Commerce Street Capital’s Leadership in Banking M&A Garners Top Rankings

DALLAS - March 5, 2014 - PRLog -- In a season of heightened merger and acquisition activity in banking, two Commerce Street Capital bankers are among the nation’s top 10 most active banking dealmakers, as ranked by SNL Financial in the prior 12 months. Managing Director C.K. Lee is ranked first with seven deals valued at $483 million and Brian Johnson is tied for sixth with five deals valued at $255 million.

“As a full service investment bank focused on the banking industry, it is clear that Commerce Street Capital is actively involved in the buying and selling among financial institutions,” said CEO and President Dory Wiley. “From our role as strategic advisor to banks, we have learned that among the most important factors driving M&A transactions are the rising value of bank stocks by an average of 23 percent during 2013; the narrowing of pricing gaps between buyers and sellers; the impact, both positive and negative, of new regulation; and hope for an improving economy that is encouraging many bankers to revisit their growth strategies.”

Of his first place ranking, Managing Director C.K. Lee noted, “It is good to be recognized with individual rankings for our high level of M&A activity, but most importantly, the results signal the strength of our team of experienced bankers and analysts, as well as our determination to achieve optimum results for our diversified group of satisfied clients.”

Lee also observed that the current wave of consolidation is closer than most people realize to reaching the transaction volume that happened before the financial crisis.

“Considering that there are fewer active banks and thrifts today than in 2007, the rate of M&A transactions relative to active banks is nearing pre-financial crisis levels,” Lee stated.

In 2007, there were 283 M&A transactions and 8,680 banks and thrifts outstanding, representing a 3.26 percent transactions-to-banks ratio. In 2013, there were 227 M&A transactions and 7,083 banks and thrifts outstanding, representing a 3.20 percent transactions- to-banks ratio, reflecting a variance of less than two percent in absolute activity between 2007 and 2013.

A few of the notable deals over the last 12 months in which Commerce Street Capital advised on are WNB Bancshares’ acquisition by Cullen/Frost Bankers, a deal valued $220 million and announced in August 2013; the three-year bankruptcy workout of Park Cities Bank that culminated in December 2013; and the First State Bank Central Texas acquisition by Bancorp South, Inc announced in January 2014 and valued at $211 million. CSC is consistently ranked by SNL Financial as No. 1 in its market as determined by aggregate number of deals in the Southwest.

Commerce Street Capital’s Financial Institutions Group practice centers exclusively on serving the needs of the financial services sector. The group aims to provide sound, comprehensive advice, expert structuring and optimum execution to banks, bank holding companies and allied businesses. Commerce Street Capital is recognized as a leader in the industry for its valuation practice and providing clients with unbiased analyses and independent opinions required to fulfill their fiduciary obligations.

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About Commerce Street Capital

Commerce Street Capital, LLC (“CSC”) is a private investment banking firm headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Led by veterans of the banking industry, CSC specializes in investment banking services (mergers and acquisitions, valuations and regulatory issue advising) and bank development (on-site consulting, sales and management of bank capital raises, market assessments and the bank regulatory application process). The firm provides tailored solutions for all or part of a financial institution's business lifecycle. For more information, visit www.commercestreetcapital.com or call 214-545-6800. CSC is a member of FINRA/SIPC.

This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation or offer by Commerce Street Capital, LLC, to buy or sell any securities, futures, options, foreign exchange or other financial instrument or to provide any investment advice or service. The testimonials stated within this press release may not be representative of the experience of other clients. The testimonials stated within this press release are not indicative of future performance or success. The testimonials stated within this press release are not paid testimonials.