During the first quarter of 2020, buyers and sellers experienced at least two strong months of deal volume before COVID-19 dramatically slowed down M&A activity in March. Investors’ views of certain industries and sectors have changed significantly since January, and they will continue to change and develop until we have a better understanding of the… Read More >
News & Insights
The SECURE Act
The SECURE Act of 2019 (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) is a wide-ranging act, spanning nearly 40 provisions It is the most comprehensive retirement savings package to become law since the Pension Protection Act of 2006, and seeks to improve access to employer sponsored retirement savings plans, increase savings levels within plans, streamline… Read More >
PW&Co Advises on Acquisition of a Real Estate Agency
PW&Co served as the buy-side advisor in the acquisition of a real estate agency (“the Target”) by a credit union service organization (“CUSO”). PW&Co’s investment banking team was led by Michael Stone with support from Kip Porter. The CUSO was interested in acquiring the Target to expand its real estate related business lines and provide… Read More >
Considering Employer Match Suspension
As businesses reopen and employees return to work, employers are wrestling with how to handle cash flow in unprecedented circumstances. If you are considering suspending the employer match in your company’s retirement plan, you are not alone. Can you suspend a match? Yes. But that decision should not be made lightly. The Plan Sponsor Council… Read More >
Municipal Market Update – May 2020
The one-year tax-exempt AAA rates hit an all-time low in May, declining from a peak of 2.51% in March to as low as 0.11% in May. The 30-year tax-exempt AAA rates declined approximately 50 basis points in May; however, credit spreads widened for many issuers, particularly those impacted directly by COVID-19. The uncertainty and volatility… Read More >
M&A Strategies During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Overview Porter White & Company (“PW&Co”) reviewed almost 4,000 community bank M&A transactions since 2001 to ascertain the impact, by county, of county economic standing (as measured by GDP) on deal activity and transaction pricing. We believe this analysis may be useful as Alabama banks work through the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. A… Read More >
COVID-19 Impact on Valuation – When was it known or knowable?
During the past few weeks, business owners have been thrust into a new normal and forced to evaluate the potential short-term and long-term implications of COVID-19 on their businesses, employees, and families. One word that I have heard in almost every conversation with business owners and investors over the past month is “uncertainty”. In the… Read More >
Municipal Market Update – April 2020
The municipal market remained especially volatile during April from significant uncertainty regarding COVID-19. Treasury rates have continued to stay almost 2% lower than this time last year throughout the yield curve. As of April 30th, the futures market does not expect a rate increase during 2020 with at least a 96.5% probability of rates remaining… Read More >
Municipal Market Update – March 2020
On March 3, 2020 the Fed cut the overnight target rate by 0.50%. Uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 continues to create strong demand for safer treasury securities, driving down treasury rates throughout March; however, municipal bond yields (measured by AAA General Obligation Bonds) increased significantly during the month, particularly in relation to a decline in treasury rates…. Read More >
Municipal Market Update – February 2020
Uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 virus (Coronavirus) mounted the end of February, causing investors to flee from equities into safer treasury securities and driving down rates. On March 3, 2020 the Fed cut the overnight target rate by 0.50%. Following this announcement, the futures market is still predicting three more cuts by this time next year…. Read More >
Birmingham Area Economic Report, Q3 2019
This report explores a few key statistics that paint a picture of the Birmingham area economy. Our Birmingham Area Economic Report places the Birmingham area economy in a state, regional and national context. Click here to download the full report with a more in-depth look at the statistics. The charts below show a snapshot of… Read More >
Municipal Market Update – January 2020
This month, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) held the target rate steady while long term US treasury rates declined, resulting in an inverted curve. Additionally, there are increasing probabilities in the futures market for multiple decreases in the target fed fund rate before the end of the year. Credit spreads on investment grade bonds… Read More >
Municipal Market Update – December 2019
This month, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted unanimously to hold rates steady and the US treasury curve steepened moderately. The current target fed funds rate is 1.5-1.75% and the probability of a rate cut in 2020 has decreased as predicted by the futures market. The swap curve steepened as well, experiencing a ~0.20%… Read More >
Municipal Market Update – November 2019
The Fed did not meeting during the month, and fed chairman Jerome Powell has signaled that they plan to maintain the target rate of 1.5-1.75% when they meet in December. Overall, there has been a small upward parallel shift in the US Treasury Curve and the US Swap Curve. The spread on A to AAA… Read More >
The Importance of an Investment Policy Statement
I. Overview A written investment policy statement (IPS) provides guidelines and directions for the conscientious fiduciary. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) does not include a specific requirement that plans have a written IPS. The concept of a documented IPS comes from the fiduciary duty of prudence established under both ERISA and the common… Read More >
Making the Most of Year-End Giving
As the year comes to a close, you may be thinking of making financial gifts in addition to trying to buy a relevant gift for the picky tween in your life. Here are a few guidelines for both charitable gifts and gifts to friends and family. I. Charitable Gifts With the passage of the Tax… Read More >
First Southern State-Vantage Merger Complete
On October 31, 2019 First Bancshares of Stevenson, Inc. of Stevenson, AL (“FBS”) and Vantage Bancshares, Inc. of Albertville, AL announced the closing of their merger which combines two well-respected banking franchises and creates a $525 million institution. The company operates 10 locations as First Southern State Bank (subsidiary of FBS) in four northeast Alabama… Read More >
Municipal Market Update – October 2019
During October, the Fed set the target Fed Funds rate to 1.5% to 1.75%, marking the third quarter-point rate cut this year. Despite pressure, the Fed has signaled that they would not be decreasing the target rate further during 2019, although futures markets indicate there is a 70% chance of a cut in the next… Read More >