Citizens in R.I. to buy valuation advisory firm

Citizens Financial Group in Providence, R.I., has agreed to buy Willamette Management Associates, a valuation consulting and forensic analysis firm.

The $185.1 billion-asset Citizens said in a press release Thursday that it expects to close the deal later this quarter. It did not disclose the price it will pay.

Willamette Management, formed in 1969, has offices in Chicago, Atlanta and Portland, Ore. The company offers a range of financial advising services to corporate clients and the legal profession, including business valuation, intellectual property valuation and royalty rate analysis.

“Clients view Citizens as a trusted partner committed to delivering complete solutions, quality execution and excellent service throughout their business life cycle,” Donald McCree, Citizens’ vice chairman and head of commercial banking, said in the release. The acquisition “strengthens our ability to provide sound opinions and valuation services for our clients.”

Citizens’ first major push into valuation services took place in 2017 when it bought Western Reserve Partners. It also bought Bowstring Advisors in 2019 and Trinity Capital Partners last year.

Citizens agreed last month to buy Investors Bancorp in New York for $3.5 billion.