West Virginia bars five financial firms for deemed fossil fuel ‘boycotts’

West Virginia bars five financial firms for deemed fossil fuel ‘boycotts’

WASHINGTON, July 28 (Reuters) – West Virginia has barred 5 big financial institutions, like Blackrock Inc and JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N)
, from new point out organization right after analyzing that they had been boycotting the fossil fuel business.

Goldman Sachs (GS.N)
, Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo & Co are also barred on similar grounds, according to State Treasurer Riley Moore.

Spokespeople for Wells Fargo and Morgan Stanley stated the financial institutions disagreed with the determination, and a spokesperson for JPMorgan identified as it “disconnected from the info.” A BlackRock spokesperson stated it also disagreed with the decision.

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“BlackRock does not boycott strength businesses, and we do not go after divestment from sectors and industries as a coverage,” the spokesperson reported.

Goldman Sachs did not right away remark.

The move to kick out some of the world’s largest financial institutions, which include the world’s major asset manager, Blackrock, comes as Republicans are ramping up tension on Wall Street to move back from attempts to tackle local weather improve and deal with other social problems.

Reuters had previously documented that states led by Republicans are swiftly expanding their endeavours to punish economic companies for “woke” stances on troubles like fossil fuels and guns. read more

West Virginia is the initially point out to move to kick out Wall Road firms, though some other states, including Texas, have enacted comparable laws.

Moore said the companies were being barred following a evaluate of their policies and community statements observed them to have guidelines “categorically limiting professional relations with power corporations engaged in particular coal mining.” He is authorized to prohibit money companies from new condition banking organization under a regulation the point out passed earlier this 12 months.

6 banking institutions were at first identified by West Virginia as possible boycotters of the fossil fuel sector. All the companies responded and disputed the assert, whilst noting they are often criticized by local weather activists for doing too small to struggle climate transform. read far more

A single of them, U.S. Bancorp (USB.N)
, was taken off the checklist just after the financial institution taken off policies versus funding coal creation, in accordance to Moore. A bank spokesperson explained it was pleased to not be excluded from the point out, but that its policies had been in area prior to the passage of the new West Virginia regulation.

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Reporting by Pete Schroeder Further reporting by Ross Kerber Modifying by Andrea Ricci and Mark Porter

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Stocks extend rally despite negative GDP data

Stocks extend rally despite negative GDP data

U.S. stocks rose sharply Thursday even as new data showed financial action contracted for the next-straight quarter in Q2.

The benchmark S&P 500 index climbed 1.2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, bringing overall gains for the index in the two times quickly subsequent the Federal Reserve’s fee boost to roughly 3.8{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} — its very best rally ever after a hike, going back again to info from 1970, Carson Team Chief Market Strategist Ryan Detrick points out.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average additional 330 factors, or 1{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite sophisticated by around 1.1{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}.

Earnings from Apple (AAPL) and Amazon (AMZN) are thanks out immediately after the bell.

Details from the Commerce Section early Thursday showed GDP fell at an annualized charge of .9{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} last quarter, after U.S. economic exercise unexpectedly fell 1.6{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} in Q1. Two straight adverse GDP prints satisfies the unofficial definition of a recession.

Thursday’s moves appear immediately after the Federal Reserve sent an envisioned desire fee raise of 75 basis details Wednesday afternoon and instructed it may possibly slow the speed of its charge climbing cycle.

The most up-to-date GDP report is absolutely sure to go on the discussion between buyers about no matter if the U.S. financial system is in economic downturn, with lots of market contributors judging two-straight quarters of decrease advancement as conference the unofficial definition.

White Residence officials have in recent times, even so, been eager to remind the general public that recessions are formally termed by the NBER, which defines recession as, “a significant decline in economic action that is unfold throughout the financial state and that lasts far more than a several months.”

Somewhere else on the economic info calendar, the weekly report on preliminary jobless statements confirmed a slight moderation in first-time filings for unemployment insurance, totaling 256,000 past week right after 261,000 filings the prior 7 days.

