Raymond James is expanding the capabilities of its Investment Banking division by hiring Mark Buchanan to establish the firm’s ESOP Advisory practice. Buchanan will lead all ESOP-related M&A transaction advisory and execution efforts for its privately held institutional clients and support the firm’s financial advisors and their business-owner clients seeking ESOP-related expertise.
The ESOP Advisory practice will focus on the execution of tax-advantaged ESOP and related ownership-transition transactions for family-, founder- and employee-owned companies seeking to transition ownership. The practice will also provide bespoke corporate finance and investment banking advisory services for existing ESOP-owned companies seeking to grow or recapitalize their business.
“Establishing the ESOP Advisory practice gives clients a powerful new way to achieve their goals with greater flexibility,” said Steve Hufford, senior managing director and head of Investment Banking at Raymond James. “As more companies choose to remain private longer, the need for tax-efficient ownership transition strategies is growing. Mark’s extensive experience in this unique space will help deliver meaningful results to clients.”
Buchanan joins Raymond James from Stout, where he led its ESOP Investment Banking effort for three years. Prior investment banking advisory experience includes roles at Macquarie Capital, BMO Harris Bank, and Credit Suisse. Based in Dallas, he joins the Investment Banking group as a managing director and head of ESOP Advisory. Buchanan holds an MBA with Honors from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and an undergraduate degree from Oakland University.
“I have had the great pleasure of serving business owners as well as employee owners in solving unique challenges, particularly surrounding growth, succession planning and monetization,” said Buchanan. “With Raymond James now offering ESOP Advisory services to complement its comprehensive suite of services for business owners, I look forward to building the practice and helping clients and their employees grow wealth in a meaningful way.”
About Raymond James Financial, Inc.
Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE: RJF) is a leading diversified financial services company providing private client group, capital markets, asset management, banking and other services to individuals, corporations and municipalities. Total client assets are $1.77 trillion. Public since 1983, the firm is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol RJF. Additional information is available at www.raymondjames.com.
