Regardless of their industry, our clients trust us to guide them through their most important business transactions because we provide trusted counsel, customized ideas and solutions, and hands on senior level involvement.

Over the years, our investment bankers have built significant expertise in particular industries and as a result of this work they have developed key insights, relationships, and transactional experience in several important sectors.  Clients in these industries enjoy the benefits of their expertise when they work with our corporate finance group.

Business and Industrial Services

Business and Industrial Services are a critical component of the U. S. economy. Our sector clients provide diverse services ranging from metal recycling to electronic delivery of advertising media. Our bankers skillfully highlight important competitive dynamics of service companies like scalable operations, recurring revenue, and operating leverage that facilitate rapid, profitable growth with moderate capital expenditure requirements. We are adept at matching Business and Industrial Services clients with capital sources and strategic partners in successful financing and merger and acquisition transactions.

Senior Coverage

Sector Coverage

• Business Process Outsourcing
• Construction and Engineering
• Data/Information Management

• Education and Training Services
• Facilities Management
• Industrial Repair and Maintenance
• Logistics

• Outsourced Marketing and Customer Relationship Management
• Staffing and Human Resource Management
• Transaction Processing

Building Products

As both investment bankers serving building products companies and industry executives themselves, our senior bankers have developed strong relationships and significant experience buying and selling, financing, and providing strategic advice to building products businesses. In this competitive industry, we understand how to create value for owners and investors through our deep understanding of the underlying business drivers that affect building products companies. This knowledge benefits our clients involved in the sector, whether corporate executives, Boards of Directors, or financial sponsors.

Senior Coverage

Cleantech

The Cleantech sector has exploded over the last several years as governments and corporations have found a common interest in reducing energy costs and helping the environment.  In 2008 alone, over $8 billion of venture investment went into Cleantech companies, up from approximately $6 billion in 2007.  This sector continues to evolve as both large industrial giants and small startups are jockeying to capture the most important opportunities.  Large industrial players look to the Cleantech sector as a way to build new business lines, while small startups see huge opportunities to become the next Cleantech giant.  Although positive long-term trends will continue to drive this sector, Cleantech firms will need to navigate a complicated business, regulatory and financial environment.  A company’s ability to secure the necessary financing to scale operations has become critical to achieving success.

Our bankers have been at the forefront of the Cleantech sector over the last several years.  Ben Koch, who recently joined SWS from Citigroup, has advised numerous Cleantech firms on financing and M&A transactions, has been a keynote speaker at Cleantech conferences and has even served as CFO of a wind energy startup.  Mr. Koch leverages his deep Cleantech sector knowledge and relationships to serve as a trusted advisor to clients.

Senior Coverage

Sector Coverage

• Smart Grid
• Demand Response
• Energy Efficiency

• Solar
• Wind

Consumer and Retail

Southwest Securities has extensive experience in providing merger and acquisition advisory services, fairness opinions, and public and private capital raising for companies and financial sponsors within the broadly defined consumer products & services and retail sectors. The firm is well-positioned to assist growing companies in this sector.

The Southwest is home to many dynamic emerging consumer products and retail companies. As consumer products & services and retail-based companies continue to evolve and innovate, expand their markets, consolidate and lower costs, the need grows for a knowledgeable, experienced financial partner with a thorough understanding of important market trends. Transformation of consumer oriented businesses will continue as a result of, among other factors, transitioning and emerging global resources, rising labor and material costs, new regulatory requirements, evolving distribution technologies and ever-changing consumer trends. Southwest Securities knows that consumer product and retail companies face many challenges in a crowded, segmented, and highly competitive market.

Senior Coverage

Sector Coverage

• Consumer Branded Products
• Consumer Finance
• Consumer Retail and Specialty

• Consumer Services
• Education & Market Research
• Food & Beverage

• Hospitality & Leisure
• Restaurants
• Sports and Lifestyle

Energy and Power

The SWS Energy team has built longstanding relationships with executive officers and boards of directors of both public and private companies as well as investors in the energy industry. We have been able to develop these relationships by leveraging in-depth industry knowledge and a wealth of transaction experience with a thorough understanding of the current drivers of the global energy industry and the broader economy to provide independent and insightful advice and solutions.  Our advice has helped our clients achieve their particular financial and strategic objectives and keep them competitive in the global energy markets. We currently provide these relationships with strategic and capital raising advisory services. We deliver senior-level, personal attention to each of our clients and have a proven track-record of success in helping achieve their long-term goals.