Nonetheless, jobless claims information have been on a modest upward development over the last many weeks.

On the earnings aspect, shares of Meta (META) fell about 5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} right after the Fb guardian organization described 2nd-quarter earnings late Wednesday that fell limited of analyst estimates. The quarter also marked the social media giant’s initially year-in excess of-12 months income decrease.

The company also reduce its cost forecast yet again, and on a call with analysts CEO Mark Zuckerberg said, “we seem to be to have entered an financial downturn that will have a broad influence on the digital promotion enterprise. It’s often tough to forecast how deep or how prolonged these cycles will be, but I might say that the problem would seem even worse than it did a quarter in the past.”

Zuckerberg extra: “In this surroundings, we’re targeted on building the prolonged time period investments that will placement us to be more robust coming out of this downturn — like our do the job on our discovery motor and Reels, our new adverts infrastructure, and the metaverse. We’re also targeted on becoming demanding about measuring returns and sizing these investments effectively.”

The logos of Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google are seen in a combination photo from Reuters files.    REUTERS/File Photos

The logos of Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google are viewed in a combination photograph from Reuters information. REUTERS/File Shots

On the shift:

  • Meta (META) shares fell 5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} following the Fb father or mother company reported 2nd-quarter earnings late Wednesday that fell short of analyst estimates. The quarter also marked the social media giant’s 1st year-above-year earnings decrease.

  • Comcast (CMCSA) shares sank about 9.1{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} immediately after the media huge reported broadband subscribers were flat in its next-quarter earnings results, the to start with time ever the company unsuccessful to incorporate new subscribers.

  • Ford (F) inventory rose virtually 6.1{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} following the Detroit-based mostly carmakers reported Q2 earnings that topped Wall Road anticipations on income and financial gain and reaffirmed its steering, countering some recessionary concerns. The vehicle giant also boosted its inventory dividend to 15 cents for every share.

  • Teladoc (TDOC) shares lose approximately 1 fifth of their benefit just after the the enterprise documented a loss for the 2nd quarter and a week outlook.

Alexandra Semenova is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Stick to her on Twitter @alexandraandnyc

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Biden says US not in a recession despite two consecutive quarters of shrinking economy

Biden says US not in a recession despite two consecutive quarters of shrinking economy

President Biden said the United States “is not in a recession,” even with Thursday’s GDP report, indicating it is “no shock that the overall economy is slowing down” amid inflation. 

The U.S. overall economy shrank in the spring for the next consecutive quarter, assembly the criteria for a economic downturn as document-significant inflation and larger curiosity costs forced buyers and businesses to pull back on spending.

Gross domestic product or service, the broadest measure of items and expert services produced across the economic system, shrank by .9{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} on an annualized basis in the three-thirty day period period from April via June, the Commerce Department explained in its to start with reading through of the information on Thursday. Refinitiv economists expected the report to clearly show the economic system had expanded by 0.5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}. 

US Economic climate ENTERS Complex Recession Immediately after Development TUMBLES .9{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} IN THE Next QUARTER

“Coming off of previous year’s historic economic expansion — and regaining all the personal sector work opportunities lost during the pandemic disaster — it’s no surprise that the economic climate is slowing down as the Federal Reserve acts to provide down inflation,” Biden explained Thursday in a assertion. “But even as we experience historic global difficulties, we are on the proper path and we will arrive as a result of this changeover more robust and extra protected.”

Biden touted the occupation current market, indicating it “stays historically sturdy, with unemployment at 3.6{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} and extra than 1 million positions established in the second quarter on your own.”

“Consumer spending is continuing to grow,” he claimed.

President Biden speaks at the White House on July 27, 2022

President Biden speaks in the Rose Yard of the White Home in Washington on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (AP Image/Andrew Harnik / AP Newsroom)

Biden reported he satisfied with the chairman of SK Team from Korea previously this week, indicating it is “just one of the firms investing additional than $200 billion in American manufacturing considering the fact that I took office, powering a historic restoration in American manufacturing.”

