Regions Buys Middle-Market M&A Advisory Firm

Regions Financial in Birmingham, Ala., has acquired BlackArch Partners, a Charlotte, N.C., firm that handles M&A for middle-market companies.

The $125 billion-asset Regions, which has been meticulously rebuilding its investment banking capabilities since selling Morgan Keegan in 2012, did not disclose the price it paid for BlackArch.

BlackArch “has an attractive growth profile and a strong reputation for excellence serving the middle market,” John Turner, the head of Regions Corporate Banking Group, said in a press release Friday. The acquisition “will allow Regions to build scale and capabilities within the M&A advisory services space to meet more client needs, while also diversifying and increasing non-interest revenue.”

BlackArch Partners, founded in 2010, is led by seasoned investment bankers who came from other firms such as Bowles Hollowell Conner, Edgeview Partners, Harris Williams and JPMorgan Chase. The firm has handled more than 300 transactions across 12 industry focused practices. BlackArch’s founding partners – Will Cooper, Bram Hall, Kelly Katterhagen, Drew Quartapella, Matt Salisbury and Gordie Vap – will continue to lead the business.

Regions also noted that BlackArch will be its principal unit handling middle-market M&A.