Minella Capital Management LLC, a private equity firm that invests in investment management companies, has acquired a majority stake in W.E. Donoghue & Co., a registered investment advisor with more than $1.6 billion in client assets, Minella announced Wednesday.

W.E. Donoghue & Co., known as WEDCO, is based in Norwood, Mass. The firm specializes in tactical allocation strategies that are offered through separately managed accounts and through the Power Dividend Index and the Power Income funds.

The new partnership with Minella puts in place a succession plan for WEDCO's founder, William Donoghue, and also allows the company to extend ownership to additional key employees at WEDCO. The acquisition sets WEDCO up for future growth, WEDCO says.

WEDCO is positioned to capitalize on the long-term opportunity in low volatility alternative products, says David A. Minella, managing member of Minella Capital.