Skip navigation
Watchlist Sponsored By :

Current DateTime: 03:32:44 06 Jul 2009
LinksList Documentid: 24355697
  • Collection of Michael Jackson

      Earlier this year, Jackson sought to auction his personal items. Although it never came through, here's a look at what was almost sold.

  • Recession-Resistant US Cities

      Some cities have been hit much harder than others during the recession. Here are the metro areas faring the best.

  • How Much For A T-Bone Steak?

      From the cost of a T-bone steak to a monthly phone bill, the price for everyday items can vary dramatically across the country.


Current DateTime: 03:32:44 06 Jul 2009
LinksList Documentid: 24890560
  • Boom, Bust and Blame

      The inside story of the economic crisis that has gripped the entire world.

  • E3: Gaming's Cutting Edge

      North America's premier computer and video game trade show draws tens of thousands of professionals to experience the future of interactive entertainment.

  • The Fall of GM

      A look into the fall of General Motors as the automaker heads toward bankruptcy and an effective nationalization.

Sex Sells, But Is Wall Street Buying?
By: Melissa Lee | 16 Nov 2007 | 03:56 PM ET
Text Size

Is your portfolio in need of a little action? Then you could end up getting lucky. The world's first adult entertainment industry investments firm wants to give investors more...ahem...bang for their buck.
Adultvest
AdultVest.com
Seeking High Net Worth Investors

The firm, AdultVest, was started by Francis Koenig, a former hedge fund manager who says the $60 billion adult entertainment industry is wide open for investment. But will Wall Street buy it?

"There are other big markets out there I could've taken on, but there's no competition here," Koenig says. "So there are no other financial institutions doing what we do. We're the first."

Koenig's plan Moves business from the bedroom to the boardroom, pairing profitable mid-sized companies with accredited investors through two funds, the Bacchus fund with a minimum $1 million investment, and the Priapus fund with a $100,000 minimum investment.

Click for related content

Also in the pipeline are mergers, acquisitions and capital introduction, with the goal of taking majority stakes -- in some cases, even taking companies public. Historically, that's been a challenge given the reluctance of underwriters and service providers. But experts say Koenig has tapped into the growth of reverse mergers.

"The adult entertainment biz has had difficulty raising capital through traditional venture capital, private equity," said David Ficksman, a corporate finance and security expert. "What he's identified is the opportunity to raise capital in the public marketplace."

Koenig says hundreds of companies and thousands of investors have registered with the two-year-old firm. Already, there's a deal in the works with the publisher of adult video star Jenna Jameson's upcoming erotic audio book. And there's a partnership with Michael J. Peter of MJ Peter & Associates, who is credited with creating the gentleman's club concept.

"We're taking our street smarts, packaging it with this extraordinary Wall Street team," Peter said. "For the first time there's institutional funds available to grow these businesses and to do them bigger and better."

And Koenig says investors will follow the money.

"Many of them will never enter the industry, but a lot of them that have never been in this territory will start to open their eyes," Koenig said. "And even the most conservative investors will realize that this is a good investment."

© 2009 CNBC.com
Tools:
Print EmailAdd This share icon


Current DateTime: 02:03:05 06 Jul 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29778428

Current DateTime: 11:26:00 06 Jul 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29779196

Current DateTime: 12:11:29 06 Jul 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29779199

Current DateTime: 01:05:26 06 Jul 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29779198
CNBCCNBC
About CNBC  |  Site Map  |  Privacy Policy  |  Terms of Service  |  Video Reprints  |  Advertise  |  Help  |  Contact
Partners: AOL Money  |  BloggingStocks.com
CNBC is a Division of NBC Universal
  Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes
Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis

© 2009 CNBC, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.
Thomson ReutersThomson Reuters