Academy Securities, a registered broker-dealer certified as a Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise(DVBE) and Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), today announced the addition of Steve Kenney and Pierce Derkac to its Structured Products Group. Mr. Kenney and Mr. Derkac’s areas of concentration will span across multiple asset classes within structured products including RMBS, CMBS, ABS and CDO/CLO securities.

Mr. Kenney and Mr. Derkac bring a wealth of experience and expansive relationships within the investment management community and broker-dealer community alike.

Mr. Kenney joins Academy as a Senior Vice President, Structured Products after spending nearly four years at CapRok Capital, where he was a senior member of their sales and trading effort within Securitized Products and Special Situations including, CMBS, Non-Agency RMBS, and Esoteric ABS. Mr. Derkac also joins Academy as a Senior Vice President, Structured Products from CapRok Capital, where he was in fixed income sales and trading, primarily focusing on Structured Products including CDO/CLO.

“We are very pleased to expand our fixed income trading capabilities and welcome Steve Kenney and Pierce Derkac to the team,” said Chance Mims, Chairman and CEO at Academy Securities and former Naval Officer. “Additionally, the great relationships that these two gentlemen have and the business executed can directly help us achieve our internal goal of military veterans representing 50% of Academy’s workforce; we are currently at over 40%.”

“I am excited to join a firm with so many talented and experienced financial professionals led by veterans of the United States military,” said Steve Kenney. “Pierce and I are looking forward to expanding Academy’s footprint within the structured products arena by providing liquidity, market color, execution and geopolitical insight from some of the most senior ex-military officers in America.”

Academy’s Structured Product Group is well-versed in trading structured products and very active in the primary market. Thanks to the support of its broker-dealer peer group, Academy was ranked 1st in the 2016 Global CMBS Lead-and Co-Managers League Tables.

“The addition of Steve Kenney and Pierce Derkac will greatly heighten Academy’s ability to provide service to investment managers in the structured product arena,” said Steve Chaires, Head of Fixed Income. “Our customer base will benefit from broader expertise within structured products as a whole and now have greater access to liquidity.”

About Academy Securities

Academy Securities is a preeminent disabled veteran owned investment bank with strength in capital markets, public finance, fixed income and equity trading. Leadership and staff have had intensive military training prior to entering and gaining in depth financial services experience in global capital markets. We are mission driven with a high ethical code, a solid sense of accountability and strive for excellence in the pursuit of our clients’ success. Intellectual assets, strong visionary leaders and a proud team commitment bring out the best in each other for the benefit of our clients. Academy is our nation’s first and only post-9/11 disabled veteran owned investment bank and is a certified as a DVBE, SDVOSB, and MBE. The firm has a strong top and middle tier client base served by a national platform with offices in New York, Chicago, Boston, San Diego and Chapel Hill. Information about Academy Securities is available at www.academysecurities.com.