Collectively, our Energy team has completed:

• Over $10 billion of merger, acquisition, exclusive sale, recapitalization and buy-out transactions and well as strategic advisory assignments; and
  
  
• Over $10 billion of equity, equity-linked, and debt capital raising assignments in both the public and private markets

Senior Coverage

Sector Coverage

• Exploration and Production
• Midstream (Transportation, Gathering and Processing and Storage)

• Refining and Marketing
• Oilfield Services (Drilling, Capital Equipment and Services)

• Master Limited Partnerships
• Coal

Manufacturing and Distribution

At Southwest Securities, we know manufacturing and distribution companies remain vital sectors of the U.S. economy, providing a livelihood for millions of people. However, today’s manufacturers and distributors are challenged by increasing competition from lower-cost jurisdictions, downward pricing pressure, increasing regulatory compliance costs, and a shortage of qualified people. In order to remain competitive, these companies have and will continue to initiate strategic imperatives to gain a competitive edge including; gaining economies of scale through organic and acquisitive means; focusing on value-added niches that offer relatively solid fundamental growth and profitability opportunities; and finding the correct mix of low-labor costs. These challenges and opportunities drive companies to make significant strategic decisions such as whether to move to or acquire low-cost production capacity or whether to outsource to third-party business partners. No doubt that these decisions can provide core product cost advantages, but may also increase complexity with longer and varying lead times, and a more global supply chain to manage.

With a long history of success, our highly qualified team of advisors offers a unique combination of industry expertise and financial acumen. From industrial manufacturers and distributors to contract manufacturers and logistics companies, our experienced investment bankers understand the competitive dynamics of these industries and can offer unique and tailored solutions to achieve our clients' objectives.

Senior Coverage

Sector Coverage

• Agricultural
• Building & Construction
• Contract Manufacturing
• Electrical
• Electronics

• HVAC
• Industrial
• Instrumentation & Controls
• Medical & Pharmaceutical
• Motion Control

• Motor Vehicle Parts
• Petrochemical
• Power Transmission
• Safety
• Telecommunications

Technology

Southwest Securities has a deep understanding of, and commitment to, the technology industry. Our Technology team members are experts who understand technology, the supply chain, its cycles and trends and its unique challenges and opportunities. We know the strategic and financial buyers, we know the lenders and investors, and we know the value drivers and competitive forces that can influence shareholder value. This intellectual capital and deep domain expertise become keys to correctly positioning our technology clients for strategic transactions and approaching the capital markets.

Collectively, our Technology team has completed:

• Over $40 billion of mergers, acquisitions, and exclusive sale assignments; and

• Over $15 billion of equity, equity-linked and debt capital raising assignments

Throughout their careers our Technology team members have advised on some of the largest and most prominent M&A transactions with many of the leading companies in technology, including: AMP, Inc. in its sale to Tyco; Compaq on its sale to Hewlett Packard; KKR in its recapitalization of Amphenol; AMD in its joint venture with Fujitsu; Navini Networks in its sale to Cisco. The team has also raised capital for such technology companies as: Flextronics International; AMD; Sanmina-SCI; Ikanos Communications; AVX Corp.; Amkor Technology; Jabil Circuit; Spansion; Berg Electronics; and Kent Electronics.

Senior Coverage

Sector Coverage

• Communications and Networking Equipment
• Consumer and Industrial Electronics
• Electronics Manufacturing and Distribution

• Internet Content and Commerce
• Internet & Enterprise Software
• IT and Internet Services

• Semiconductors
• Semiconductor capital equipment
• Software

Transportation and Infrastructure

Even in recessions, the United States is a country that is constantly moving and building.  Transportation and infrastructure providers compete in an environment that rewards companies that are operationally efficient, strategically nimble, and focused on customer service.  With heavy capital requirements and an ever-changing strategic landscape, these companies need an investment banking team that thoroughly understands industry dynamics and has experience matching companies and investors.

Southwest Securities Corporate Finance team has the experience and knowledge to guide businesses through their complex financing and strategic decisions.  Jeff Singer has spent much of his life working with transportation service providers, particularly airline, trucking, and logistics firms.  Prior to joining Southwest Securities, Mr. Singer raised billions in debt and equity for transportation providers.  He has also advised transportation and infrastructure companies on mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. 

Senior Coverage

Sector Coverage

• Airlines and Aviation Services
• Construction Materials
• Construction Services

• Infrastructure Providers
• Logistics and Distribution
• Trucking