Designing an Optimal Capital Structure

By Thomas W. Killian, Principal, Investment Banking Group of Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P.

There have been a number of developments in the past few years that have dramatically changed the framework for evaluating capital structure alternatives for insured depository institutions of all sizes in the U.S. Among these developments, the proposed implementation of Basel II may have the greatest impact as it will allow large, internationally active banks to significantly reduce the risk-weighting of their assets and, correspondingly, the capital they must hold to support such assets. More >






Seattle Bank Seminar Volatility on the Rise?

Is the sustained lull in volatility we’ve observed over last few years across the financial markets finally winding to a close? A closer look at some widely accepted measurements of volatility suggests that a paradigm shift toward higher volatility and more erratic price action across the capital markets may be emerging. What is behind this rise? Is the trend here to stay? And most importantly, what perils or rewards does it hold for your institution’s balance sheet? More >