Firms said to be on short list of acceptable buyers; PE outfit also thought to be lurking about

Silverman leaves on-the-block firm; second defection in June

Securities America Inc. last week took the unusual step of asking its 1,800 reps and advisers to sign a “letter of support” to indicate their intention to remain at the firm — a development that some observers took to mean that a sale of the troubled broker-dealer could be imminent.

Industry veteran ran Merrill Lynch's clearing service for seven years; most recently CEO of Century Securities Associates

Ameriprise Financial Inc. last week put on the block one of the most prominent independent broker-dealers in the industry, its subsidiary Securities America Inc., but no clear buyer has emerged

Another small broker-dealer that sold high-risk private placements is out of business

In what can only be viewed as a surprise outcome, an independent broker-dealer has won a rare legal victory in the continuing scrum over private placements that has forced several broker-dealers to shut down

Another small, independent broker-dealer that faces mounting legal claims is exiting the business, this time after selling real estate deals by a bankrupt syndicator.