Financial Services Acquisitions in 2015

Broadridge Financial Solutions acquired privately-held QED Financial Systems, a provider of investment accounting software, data management and outsourced accounting services for institutional investors and asset managers. The purchase expands Broadridge's front- and back-office capabilities for the asset management industry; terms were not disclosed. QED is based in Marlton, New Jersey and had 47 associates at the time of the announcement.

Town and Country Financial Corporation (TCFC) has agreed to acquire West Plains Investors, Inc., the holding company for Premier Bank of Jacksonville, in an all-cash transaction. Premier had roughly $196 million in assets and four branches; the combined company will have projected assets exceeding $700 million and the deal is subject to customary closing conditions, regulatory approval, and WPI shareholder approval.

Credit Control, LLC completed the acquisition of Professional Recovery Services, Inc. (PRS) (effective December 1, 2013) and announced full integration of PRS operations under the Credit Control name on July 10, 2015. The acquisition adds PRS's receivables management capabilities and client relationships (notably in healthcare, utilities, financial services and retail) and increases Credit Control's scale and technical capabilities.

Solidifi, a Buffalo-based provider of residential real estate appraisal services, acquired Cincinnati-based Southwest Financial Services Ltd., a national provider of outsourced title, valuation and flood-determination services to home equity lenders. The deal expands Solidifi’s home-equity product offerings and strengthens its solutions for lenders, while Southwest’s president will remain on as an advisor.

Cleveland private equity firm CapitalWorks, LLC has acquired a majority ownership stake in Bancsource, Inc., a Republic, Missouri-based provider of ATM and cash-cycle equipment sales and maintenance services to banks and retailers. CapitalWorks said it plans to invest in and grow Bancsource while Bancsource's existing leadership will remain active in management.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (Gallagher) acquired Cohn Financial Group, LLC, a Phoenix-based private placement life insurance distributor, in a transaction announced Feb. 17, 2015; terms were not disclosed. The acquisition brings specialized private placement variable universal life and annuity distribution capabilities and high-net-worth client relationships into Gallagher's employee benefits operations, with Michael Cohn and his team remaining in place under Norbert Chung.