“My economic system is concentrated on bringing inflation down, with out providing up all the financial gains we have created,” he reported. “Congress has an historic chance to do that by passing the CHIPS and Science Act and Inflation Reduction Act with no delay.”

IS THE UNITED STATES Coming into A Recession?

Biden’s opinions came just days immediately after he stated the U.S. was “not coming into recession.” 

“We’re not coming into recession, in my check out,” Biden reported Monday. “I don’t feel we are heading to — God willing — I really don’t assume we’re going to see a economic downturn.” 

Recessions commonly refer to two consecutive quarters of damaging financial expansion.

But in a website publish on July 21, the White Property Council of Financial Advisers tried to adjust the definition of a economic downturn, indicating that two consecutive quarters of falling GDP will not indicate the nation is in a economic downturn.

BIDEN States ‘WE’RE NOT Likely TO BE IN A RECESSION’ In advance OF GDP Quantities: ‘GOD WILLING’

“What is a recession? Even though some maintain that two consecutive quarters of slipping actual GDP represent a economic downturn, that is neither the official definition nor the way economists evaluate the point out of the small business cycle,” the web site put up states.

Citing figures from the Nationwide Bureau of Financial Investigation (NBER), the publish states that their “economic downturn indicator variables” have “exhibited strong advancement in the U.S. overall economy due to the fact the start of the pandemic, and have continued to develop by the to start with 50 {21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} of this calendar year.”

Thursday’s GDP report discovered again-to-again declines in development, bringing the economy to the technological criteria for a recession, which necessitates a “substantial decline in economic action that is distribute across the financial state and that lasts a lot more than a couple of months.” 

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Nevertheless, the NBER — the semi-formal arbiter — might not ensure it instantly as it commonly waits up to a year to simply call it. 

The NBER has also stressed that it relies on more knowledge than GDP in figuring out no matter whether you can find a economic downturn, this kind of as unemployment and buyer spending, which remained strong in the to start with six months of the yr. It also takes into thing to consider the depth of any drop in financial activity.

Why the Fed’s latest rate hike sent stocks to the moon: Morning Brief

Why the Fed’s latest rate hike sent stocks to the moon: Morning Brief

This article first appeared in the Morning Brief. Get the Morning Brief sent directly to your inbox every Monday to Friday by 6:30 a.m. ET. Subscribe

Thursday, July 28, 2022

Today’s newsletter is by Myles Udland, senior markets editor at Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter @MylesUdland and on LinkedIn.

Stocks moved in one direction on Wednesday — higher.

When the closing bell rang, the Nasdaq was up over 4{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, the S&P 500 had risen 2.6{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, and the Dow was up 1.4{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}. This marked the Nasdaq’s biggest rally since November 2020.

Including Wednesday’s surge, the S&P 500 has gained more than 1{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} after each of the Fed’s last four meetings, all of which have included interest rate hikes from the central bank.

And since hitting its most recent low on June 16, the S&P 500 is now up 10{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}.

What ultimately moved markets on Wednesday was, as always, expectations. Specifically: expectations that the most aggressive of the Fed’s actions to raise interest rates may now be behind us.

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference following a two-day meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) in Washington, U.S., July 27, 2022. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference following a two-day meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) in Washington, U.S., July 27, 2022. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

“Chair Powell bolstered expectations of a policy pivot at his July FOMC press conference,” said Neil Dutta, head of economics at Renaissance Macro. “He noted that it is ‘likely appropriate to slow [rate] increases at some point.’ Importantly, the rising uncertainty in the economic outlook has pushed the Fed away from explicit forward guidance to data dependence. Financial markets have responded in kind.”

On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve voted to raise its benchmark interest rate by 0.75{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, the second-straight meeting the central bank made a move of this magnitude. In Powell’s outline, these aggressive moves are targeted solely at bringing down inflation.

“From the standpoint of our Congressional mandate to promote maximum employment and price stability, the current picture is plain to see: The labor market is extremely tight, and inflation is much too high,” Powell said.

The Fed hasn’t raised interest rates by this magnitude in consecutive meetings since the early ’80s. Inflation in June stood at 9.1{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, the highest since 1981.

