SunTrust Robinson Humphrey announced Tuesday that it has acquired Houston-based Lantana Oil & Gas Partners, a leading acquisition and divestiture firm in the exploration and production sector. Terms of the transaction, which closed March 31, were not disclosed.

Lantana provides a complete range of A&D advisory services in the E&P sector, from initial consulting and valuation review to marketing and deal execution. Since its founding in 2003 by David Nini andAndy Taurins, Lantana has advised on the sale of more than $2.5 billion of oil and gas properties inTexas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, North Dakota and more than 10 other states.

"Energy is a major area of focus and an important source of growth for STRH," said John Gregg, chairman, president and CEO, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey. "The acquisition of Lantanacomplements our universal investment banking platform in this vital industry and will help accelerate our progress in the E&P sector. It also demonstrates our commitment to Texas and our intention to grow wholesale banking nationally."

"The opportunity for Lantana to expand our market presence with a fully integrated investment bank is extremely compelling," said Nini of Lantana. "SunTrust Robinson Humphrey offers a formidable combination of energy expertise, capital markets and M&A capabilities. Their culture and commitment to serving the evolving needs of clients as one team resonated with all of us at Lantana," added Taurins.           

The new company will be renamed Lantana Energy Advisors, a SunTrust Robinson Humphrey company, and will remain headquartered in Houston. The business will report to Gerry O'Meara, head of M&A at STRH. In addition to E&P, STRH's energy and power group offers coverage of generation finance, oilfield services, pipelines and midstream, refining and marketing, and power and utilities.