Latest news. Berenson & Co. Adds Raymond James' Brendan Ryan and Jon Steele as Co-Leaders Berenson & Co. has agreed to bring Brendan Ryan and Jon Steele, currently global co-heads of technology and services investment banking at Raymond James, into the firm as partners and co-leaders as it expands its technology M&A advisory and merchant banking platform. The bankers are expected to officially join in August and will lead the firm alongside founder Jeffrey Berenson, helping expand its technology advisory business while continuing to invest alongside clients and financial sponsors, as Reuters reported. Ryan and Steele have spent more than two decades advising technology companies and private equity sponsors on mergers and acquisitions, capital raises and strategic transactions. Their move underscores the increasing appeal of independent advisory firms that offer senior bankers greater ownership and the ability to combine advisory work with direct investing. Digital Realty Acquires Blackstone's Majority Stake in Three Virginia Data Centers The portfolio comprises three data centers totaling 288 megawatts of IT capacity, with two facilities located in Manassas and one on Digital Realty's Digital Dulles campus in Sterling, Va. To read the entire story, you must be logged in. Shamrock Partners with Swansea City AFC Swansea City AFC is a professional football club based in Swansea, Wales, competing in the English Football League Championship. To read the entire story, you must be logged in. Local Favorite Restaurants Purchases Cotton Patch Cafe from Altamont Cotton Patch Cafe operates a chain of casual dining restaurants serving scratch-made comfort food inspired by Texas cuisine. To read the entire story, you must be logged in. Houlihan Lokey Buys Intrepid Financial Partners Intrepid Financial Partners is an independent investment bank specializing in energy-sector advisory services. To read the entire story, you must be logged in.

Tech bankers Brendan Ryan and Jon Steele are leaving Raymond James to join merchant bank Berenson & Co., where they will acquire a 50% stake and officially start in August, according to sources. The pair currently serve as global co-heads of technology and services investment banking at Raymond James. Ryan and Steele will co-lead Berenson alongside founder Jeffrey Berenson, expanding its technology advisory services while continuing to invest directly with clients and sponsors. The move reflects a growing trend amongst boutique investment banks to combine M&A advisory with merchant banking and principal investing. Berenson recently advised on Getty Images' $3.7 billion merger with Shutterstock and has backed companies including Octane Lending and Skience through its investment arm.