THE CARSON MEDLIN COMPANY
JOINS FORCES WITH
MONROE SECURITIES, INC.
WILL EXPAND TO THE WEST COAST
February 1, 2011 (Chicago, IL and Tampa, FL) - Monroe Securities, Inc. and The Carson Medlin Company announced today that the two firms are joining forces and will expand to the West Coast. The combined firm has four offices nationwide and provides full investment banking and capital markets services to the community banking industry and other financial services companies, as well as to investors in those institutions.
The combined firm will be headquartered in Chicago, with additional offices in Tampa, FL, Raleigh, NC, and Atlanta, GA and will open a new West Coast office, which will be located in the San Francisco Bay area. Carson Medlin will operate under the investment banking division of Monroe Securities, Inc., which will be headed by Greg Dingens and Gray Medlin. Gray Medlin will lead the firm’s expanded West Coast operations. Also joining Monroe Securities, Inc. as Managing Directors from Carson Medlin are Paula Johannsen, who leads firm’s Tampa, FL office, and Jeff Adams, who leads the firm’s Atlanta, GA office. In addition, Steven Huntington, a Senior Vice President, and Dustin Saboorian, an Associate, also will join Monroe Securities, Inc. from Carson Medlin.
Greg Dingens, the head of Investment Banking at Monroe Securities, Inc., stated: “We highly value Carson Medlin’s deep connections in the community banking industry and their experience in corporate finance transactions. They have been among the nation’s most active bank merger advisors for over a decade, and we expect the combined firm to be an active participant as the community banking industry recapitalizes and consolidates over the next decade. Carson Medlin’s professionals are also very active in providing valuations, appraisals and financial fairness opinions to non-public and thinly-traded banks, a business that will nicely complement our business we have developed through more than forty years of trading and raising capital for such institutions.”
Gray Medlin, the Co-founder and Chairman of The Carson Medlin Company, commented, “Today is the twentieth anniversary of the founding of Carson Medlin. How fitting it is that today we take this important step. The community banking industry that we have served since 1991 is changing significantly. In fact, it is being virtually restructured and recapitalized. Partnering with Monroe significantly enhances our ability to provide our clients with the full complement of investment banking and capital raising services that they will need to remain competitive. We are very excited to be part of creating a new investment banking team that will be unique in our industry.”
In commenting on expanding to the West Coast, Medlin added, “The West Coast has favorable demographics and a vibrant community banking scene. The region is very attractive in ways that are similar to our traditional Southeast markets, and we plan to be there for the long run. And the West Coast is not new to us; we have been working with a number of banks in California, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona for more than ten years. We are delighted to offer the combined expertise of Monroe and Carson Medlin to our clients in the West.”
“We share the view of the long-term attractiveness of the Southeast and the West Coast’” added Dingens. “Although we already have a nationwide presence, adding the experience and expertise of Carson Medlin’s professionals will solidify our national reach. Most importantly, we believe it is critical in combinations like this that the two firms have similar cultures. They have an outstanding reputation for effective, long-term service to their clients. We are delighted to have them aboard.”
Monroe Securities, Inc. is a boutique securities firm founded in 1968, focused on serving community banks. Monroe provides investment banking and capital markets services to community banks and investors across the country. Monroe’s Principals are Dan Kanter, who acts as President, Greg Dingens, who leads the firm’s investment banking business, and David Abraham, who oversees Siena Capital Partners, the firm’s investment fund affiliate.
The Carson Medlin Company was founded in 1991 to serve community financial institutions, including commercial banks, mortgage banks, insurance agencies, and registered investment advisors.
For further information, please contact the following:
Greg Dingens Monroe Securities, Inc.
(312) 506-8752
Gray Medlin Monroe Securities, Inc. / The Carson Medlin Company
(919) 828-8200
