Josh Weiner
In March 2023, Ethical Capital Partners (ECP), a Canadian private equity firm, acquired MindGeek, the parent company of several major adult entertainment websites, including Pornhub, YouPorn, RedTube, Brazzers, and Men.com . Following the acquisition, MindGeek was rebranded as Aylo in August 2023.
Leadership at Ethical Capital Partners
ECP is led by a multidisciplinary team with backgrounds in law, finance, and regulatory affairs. Fady Mansour serves as the Managing Partner of ECP. He is a criminal and regulatory counsel specializing in advising individuals and corporations on matters related to judicial authorizations and offences concerning intimate media and online exploitation. The firm is chaired by businessman Rocco Meliambro.
Background and Motivation for the Acquisition
Prior to the acquisition, MindGeek faced significant scrutiny and legal challenges due to allegations of hosting non-consensual and exploitative content on its platforms. These controversies led to major payment processors like Mastercard and Visa suspending services for the company’s websites.
ECP’s acquisition aimed to address these issues by implementing stronger safety systems and promoting greater transparency. The firm expressed a commitment to engaging regularly with stakeholders and enhancing compliance measures across Aylo’s platforms.
Conclusion
As of now, Ethical Capital Partners owns Aylo (formerly MindGeek), the company behind Pornhub and other major adult entertainment websites. Under the leadership of Managing Partner Fady Mansour, ECP has undertaken efforts to reform and improve the operations and reputation of these platforms.
