Vermont Business Magazine People's United Bank, NAannounced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire LEAF Commercial Capital, Inc. Based inPhiladelphia, PA, LEAF is one of the largest, independent commercial equipment finance companies in the U.S., with approximately$500 millionof annual originations.
"We are pleased to welcome the talented team at LEAF Commercial Capital to People's United Bank," saidJack Barnes, President and Chief Executive Officer. "LEAF is a highly-scalable commercial lending platform with attractive risk-adjusted returns and a complementary expansion of our existing specialty finance businesses. At closing, our equipment finance units will have approximately$4 billionof assets and rank as the 16thlargest bank-owned equipment finance entity in the country."
Since 2002, LEAF has financed over$5.8 billionfor more than 243,000 customers nationwide and provides expertise and equipment finance solutions to a wide variety of vendors and end users. LEAF has nationwide reach with approximately 250 employees and a call center inOrange County, CAas well as a sales and servicing facility in Moberly,MO.
"LEAF offers creative lease and loan programs to drive the sales of its vendor partners," saidJeff Tengel, Senior Executive Vice President of Commercial Banking at People's United. "These programs are delivered through a business process automation platform that combines efficiency with an outstanding customer experience."
"We are confident in our ability to maintain and accelerate our growth potential within People's United," saidCrit DeMent, Chairman and CEO of LEAF Commercial Capital. "Given the Bank's extensive experience in successfully operating leasing and equipment finance platforms, they are uniquely positioned to be a valuable partner for our clients and employees." DeMent andMiles Herman, President and Chief Operating Officer, will remain with the business.
Under the terms of the agreement, People's United will acquire approximately$730 millionof net investment in leases and loansand retain approximately$250 millionof securitizations. Remaining LEAF borrowings are expected to be repaid at close and the acquisition will be immediately accretive to People's United earnings. The transaction is expected to close during the third quarter of 2017.
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC served as financial advisor and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP served as legal counsel to People's United Bank. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. served as financial advisor and Winston & Strawn LLP served as legal counsel to LEAF Commercial Capital, Inc.
About People's United Bank
People's United Bank, N.A. is a subsidiary of People's United Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: PBCT), a diversified financial services company with$40 billionin assets. People's United Bank, founded in 1842, is a premier, community-based, regional bank in the Northeast offering commercial and retail banking, as well as wealth management services through a network of nearly 400 retail locations inConnecticut,New York,Massachusetts,Vermont,New HampshireandMaine.
About LEAF Commercial Capital, Inc.
LEAF Commercial Capital, Inc. ("LEAF"), headquartered inPhiladelphia, PA, with offices inMoberly, MOandOrange, CA, is one of the leading equipment leasing and finance companies in the U.S. Through its highly automated origination platform, it facilitates the equipment needs of small, mid-sized and enterprise businesses. LEAF serves these needs both directly and through referral relationships with manufacturers, distributors and dealers of essential-use equipment and software in a variety of business sectors, including office products, telephony, technology, medical and light industrial. Learn more atwww.LEAFnow.com.
SOURCE: BRIDGEPORT, Conn.,July 19, 2017/PRNewswire/ --People's United Bank