Keefe, Bruyette & Woods (KBW), a specialist investment bank to the financial services and financial technology (fintech) sectors and a wholly owned subsidiary of Stifel Financial Corp., has hired John Guzzo and Jason White as managing directors in its fintech and financial services investment banking group. The two previously served in leadership positions at Berkery Noyes and Co. KBW also hired Alexander Nanas as a senior associate from the same firm.
“We are pleased to welcome John, Jason, and Alex to KBW,” Keith Meyers, head of fintech and financial services investment banking, said in a release. “They understand how the emergence of innovative technology is challenging the industry status quo in the real estate and mortgage sectors.”
While at Berkery Noyes and Co., Guzzo served as a managing director specializing in financial technology and services. In that position he led dozens of notable transactions, including the sale of ComplianceEase to SitusAMC. He also has worked in the investments banking and financial services group at Giuliani Capital Advisors (formerly Ernst & Young Corporate Finance) and Ernst & Young. Guzzo also has performed tax due diligence and structure of merger and acquisition transactions within the financial services industry. He was named on of M&A Advisor’s “40 under 40” emerging leaders in 2012.
“In recent years, billions of dollars of capital have flowed into these sectors, fueling the emergence of disruptive startups that are digitally infusing all aspects of the real estate value chain,” Guzzo said. “KBW is uniquely positioned at the epicenter of this evolution, providing technology-focused coverage on mREITS, homebuilders, mortgage originators, and servicers.”
White also was a managing director at Berkery, Noyes & Co., and was responsible for sourcing and closing M&A transactions within financial technology and services. While there he led both sell-side and buy-side mandates, including the sales of United States appraisals to Stewart Title Co. and Pharos to IMC. He previously served as a senior vice president in the M&A group at Tegris Advisors, where he also was the lead banker for several transactions, including the $8.1 billion merger of Burger King and Justice Holdings (SPAC). White also is a past M&A Advisor’s “40 under 40” honoree.