History of Manex
Manchester Exchange Investment Company (MEIC) was a British investment trust founded in 1876. The company was one of the first investment trusts in the UK, and it was initially focused on investing in British railway companies. However, MEIC’s investment focus changed over time, and it eventually became a diversified investment trust with interests in various industries and markets.
The main subsidiary of MEIC was Manex Brokers, a full brokerage and investment bank headquartered in Manchester, England. Manex Brokers dated back to 1876 and was the country’s oldest and last Sterling Pound Sterling broker right up until the last day before conversion to the Euro. Manex Brokers provided financial services to clients across England and around the world. The original English company maintained its headquarters at 1 Booth Street in Manchester for over 125 years.
In 1987, a portion of MEIC was acquired by Lazard Frères, a French investment bank. The acquisition of MEIC was part of Lazard’s strategy to expand its investment management business and diversify. When its division was sold off in 1990, MEIC reverted back to British ownership and remained both in Manchester, England (original company including Manex Brokers) and also opened its first U.S. Headquarters in Columbus, Ohio in 1996 under the Manchester Exchange Investment Company, Inc. shingle. Since then, all the companies operated under what was called the Manex Group, which was a collective name for all the companies that were related to MEIC.
In 1996, MEIC, Inc. acquired Omni Financial Management, Inc., a Columbus-based company that provided financial planning and investment advisory services. Omni Financial Management had two subsidiaries, Omni Financial Securities, Inc., a full-service brokerage, and Omni Financial Advisors which provided fee-only planning. Post acquisition, they became Manex Financial Management encompassing both subsidiaries. These operated as such until 2018 when the units were sold to another firm.
MEIC also had several subsidiaries including one called Manex Acceptance Company, Ltd., which provided automotive finance services and loan packaging. It was incorporated in Ohio in 1997 and converted to a foreign limited liability company in 2000.
In 1997, Manex acquired Mass Illusions, a visual effects company, in Lenox, Massachusetts. That same year, MEIC renamed that company Manex Entertainment and moved it to Alameda, California. Manex Entertainment produced visual effects for several blockbuster movies, such as The Matrix, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, and What Dreams May Come. It won two Academy Awards and a BAFTA for its work.
The Manex Group was dormant until being revived as Manex Business Alliance in 2021 with principles of the original firm. Manex Business Alliance is a holding, management and consulting company located in Sarasota, Florida.
Manex Business Alliance currently has five owned or associated companies: VFT Amalgamation (Software), Bobo’s Rods & Customs, Manex Credit Acceptance, Manex Investment Club DAO and Manex Business Advisors.
VFT Amalgamation is a software company that has developed a new technology which uses generative AI based on a Web3 platform to locate specific high-ticket items to customer specification and complete and end-to-end purchase through an interactive process.
Bobo’s Rods & Customs is a dealership that offers the finest vintage cars and hot rods in the country with its new “virtual inventory”. Bobo’s Rods & Customs is re-launching with its new technology in December 2023 that will revolutionize the classic and custom car industries.
Manex Credit Acceptance is a division that provides automotive finance services for specialty vehicles from Bobo’s Rods & Customs.
Manex Business Advisors is another division of the company that provides business optimization and operational efficiency services for companies facing challenges such as cash flow shortfalls, unfavorable market dynamics, mismanagement, or weak financial management.
Manex Business Alliance is now a Web3 based firm and heavily involved in cryptocurrency and digital assets. Manex Investment Club DAO is a private, invitation-only organization that was formed to explore investment in Bitcoin using the perpetual futures market.
The Manex Group has enjoyed a long and diverse history of investing and operating in different sectors and markets. It will continue to do so through the advancement of technology and innovation.