Hovde Group Expands Depository Team With Addition of Veteran Investment Banker James F. Hemmer

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hovde Group, LLC (“Hovde”), a leading full-service investment bank and broker dealer that provides investment banking, capital markets, equity research, and sales and trading services focused on the financial services sector, today announced that it has added James F. Hemmer as Managing Director to its Depository practice.

Hemmer will be based in Hovde’s Chicago, Illinois office and will be responsible for providing investment banking services, including M&A advisory and capital markets solutions, to depository institutions throughout the Midwest. Hemmer has over 30 years of experience advising depository institutions, most recently serving as Managing Director for Stephens, Inc. Over his career, Hemmer has advised on over 100 announced bank M&A transactions, with an aggregate value of over $10 billion, and over 50 public or private bank debt or equity transactions, raising over $10 billion in the aggregate. Prior to joining Stephens, Hemmer held various positions in the Financial Institutions Groups of Sandler O’Neill, Sterne Agee, Robert W. Baird, Lehman Brothers and The Chicago Corporation.

“We’ve known Jim for many years, as well as competed against him on many deals, and have followed his success throughout the country,” commented Kirk Hovde, Managing Principal & Head of Investment Banking. “In continuing to evaluate growth opportunities for our firm, we see the addition of Jim as a natural fit to strengthen our Midwest presence given his extensive experience and above all else his reputation to deliver excellent service to his clients.”

Hemmer added, “Over the last decade, I’ve watched Hovde Group continue to grow with the addition of Capital Markets, Research and Sales & Trading. More recently, I’ve watched them continue to bolster their already top tier Investment Bank with the addition of numerous senior bankers. The combination of Hovde’s platform and culture made the decision to join Hovde an easy one. I’m excited to get back to a full-suite investment bank with deep roots throughout the Midwest that will allow me to leverage my client relationships with the resources of a firm that is consistently ranked as one of the most active M&A and Capital Markets advisors.”