Parkside Launches Search Fund Lending with Expert Team Acquisition

Parkside Financial Bank & Trust is proud to announce the opening of a search fund and sponsor finance loan production office (“LPO”) based out of Bedford, New Hampshire with a national focus.

The experienced team will concentrate on niche business opportunities associated with Mergers and Acquisitions (“M&A”) lending nationwide, including the search fund community and related sponsors that provide equity and seek debt to finance acquisitions of small businesses. The team is focused on commercial and industrial lending for private equity backed transactions.

“Since our founding in 2008, Parkside has a history of working with high-quality sponsors and operators by supporting their financing activity nationwide,” said Andrew Hereford, Bank President. “It thrilled us to continue that legacy by bringing the premier search fund lending team and their relationships into the Parkside Family to build upon their outstanding success in this asset class.”

 

Zach Duprey, a veteran in the search fund community, who pioneered the concept of a nationwide focus on financing search fund acquisitions will lead the office. He has successfully built and led several teams who specialize in the needs of this asset class. Michelle Gilbert, Senior Relationship Manager of Search Fund & Sponsor Finance, will join Zach to continue supporting the search fund community, including searchers, CEOs and investors, via acquisitions, growth, and ongoing support.

“I am excited to join Parkside on this strategic growth opportunity to bring an established business line to the bank,” said Zach Duprey, Director of Search Fund & Sponsor Finance. “Parkside is uniquely equipped with the flexible and accessible qualities of a small bank while also demonstrating the financial sophistication to support the niche financing of enterprise value transactions.”

 

Zach is a frequent presenter at Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (“ETA”) conferences and events that bring together members of the search fund community, including events hosted by prestigious universities such as Harvard Business School, University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management.

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Parkside is proud to have built relationships in nearly 40 states, providing first-class service from our single location in St. Louis. This move represents Parkside's second extension outside of the St. Louis area. In 2019, Parkside opened a loan production office in Denver, Colorado led by David Bell, Senior Vice President & Commercial Lender. Earlier this year, Parkside welcomed Dawn Bitton, who will be a Denver based Advisor for the Trust and Family Office.