James I. Kaplan quoted in article "Hanmi's BBCN Bid Shows Growth Challenge for Ethnic Banks"
Below is an excerpt:
It would be difficult for either Hanmi or Wilshire to catch up to BBCN if it reaches a deal to cross $10 billion in assets. No other Korean-American bank has more than $1 billion in assets, making it challenging to build scale via acquisitions. It is also possible, though, that BBCN could eventually end up with both Hanmi and Wilshire at some point, industry experts said.
Hanmi, if unable to secure a deal with BBCN, still has the ability to grow independently. The company could also look to buy Korean-American, Asian-American or mainstream banks that fit its existing operations, Kum said.
The "aggressive" decision to go public with its quest to merge with BBCN could make future deals more challenging by spooking a target's board or management, said James Kaplan, a partner in the business law practice at Quarles & Brady.