Deloitte Corporate Finance LLC Advises Bankers Healthcare Group, Inc. in Minority Investment from Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.

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Feb 09, 2015, 06:00 ET

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Deloitte Corporate Finance LLC ("DCF") acted as exclusive financial advisor to Bankers Healthcare Group, Inc. ("BHG"), a leading full-service commercial loan provider to healthcare professionals nationwide, in receiving a minority investment from Pinnacle Bank, a subsidiary of Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. ("Pinnacle"), a commercial bank serving individuals and small-to-medium-sized businesses primarily in Tennessee. Pinnacle invested $75 million to acquire a 30% interest in BHG. The acquisition closed on Feb. 4, 2015.

BHG is a leading provider of financing solutions for healthcare professionals throughout the United States. BHG's loan originations are sourced through a variety of distribution channels and primarily sold through an online auction process to a network of approximately 200 community banks.

"DCF was able to effectively position BHG by highlighting the Company's high-touch customer service and expertise in the healthcare lending space. We are very excited about our affiliation with Pinnacle and believe that, as a result of this partnership, we will be even better positioned to continue the growth and profitability we have enjoyed. We look forward to exploring new opportunities that are available to both firms," said Al Crawford, Chairman and CEO of BHG.

"We are pleased to have assisted BHG in finding an ideal strategic partner and look forward to continuing our relationship with the company," said Charlie Welch, managing director, Deloitte Corporate Finance LLC. "We believe traditional banks will continue to pursue transactions with specialty lenders that offer growth in attractive asset classes."

About Bankers Healthcare Group, Inc.
Since 2001, Bankers Healthcare Group has been committed to providing financing solutions for healthcare professionals, allowing them to remain focused on delivering high quality health care to their patients. BHG has provided more than $1 billion in funding to thousands of satisfied customers nationwide and has been recognized by Inc. magazine eight times as one of America's fastest growing organizations. BHG has also been named one of the Top 10 Best Places to Work in Central New York in 2013 and 2014. The three founders and principals at BHG were awarded E&Y's Entrepreneur of the Year in the financial services category for the state of Florida in 2012. For more information, visit www.bhg-inc.com.

About Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.
Pinnacle Financial Partners provides a full range of banking, investment, trust, mortgage and insurance products and services designed for businesses and their owners and individuals interested in a comprehensive relationship with their financial institution. The firm began operations in a single downtown Nashville location in October 2000 and has since grown to approximately $6.0 billion in assets at Dec. 31, 2014. At Dec. 31, 2014, Pinnacle is the second-largest bank holding company headquartered in Tennessee, with 29 offices in eight Middle Tennessee counties and five offices in Knoxville. Pinnacle is listed on the NASDAQ exchange (NASDAQ: PNFP). For more information, visit www.pnfp.com.

About Deloitte Corporate Finance LLC
Deloitte Corporate Finance LLC (DCF) provides strategic advisory services and M&A advice that help corporate, entrepreneurial and private equity clients create and act upon opportunities for liquidity, growth and long-term advantage. With an in-depth understanding of the marketplace and access to a global network of investment bankers, we help clients confidently pursue strategic transactions in both domestic and global markets. DCF, together with the Corporate Finance Advisory practices within the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited network of member firms, include in excess of 1,900 professionals, who work collaboratively across 150 international locations. With our significant experience providing investment banking services across key industries, we are able to offer our clients solutions that help them to achieve their strategic objectives. For more information, visit www.investmentbanking.deloitte.com.

Prior engagement performance is no guarantee of future performance and may not be representative of the experience of other clients. This communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of a security.

Deloitte Corporate Finance LLC, an SEC registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC, is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP and affiliate of Deloitte Transactions and Business Analytics LLP. Investment banking products and services within the United States are offered exclusively through Deloitte Corporate Finance LLC. For more information, visit www.investmentbanking.deloitte.com. Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting.

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