DALLAS, TX (Nov. 17, 2022) – The Bond Buyer has named Claire Merritt, HilltopSecurities vice president and investment banker, among its 2022 Rising Stars. The program, now in its seventh year, honors municipal finance professionals under the age of 40 whose strong leadership and innovative thinking have improved their community and the public finance industry.

“HilltopSecurities congratulates Claire for this well-deserved recognition,” said David Medanich, executive managing director, co-head of public finance. “Claire’s unique combination of technical expertise, financial creativity, and passion for serving our clients has made an impact on our people and business. She has quickly become a leader in the public finance industry, and this recognition underscores her commitment to our team and her holistic approach to supporting our clients.”

At 27, Merritt has already helped structure and execute more than 200 transactions totaling a par amount of approximately $5 billion for a wide range of issuers in the housing sector. She also is recognized for creating and implementing comprehensive housing-related financial models and developing several unique debt structures—many of which are now widely used and referenced as the industry standard for best practices.

“Claire has been a pleasure to work with over the past five years. She learns new concepts quickly and provides effective leadership on transactions for our clients,” said Tim Nelson, managing director, head of housing.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be recognized as a Rising Star,” said Merritt. “I’m proud to have started my career at HilltopSecurities and to have had the opportunity to grow my skills. This experience has allowed me to gain the expertise to excel in my current role as an investment banker and client manager, where I’m able to serve a wide range of clients in the housing sector and contribute toward projects that have a positive impact on communities across the nation.”

Merritt began her career with HilltopSecurities in 2017 as an analyst for the company’s public finance housing team in Austin, Texas. She is HilltopSecurities’ seventh consecutive banker to be included in The Bond Buyer’s Rising Stars program.

About Hilltop Securities Inc.

Hilltop Securities Inc. delivers forthright advice and tailored solutions for municipal issuers, institutions, broker-dealers, and individuals. The full-service municipal investment bank and registered investment adviser is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with offices across the United States. Areas of focus include public finance; municipal and taxable fixed income underwriting, sales, and trading; retail brokerage services; securities clearing; structured finance; and securities lending. A wholly owned subsidiary of Hilltop Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HTH), HilltopSecurities’ affiliates include Momentum Independent Network Inc., PlainsCapital Bank, and PrimeLending. Learn more at www.HilltopSecurities.com. Member: NYSE/FINRA/SIPC.