WEDBUSH CAPITAL

is a privately held investment firm that invests in private and public companies, both directly as well as through its sponsored funds, such as Wedbush Capital Partners and Wedbush Ventures. Its largest holding, Wedbush Securities, is a financial services firm that provides its clients with securities brokerage, wealth management and investment banking services.

Throughout last year, Wedbush welcomed several new leaders to its team including Gerald Pascarelli as a consumer equity research analyst; Thomas J. Schatzman as managing director and head of institutional consulting, a new business unit for private and public companies, foundations and nonprofits; David C. Smith as managing director of investments; and Esther Tseng as a registered client services associate.

In March, Wedbush Securities served as financial advisor to Calabasas-based Mosaic Real Estate Credit Funds on its merger with New York-based Ready Capital.

Last October, Wedbush Financial Services announced it was making an investment in Velocity Trade, a brokerage firm offering access to global OTC and exchange listed markets, as well as customized Wealth Management solutions via its WealthTech product suite. This investment would make Wedbush its largest outside shareholder and expands Wedbush’s global presence in new asset classes and commodities trading, adding to its suite of client offerings.

“Our new partnership with Velocity is a major step forward in the global vision for our firm,” Gary Wedbush, chief executive of Wedbush Financial Services, said in a statement.