In both its policy statement and comments during Powell’s press conference on Wednesday, investors and economists saw the outline of a central bank set to ease off the gas pedal in the coming months.

This is a welcome development for investors.

“The Chairman’s press conference was very clear in recognizing an economy that shows some indications of slowing,” said Rick Rieder, BlackRock’s CIO of global fixed income. “We have often said that ‘high prices are the cure for high prices,’ and indeed we are watching that dynamic play out loud and clear across the country today.”

How much conviction the Fed will maintain in this view in the coming months, however, remains an open question as we head towards the fall and beyond.

And recent history suggests yet another change in the Fed’s attitude — and a resulting swing in financial markets — may not be far off.

“Powell is the same fellow that in 2018 went from saying rates were a ‘long way to neutral’ to cutting rates not long thereafter,” Dutta said. “He’s the same guy that pulled forward tapering after trying to push it out. The same guy that largely ruled out a 75bp hike in May before doing it in June. Markets have now sensed a pivot from a hawkish June stance, feeding into expectations for rate cuts.”

“I hold out on the idea that another 180 is plausible,” Dutta added. “Don’t rule it out.”

What to Watch Today

Economic calendar

  • 8:30 a.m. ET: GDP Annualized, quarter-over-quarter, Q2 advance estimate (0.4{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} expected, -1.6{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} during prior quarter)

  • 8:30 a.m. ET: Personal Consumption, quarter-over-quarter, Q2 advance estimate (1.2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} expected, 1.8{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} during prior quarter)

  • 8:30 a.m. ET: GDP Price Index, quarter-over-quarter, Q2 advance estimate (8.0{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} expected, -8.2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} during prior quarter)

  • 8:30 a.m. ET: Core PCE, quarter-over-quarter, Q2 advance estimate (4.4{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} expected, 5.2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} during prior quarter)

  • 8:30 a.m. ET: Initial Jobless Claims, week ended July 23 (250,000 expected, 251,000 during prior week)

  • 8:30 a.m. ET: Continuing Claims, week ended July 16 (1.386 million expected, 1.384 million during prior week)

  • 11:00 a.m. ET: Kansas City Manufacturing Index, July (4 expected, 12 during prior month)

Earnings

  • Apple (AAPL), Amazon (AMZN), Pfizer (PFE), Honeywell (HON), Mastercard (MA), Comcast (CMCSA), Intel (INTC), Roku (ROKU), Merck (MRK), Keurig Dr. Pepper (KDP), Hertz Global (HTZ), T.Rowe Price (TROW), Valero Energy (VLO), Northrop Grumman (NOC), V.F. Corporation (VFC), Frontier Group (ULCC), Southwest Air (LUV), Harley-Davidson (HOG), Shell (SHEL), Stanley Black and Decker (SWK), Carlyle Group (CG), Lazard (LAZ), International Paper (IP), Sirius XM (SIRI), Hershey (HSY), PG&E (PCG), Hartford Financial (HIG), Celanese (CE)

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Tips for Choosing the Best Financial Advisor

Tips for Choosing the Best Financial Advisor

Financial planning services entail providing financial and investment advice to individuals and even business partners. There should be a financial advisor to solve any budget and financial situation. The advisors, in most circumstances, help individuals meet their desired financial goals, hence saving a lot of money. They are well trained to handle financial matters in the right manner. There are many advisors on online platforms willing to help with financial planning. Make sure you select a financial planner who is trustworthy enough to ensure no fraud takes place during the transaction.

There are innumerable tips one can adopt to select the best financial advisor to handle financial planning services. Here are some of the tips one can use.

1.  Scrutinize the financial advisor

You need to vet the financial advisor before awarding the contract to them. Checking their profile thoroughly is essential because you may end up wasting your money. One is required to track the records of all the financial advisors and can choose the one that meets his or her requirements. You can also go the extra mile by interviewing them to get to know them better. This is because many financial advisors in the market charge a fee per skill and experience, yet they are fraudsters.

