OREANDA-NEWS. BMO Financial Group (TSX:BMO)(NYSE:BMO) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the business of Greene Holcomb Fisher ("GHF"), a premier boutique M&A advisory firm based in Minneapolis, with additional offices in Seattle and Atlanta. The transaction requires regulatory approval and is expected to close in BMO's fiscal fourth quarter, which ends on October 31. The terms of the deal are not being disclosed.

Over its more than 20-year history, GHF has built a reputation for providing hands-on merger and acquisition advice to family and entrepreneur owned companies, private equity groups and public companies in the United States. With more than 30 investment banking professionals, GHF has completed in excess of 100 transactions over the last 5 years.

The transaction will complement BMO Capital Markets' existing M&A practice by significantly increasing its number of global M&A professionals and doubling the number of M&A transactions in the United States. In 2015, the two firms advised on a total of 90 completed M&A transactions with a value of $77B. GHF's industry focus areas are similar to BMO's in the U.S., including Industrials, Food, Consumer & Retail, Healthcare, Technology, Business Services, and Energy.

"We are pleased to welcome Greene Holcomb Fisher to BMO Financial Group," said Perry Hoffmeister, Global Head of Investment & Corporate Banking, BMO Capital Markets. "GHF is highly complementary to our U.S. strategy and our focus on the mid-cap space. The transaction underscores our commitment to effectively serve our U.S. clients by deepening our Midwest footprint, growing our U.S. M&A business and strengthening our client focus on the industry sectors that we cover," he said.

"GHF's strong capabilities in serving the financial sponsor community, as well as privately held and family-owned companies, will allow us to broaden coverage of our U.S. capital markets and commercial bank clients," said Lyle Wilpon, Head, U.S. M&A, BMO Capital Markets. "In making this acquisition we are adding expertise, depth and experience to enhance our capabilities and better serve our clients in these business segments."

"We are excited to join BMO Capital Markets," said Hunt Greene, Managing Director, GHF. "As a leading North American financial services provider with strong brand recognition, broad capital markets expertise and lending capabilities, BMO Financial Group will provide our team with the tools to accelerate the growth of our advisory business."

"This transaction will provide our employees with significant career opportunities and benefit our clients with deeper vertical industry expertise and broadened product capabilities," added Brian Holcomb, Managing Director, GHF.

Upon closing, GHF will be rebranded as BMO Capital Markets. The GHF team will report to Mr. Wilpon.