RICHMOND, VA / BALTIMORE, MD – September 9, 2020 – Matrix Capital Markets Group, Inc. (“Matrix”), a leading, independent investment bank, has expanded its industry coverage with the establishment of the Matrix Healthcare Investment Banking Group. Leading this dedicated industry group will be Amanda Verner Thompson and Vasanta B. Pundarika, who have joined the firm as Managing Directors and Co-Heads of the new group.
Their initial focus will be in various healthcare sub-sectors, including hospitals and healthcare systems, behavioral health organizations, managed care companies, telemedicine providers, in addition to other ancillary services, including dialysis, urgent care, laboratories, and long-term care.
Ms. Pundarika said, “We are thrilled to join Matrix to build and grow the healthcare group on top of the firm’s strong foundation of providing transaction, advisory, and valuation services over the past 30 years.”
In their new roles, Ms. Thompson and Ms. Pundarika will be responsible for new client engagement and transaction management, provide leadership and support for the professional development of the group, as well as drive Matrix’s expansion into the broader healthcare industry.
With 30 years of combined experience successfully advising healthcare companies, and over 230 completed engagements to their credit, they bring depth and years of expertise advising not-for-profit and for-profit clients on mergers and acquisitions, valuations, tax-exempt and taxable financings, and strategic advisory, including strategic options and strategic capital planning.
Ms. Thompson added, “We are delighted to be part of a firm where healthcare investment banking is an essential element and focus. Our clients will benefit from Matrix’s unwavering focus and energy in providing creative, objective, and independent advisory services.”
Both were previously with Raymond James & Associates as Directors of the Healthcare Finance Group where they led the behavioral health and managed care advisory efforts. They joined Raymond James in 2012 following the acquisition of Morgan Keegan and joined Morgan Keegan in 2007 with the acquisition of Shattuck Hammond Partners, a boutique healthcare investment bank.
Ms. Thompson graduated from Duke University with a B.A. in Biology and a minor in French and Ms. Pundarika graduated with Honors from Princeton University, where she received an A.B. degree in Anthropology.
Tom Kelso, President of Matrix said, “We are very excited to welcome Vasanta and Amanda to Matrix to lead the expansion of our services into the healthcare sector. This is a very important step in continuing to broaden our industry reach and drive growth at Matrix.”