2.  Select the services you want

This is one of the most crucial factors you need to consider before hiring a financial advisor. It is always advisable to bear in mind your requirements and then select the advisor accordingly. For instance, if you need an advisor to help you manage your investments, then choose one who is a specialist in managing funds. If your needs are based on saving money, then select an advisor who is an expert in saving money.

3.  Understand the different types of financial advisors

You are required to understand the type of financial advisor you are going to hire. There are three commonly known financial advisors. They include:

  1. Fee only-Fee only financial advisors have experience in both financial planning and asset management matters. These advisors can also advise on taxation, education, insurance, investment planning, and even retirement benefits. These advisors do not receive any form of payment or commission from the insurers.
  2. Fee-based-Fee-based advisors are typically associated with an agent or a broker. They are allowed to sell insurance or even investments for a commission. Payment is made directly to the customer. They also get commissions after selling the products.
  • Commission-based- Commission-based financial advisors are registered representatives, insurance agents, or even insurance brokers. They are licensed to sell products like mutual funds, insurance, and even annuities. They also receive a commission from the sale of these products. The advisor is not permitted to reveal the conflict of interest.

4.  Bear in mind the payment structure

The payment structure is an important factor that should not be left out when hiring a financial advisor. Go for the advisor who offers the fee that you can afford. This is because the main aim of hiring a financial advisor is to guide you through saving, and then you should start saving from the beginning. You can also consider hiring young financial advisors as they can also give the best advice.

5.  Authenticate the advisor’s credentials

It is always advisable to confirm the financial advisor’s credentials before hiring them. There are innumerable sites on the internet where one can easily authenticate the advisor’s qualifications for free. The free sites display the details of each financial advisor. The ratings and positive feedback regarding that particular financial advisor will be great when hiring them.

6.  Interview several financial advisors

You can also opt to interview some financial advisors before settling for a specific one. During the interview, you can clearly understand the views and opinions regarding that particular advisor. The interview session provides an opportunity to understand the interviewer better, hence establishing a rapport. Once a rapport is established, you can comfortably share your financial problems and discuss them with the financial advisor. The financial planner has all the answers, making it easier to come up with the best discussions. This will make it easier to get your problems solved.

Wrapping up

In conclusion, many tips can help you get the best financial advisor. The above article illustrates some of the tips one can adopt to get the best financial planner in the market.

Sector trends – July 2022: Asset/Wealth Management

Sector trends – July 2022: Asset/Wealth Management

With over 350 deals in the European AWM sector in 2021, M&A consolidation activity is hotter than it has ever been in the past 15 years. Conventional wisdom is now under the microscope—is bigger really better?

 

Overview

Current Market

  • High activity levels—no signs of slowing down

We Are Seeing

  • Market consolidation rumbles on at pace:
    • Predominantly smaller domestic opportunities—the UK and Switzerland being focal points
    • Healthy sprinkling of medium-sized deals—the UK, the Netherlands and Italy experience the most activity
    • Few market-defining deals (e.g., Amundi’s acquisition of Lyxor AM and Goldman Sachs’ acquisition of NN Investment Partners)
  • Differing bank strategic objectives:
    • Some banks go all-in (e.g., UBS’s acquisition of Wealthfront)
    • Other banks fold (e.g., Danske Bank’s disposal of its Luxembourg WM business)
  • Specialist sub-sector consolidation:
    • Fund management (e.g., Abrdn’s acquisition of Interactive Investor)
    • Financial planning (e.g., Perspective’s quad— acquisitions of Prolific, Evolve, Bowman and Quantum)
  • Tax advisory (e.g., Ludlow’s inside straight draw— acquisitions of Saffron and Charter)

