EP Wealth Adds Again With Deal in Colorado

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EP Wealth Advisors: Headquarters in Torrance

Torrance-based EP Wealth Advisors, an adviser that specializes in financial planning and investment management services, said Tuesday that it acquired Rampart Wealth Advisors, a move designed to bolster its presence in the Denver area.

Financial and legal terms of the deal for Rampart, which has offices in the Denver suburb of Greenwood Village, Colo., were not disclosed.

Rampart brings about $118 million in assets under management to EP Wealth Advisors.

The Rampart transaction marks EP Wealth’s fourth acquisition since partnering with Wealth Partners Capital Group, a Palm Beach, Fla.-based financial services holding company, in July 2017.

EP Wealth, which manages more than $4 billion in assets as of July 31, also has acquired Caves & Associates Inc., of Manhattan Beach; Donnelly Wealth Advisors Inc., of San Diego; and Millie Capital Management, of Walnut Creek. The four acquisitions – including Rampart — have brought a total of $800 million in total assets under management, said EP Wealth Chief Executive Patrick Goshtigian, in an interview.

Goshtigian said EP Wealth Advisors, in working with Wealth Partners Capital Group, has developed a plan to hit $20 billion of assets under management by 2022 through growth organically or through acquisition.

EP Wealth has identified several possible acquisitions to scale the company in size in Los Angeles, Northern California, Colorado and elsewhere, Goshtigian said.

“We have an active pipeline of companies that we are talking with here in Southern California,” Goshtigian said. “We are looking for like-minded firms that want to partner with us and take advantage of our scale.”

He said all of the firms EP Wealth wants to buy have between $100 million and $300 million in assets under management, or higher.

“I can’t speak to specific deals,” Goshtigian said. “This isn’t necessarily an endpoint but rather a milestone that we are trying to reach,” he said.

EP Wealth had a track record of doing one acquisition a year before it started its more recent spree in 2017.

Rampart is a collaborative wealth management and financial planning firm with six decades of experience.

“We took great care in making this decision to partner with EP Wealth, as our focus has always been on providing our clients with the highest-quality experience,” said David Heinz, who was a principal with Rampart but who becomes a vice president and wealth adviser with EP Wealth as part of the combination.

Sage on Bombas recapitalization

Bombas, a sock manufacturer, has completed a recapitalization with Great Hill Partners, a Boston-based private equity firm, with financial advisory services provided by Sage Group, a Santa Monica-based investment bank.

Sage Group initiated the transaction and served as exclusive financial adviser to New York-based Bombas.

Andrew Dunst, a Sage Group vice president, declined to elaborate on the recapitalization of Bombas, which is “poised for significant growth.”

Bombas was founded by Dave Heath, Randy Goldberg, Aaron Wolk, and Andrew Heath in 2011, and focuses on socks for a variety of activities to “support the hustle in everyone.”

Bombas will look to expand its reach in current and new markets as well as broaden its product offering, while leveraging Great Hill Partners’ e-commerce expertise.

SunTrust, Deutsche Add Execs

Two major banks recently bolstered their wealth management businesses in California, with new executive hires in Century City.

Atlanta-based SunTrust Banks Inc. recently expanded its private wealth management practice in California and named Amir Mossanen as market president, a new position.

Mossanen said he will oversee the private wealth management practice as well as partner with the corporate investment banking team and the Sports and Entertainment Group.

SunTrust also has a wealth management team in San Diego and investment strategist in San Francisco.

The firm’s Century City office employs roughly 20, according to Mossanen.

Mossanen previously served as managing director and wealth advisor at Wells Fargo Private Bank.

The expansion of SunTrust Private Wealth Management in California follows August openings of wealth management offices in Cincinnati and Cleveland.

Deutsche Bank Wealth Management announced two senior hires on the West Coast.

Richard Aguiar joins Deutsche as a managing director and private banker based in Los Angeles, while Wendy McMillan arrives as a managing director and private banker based in San Francisco.

Have a deal tip? Pat Maio can be reached at (323) 556-8329.