RJ eyed as takeover target, report says

Raymond James' asset-management unit and its bank could be worth close to $4 billion, according to Barrons.
FEB 04, 2008
By  Bloomberg
Raymond James Financial Inc. could be a takeover target or at least an attractive buy for investors looking to place their money in strong financial stocks, according to a column in Barron's. "Without suggesting it will be acquired any time soon-the risk-reward considerations looks favorable [for the St. Petersburg, Fla.-based brokerage company]," the report stated. Taking into account what Charlotte, N.C.-based Wachovia Corp. paid to purchase A.G. Edwards & Sons Inc. of St. Louis, based on client-asset levels Raymond James would be worth close to $4 billion, without a premium, for its asset-management unit and its bank, according to the report. Shares of Raymond James are trading near two-year lows, partly on concerns involving the rapid growth of Raymond James Bank, according to the report. However, the report stated that the bank's book of mostly purchased loans seems "fairly sound," and a good portion of it was acquired late last year when the market turmoil made decent commercial paper available at good prices. Raymond James declined to comment for this article.

Latest News

Investing for accountability: How to frame a values-driven conversation with clients
Investing for accountability: How to frame a values-driven conversation with clients

By listening for what truly matters and where clients want to make a difference, advisors can avoid politics and help build more personal strategies.

Advisor moves: Raymond James ends week with $1B Commonwealth recruitment streak
Advisor moves: Raymond James ends week with $1B Commonwealth recruitment streak

JPMorgan and RBC have also welcomed ex-UBS advisors in Texas, while Steward Partners and SpirePoint make new additions in the Sun Belt.

Cook Lawyer says fraud claims are Trump’s ‘weapon of choice’
Cook Lawyer says fraud claims are Trump’s ‘weapon of choice’

Counsel representing Lisa Cook argued the president's pattern of publicly blasting the Fed calls the foundation for her firing into question.

SEC orders Vanguard, Empower to pay more than $25M over failures linked to advisor compensation
SEC orders Vanguard, Empower to pay more than $25M over failures linked to advisor compensation

The two firms violated the Advisers Act and Reg BI by making misleading statements and failing to disclose conflicts to retail and retirement plan investors, according to the regulator.

RIA moves: Wells Fargo pair joins &Partners in Virginia
RIA moves: Wells Fargo pair joins &Partners in Virginia

Elsewhere, two breakaway teams from Morgan Stanley and Merrill unite to form a $2 billion RIA, while a Texas-based independent merges with a Bay Area advisory practice.

SPONSORED How advisors can build for high-net-worth complexity

Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.

SPONSORED RILAs bring stability, growth during volatile markets

Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.