Key Drivers/Challenges

  • Europe’s asset/wealth managers continue to believe consolidation is optimal to:
    • Expand client bases and catchment demographic
    • Tap wider spectrum of asset class offerings
    • Secure expertise of specialist fund managers
  • Replenished M&A war chests of active asset managers, especially those offering sustainable investment products
  • Significant uptick in customer familiarity with low-cost DIY wealth management platforms (e.g., FINVIA, TiFIN and EveryoneInvested)
  • Strong investor appetite for Europe’s asset/wealth managers from:
    • Private equity investors (e.g., Apex’s acquisition of Sanne)
    • Foreign investors (e.g., Federated Hermes’s acquisition of remaining 29.5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} of Hermes Fund Managers)
    • Institutional investors (e.g., £1.2 billion LSE IPO of Petershill Partners)
    • Management (e.g., Auréus Group’s MBO)
  • Digital asset class behemoths flex M&A muscle (e.g., CoinShares’ acquisitions of Napoleon Crypto and Elwood Asset Management)
  • Hunt for on ESG-compliant asset class penetration and active portfolio management capability

Trends to Watch

  • Increasing enforcement action and mis-selling claim risk in the ESG arena:
    • Regulators scrutinise asset managers’ sustainable investment disclosures
    • UK asset managers are forced to publish environmental impact data under new Sustainability Disclosure Requirements regime

 

Our M&A Forecast

Consolidation activity to continue, but early signs that scale and profitability do not necessarily go hand in hand.

 

Market consolidation

Deal highlight: 

White & Case advised BNP Paribas Asset Management, the largest shareholder of EAB, on EAB’s merger with Evli. 

Deal highlight: 

White & Case advised Catella Group, the Sweden-based fund management business, on the sale of its remaining 30{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} stake in Catella Fondförvaltning to Athanase. 

The wave of fund manager M&A that drove global deal numbers to a record high last year has run into 2022, with the value of transactions in the first four months of 2022 its highest since 2018. (Financial News, May 2022) 

Deal numbers reach record high. There have been 362 M&A deals in the European fund management sector in 2021—comfortably beating the 279 that were struck in 2020. (Financial News, December 2021) 

Investment experts are beginning to question the wisdom of the recent flood of M&A among asset managers since they’re often followed by fleeing funds and falling share prices. (Financial News, October 2021) 

Smaller deals between asset managers are running at the hottest pace in almost 15 years as businesses hunt for tactical acquisitions instead of bigger, riskier purchases. (Financial Times, September 2021)

Larger: 

  • EAB & Evli (Finland): Merger (May 2022)
  • Aviva (UK): Acquisition of Succession Wealth (March 2022)
  • Amundi (France): Acquisition of Lyxor Asset Management (January 2022)
  • Goldman Sachs (Netherlands): Acquisition of NN Investment Partners (August 2021)

Mid-sized:

  • Banca March (Spain): Acquisition of BNP Paribas Private Banking Spain (February 2022)
  • M&G (Switzerland): Acquisition of 90{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} of responsibility Investments (February 2022)
  • River&Mercantile & AssetCo (UK): Merger (January 2022)
  • Kingswood Holdings (UK): Acquisition of Metnor Holdings (January 2022)
  • Raymond James (UK): Acquisition of Charles Stanley (December 2021)
  • Schroders (UK): Acquisition of 75{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} of Greencoat Capital (December 2021)
  • LGT (Australia): Acquisition of Crestone Wealth Management (December 2021)
  • Schroders (UK): Acquisition of River & Mercantile’ solutions division (October 2021)
  • Cardano (Netherlands): Acquisition of ACTIAM (October 2021)
  • BNP Paribas Asset Management (Netherlands): Acquisition of majority stake in Dynamic Credit Group (September 2021)
  • Max Matthiessen (Sweden): Acquisition of Naventi Fonder (September 2021)
  • Abrdn (UK): Acquisition of EXO Investing (August 2021)
  • Zurich (Italy): Acquisition of Deutsche Bank Financial Advisors (August 2021)
  • Raymond James Financial (UK): Acquisition of Charles Stanley Group (July 2021)
  • Poste Italiane and Intesa Sanpaolo (Italy): Acquisition of 40{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} of Eurizon Capital Real Asset (July 2021)
  • Mattioli Woods (UK): Acquisition of Maven Capital Partners (July 2021)

Smaller:

