Everpath Partners, LLC and Cogent Bank announce strategic agreement and minority growth equity investment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Everpath Partners, LLC and Cogent Bank announce strategic agreement and minority growth equity investment  

Orlando, Fla. and Tampa, Fla.  (Jan. 27, 2026) – Everpath Partners, LLC (Everpath) and Cogent Bank (Cogent) announce a strategic agreement and minority growth equity investment that brings together Cogent’s full-service commercial banking platform and Everpath’s expertise in middle-market mergers and acquisitions advisory and private capital solutions. This partnership expands both firms’ abilities to serve middle-market and emerging growth companies throughout the United States. 

As part of the agreement, Cogent has made a minority growth equity investment in Everpath Partners, aligning the two organizations around a shared commitment to meeting the complex financing and advisory needs of middle-market businesses. The firms will collaborate on select client opportunities where a combination of banking, capital markets and advisory services can deliver enhanced value and long-term outcomes. 

“This strategic partnership with Everpath Partners underscores Cogent’s long-standing focus on innovation and disciplined growth as we continue to expand the ways we support our clients,” said Chirag Bhavsar, president and CEO of Cogent Bank. “By complementing our commercial lending and treasury management capabilities with Everpath’s middle-market advisory expertise, we are further strengthening Cogent’s ability to deliver thoughtful, integrated financial solutions as our clients navigate growth, capital formation and strategic transactions.” Everpath Partners, focuses on mergers and acquisitions of advisory, private capital raising and strategic advisory services for middle-market and emerging growth companies. The firm’s partnership approach and sector expertise complement Cogent’s deep commercial banking relationships and lending capabilities. 

“Our relationship with Cogent Bank allows us to better support business owners and management teams through every stage of their company lifecycle,” said Russ Hunt, founder/managing partner & CEO of Everpath Partners. “We share a client-first philosophy and a belief that combining banking and advisory expertise can deliver more strategic, efficient, and informed outcomes for our clients.” 

The collaboration is expected to drive growth opportunities for both organizations while expanding access to a broader range of financial products and services across key industries and markets. 

About Cogent Bank 

Cogent Bank is a state-chartered bank that has operated as a full-service business and personal bank since 2018. With over $2.3 billion in total assets Cogent offers multiple banking centers in North, Central and Southwest Florida. Cogent offers a broad range of lending, depository, treasury management and mobile banking services designed to meet the complex and diverse needs of its clients while staying focused on the local communities it serves. Cogent believes banking is personal and requires high-touch, innovative services designed to make managing financial transactions easier. Cogent pairs its financial expertise with a passion for learning more about its clients’ goals and objectives. To learn more, visit https://cogentbank.com/ 

About Everpath Partners, LLC 

Everpath Partners is an investment bank providing mergers and acquisitions advisory and private capital solutions to middle-market and emerging growth companies. The firm is headquartered in Tampa, FL.  

www.everpathpartners.com  

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