City Securities rebounds quickly from recession

  • Comments
  • Print
Listen to this story

Subscriber Benefit

As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
This audio file is brought to you by
0:00
0:00
Loading audio file, please wait.
  • 0.25
  • 0.50
  • 0.75
  • 1.00
  • 1.25
  • 1.50
  • 1.75
  • 2.00

The recession hit locally based City Securities Corp. hard. But Indiana’s oldest and largest investment banking firm
has already begun to recover.

According to annual audited financial reports City Securities is required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
the company booked $28.1 million in revenue and a $990,218 profit for the year ended Sept. 30. That compares with $30.3 million
in total revenue and $2.5 million in profit for City Securities’ fiscal 2008; and $30.4 million in total revenue and
$3.6 million in profit for the firm’s fiscal 2007.
 

Bosway Bosway

2007 was the last in a run of nine years of record revenue and profitability, according to City Securities CEO and President
Michael Bosway, who said the recession affected his firm much like it did all other financial institutions—albeit not
as dramatically.

“Typically, we don’t grow as much as the larger firms do when things are booming,” Bosway said. “But
because of our business mix, we don’t have the downside risk that some of the larger firms do when things aren’t
so good.”

Commissions provided the largest portion of City Securities’ revenue: $19.3 million in fiscal 2009. Underwriting and
principal transaction revenue totaled $4.2 million. The firm’s insurance division booked $3.7 million in revenue.

Compensation and benefits for City Securities’ 200 employees were its largest expense, at $20 million. After that,
its next three biggest expenses were communications, rent and security clearing fees, each of which totaled about $1 million.

Bosway said better results are on the horizon. City Securities expects its revenue to increase 20 percent to 25 percent this
year, and Bosway said company profit should grow even more.

“Occasionally, over the life of any corporation, you’re going to have a year like ’09,” Bosway said.
“Our feeling is that, having come through the most severe financial crisis we’ve seen since the Great Depression,
and to come out actually stronger as an organization is something we’re pretty proud of.”

Please enable JavaScript to view this content.

Story Continues Below

Editor's note: You can comment on IBJ stories by signing in to your IBJ account. If you have not registered, please sign up for a free account now. Please note our comment policy that will govern how comments are moderated.

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In