Raymond James Financial has entered into a definitive purchase agreement to acquire Silver Lane Advisors, a boutique investment bank focused on mergers and acquisitions in the financial services sector. The transaction is expected to close by April, subject to customary conditions and approvals.
Founded in 2007, Silver Lane has strong expertise in the asset and wealth management sectors, in addition to private banking, trust and fintech, making it a natural complement to Raymond James’ existing Financial Services Investment Banking practice.
“Consistent with our long-term view of consolidation across the financial services space, we see particular opportunity in the asset management and wealth management categories, which is where Silver Lane excels with unparalleled expertise,” said Jim Bunn, president of Raymond James Global Equities & Investment Banking. “Integrating their deeply experienced professionals into our existing Financial Services practice further positions us to capitalize on the growing demand for asset and wealth management expertise, while offering clients a broader range of capabilities.”
Silver Lane’s professionals will form and represent the asset & wealth management group within the financial services investment banking practice, which will comprise nearly 50 investment bankers covering banks and thrifts, asset and wealth managers, insurance companies, specialty finance companies and BDCs following the transaction. The asset & wealth management team will also partner with and draw upon the expertise of Raymond James’ industry-leading FinTech practice and dedicated investment banking teams focused on providing support for mergers & acquisitions, public offerings, and private placements and restructurings of equity and debt.
The acquisition of Silver Lane Advisors continues the growth of the firm’s Financial Services practice, which provides strategic advisory and equity and debt capital formation capabilities to its institutional clients. Over the past several years, Raymond James has hired multiple senior professionals to support this growing practice and added new capabilities.
