Investment bank Stout Risius Ross, with its presence in the Midwest and on the coasts, and investment bank HFBE, with its presence in Texas and the South, have merged expanding both firms’ geographic reach and broadening resources available to clients.
HFBE provides valuation and investment banking services to private and closely held businesses. HFBE specializes in valuations for corporate purposes, tax compliance, and financial reporting. HFBE also provides merger and acquisition advisory services, fairness opinions, private placement assistance, and other investment banking services to middle-market companies with an industry focus on energy and real estate. Securities transactions are conducted through HFBE Capital an affiliate of HFBE. The firm is based in Houston, TX (www.hfbe.com).
Stout Risius Ross (SRR) is a financial advisory firm specializing in investment banking, valuation & financial opinions, and dispute advisory & forensic services. SRR’s clients range from Fortune 500 corporations to privately held companies in numerous industries around the world. The firm is headquartered in Chicago, IL (www.srr.com).
Mike Kern (SRR’s President) and Toby Reiff (a Director in SRR’s Chicago office), have relocated to Houston to manage the integration of the two firms’ cultures and services.
“We see one of the major factors of a successful merger as forming a shared culture,” said Craige Stout, Chairman and CEO of SRR. “We have so many key qualities in common, and yet are excited for what we can learn from HFBE’s management and staff and, in turn, what they might be able to learn from our professionals as we combine to form one firm.”
“We believe this merger provides us with an extraordinary opportunity to better serve the expanding needs of our clients,” said Alex Howard, President at HFBE. “Joining with SRR will give us access to national resources that will benefit our clients in Texas and beyond. Additionally, we will now be able to offer new or expanded services, including business dispute and intellectual property expert witness services, fraud & forensic services, family law valuation & consulting, electronic discovery services, and investment banking that both complement and greatly expand our current offerings.”
© 2012 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 9-12-12