Siebert Williams Shank merger closes

The merger to create Siebert Williams Shank & Co. LLC, America’s top ranked women- and minority-owned investment bank, closed on Tuesday.

Suzanne Shank is the president and chief executive officer of the combined firm. Christopher Williams serves as chairman of the board of directors and Henry Cisneros is vice chairman.

The firm has dual headquarters in New York City and Oakland, California, and has more than 15 offices across the nation with 130 employees. SWS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Shank Williams Cisneros LLC.

The combined firm’s other equity holders include Janice Savin Williams, Sean P. Duffy, William C. Thompson, Gary Hall, Jonathan W. Levin, DiAnne Calabrisotto, David Coard, and David Finkelstein.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP served as legal advisor to Siebert Cisneros Shank. Sidley Austin LLP served as legal advisor to Williams Capital.

The combined company will leverage each firm’s experience and industry positions in municipal and corporate underwriting, as well as debt and equity sales and trading.

SWS was founded in 1996 and is a top-ranked lead manager of municipal bond transactions. Williams Capital was founded 25 years ago and serves a broad spectrum of corporate clients.