Banc of California to Sell Asset Management Subsidiary

Banc of California in Irvine has agreed to sell its wholly owned investment adviser subsidiary, The Palisades Group.

The bank will sell the division to Palisades Holdings I LLC, an entity owned by members of The Palisades Group management team that includes its chief executive, Stephen Kirch, and its chief investment officer, Jack Macdowell.

Banc of California Chairman and CEO Steven Sugarman said in a news release Wednesday that the unit’s sale aligns with the $8.2 billion-asset company’s aim “to focus on commercial banking activities and to grow incremental spread and recurring fee-based revenues.”

“This transaction will enhance the overall efficiency of our organization….and sharpen management's focus on the tremendous opportunities we are seeing in our commercial banking division,” Sugarman said.

According to the agreement, the bank will receive a mix of cash, a two-year promissory note and an earn-out tied to the asset management firm’s success following the deal. The sale is expected to close this quarter. Banc of California said it would be accretive to its 2016 earnings.

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