regulatory compliance is not enough and that MindGeek must reassure, communicate and take on a more visible leadership role. Our pre-close reviews revealed that MindGeek operates legally and responsibly. We look forward to communicating the path forward for MindGeek and its holdings,” said Derek Ogden, founding partner, ECP.
MindGeek is a dynamic tech company that manages some of the most popular adult entertainment platforms in the world. MindGeek platforms feature the best selection of award-winning adult content and performers, the most extensive collection of high-quality adult videos and the most user-friendly experience for viewers. With an emphasis on supporting its community and freedom of expression, MindGeek’s platforms have risen to the forefront of Trust & Safety, employing industry-leading compliance and content moderation practices.