  • Tern (UK): Acquisition of Pires Investments (June 2022)
  • Grupo Mutua (Spain): Acquisition of 24.41{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} of Alantra Wealth Management (May 2022)
  • Tatton Asset Management (UK): Acquisition of 50{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} of 8AM Global (April 2022)
  • Sienna Investment Managers (France): Acquisition of Acofi Gestion (March 2022)
  • Verso Wealth Management (UK): Acquisition of CDC Wealth Management (March 2022)
  • Magellim (France): Acquisition of Turgot Capital (February 2022)
  • Kingswood Holdings (UK): Acquisition of Joseph Lamb (February 2022)
  • Athanase (Sweden): Acquisition of remaining 30{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} of Catella Fondförvaltning (February 2022)
  • Gonet & Cie (Switzerland): Acquisition of Banque Degroof Petercam (January 2022)
  • Decisive Capital Management (Switzerland): Acquisition of Artorius Wealth Switzerland (January 2022)
  • Vontobel (Switzerland): Acquisition of UBS Swiss Financial Advisers (December 2021)
  • Canaccord Genuity Group (UK): Acquisition of Punter Southall Wealth (December 2021)
  • Liontrust (UK): Acquisition of Majedie Asset Management (December 2021)
  • Kingswood Holdings (UK): Acquisition of Metnor Holdings Limited (November 2021)
  • Kingswood Holdings (UK): Acquisition of Money Matters (North East) (November 2021)
  • Primevest Capital Partner (Netherlands): Acquisition of Holland Immo (November 2021)
  • Hottinger (UK): Combination with Edmond de Rothschild’s UK wealth management operations (October 2021)
  • Kepler Cheuvreux (France): Acquisition of Ellipsis Asset Management (October 2021)
  • ODDO BHF Asset Management (France): Acquisition of METROPOLE Gestion (September 2021)
  • Storebrand (Denmark): Acquisition of Capital Investment (August 2021)
  • Titan Wealth (UK): Acquisition of Titan Asset Management (August 2021)
  • REYL & Cie (Switzerland): Acquisition of 40{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} of 1875 Finance (August 2021)
  • AssetCo (UK): Acquisition of majority stake in Rize (July 2021)
  • AssetCo (UK): Acquisition of 30{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} of Parmenion Capital Partners (July 2021)

JVs:

  • Sienna Investment Managers: French asset management JV with Malakoff Humanis (March 2022)

 

High investor appetite

Deal highlight: 

White & Case advised Oaktree Capital Management on its acquisition of UK private wealth management and investment businesses, Sanlam Wealth. 

PE firms have been buying up companies that advise individuals on their wealth, surging to a record 223 in 2021. (Financial Times, December 2021)

Financial sponsors (acquisitions):

  • Beka Finance/Gala Capital (Spain): Acquisition of Trea Asset Management (May 2022)
  • Motive Partners and Clearlake Capital (UK): Acquisition of BETA+ (March 2022)
  • Apex Group (UK): Acquisition of Sanne (August 2021)
  • Bonaccord Capital Partners (UK): Minority equity investment in Park Square Capital (January 2022)
  • Oaktree Capital Management (UK): Acquisition of Sanlam Wealth (September 2021)
  • Cinven Partners (UK): Majority (undisclosed) equity investment in True Potential (September 2021)

Financial sponsors (WealthTech funding rounds):

  • Hamilton Lane (WealthTech): Participation in US$47 million Series C funding round for TIFIN (October 2021)

Financial advisers/Investment banks:

  • Stephens Financial Services (Asset management): Acquisition of 20{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} of CRUX Asset Management (April 2022)

Foreign investors: 

  • HPS Investment Partners (UK): Equity investment into Nucleus Financial Platforms (March 2022)
  • Agilis (US): Acquisition of River and Mercantile’s US solutions business (January 2022)
  • Federated Hermes (US): Acquisition of remaining 29.5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} of Hermes Fund Managers (August 2021)

Market appetite:

  • Petershill Partners: £1.2 billion LSE IPO (September 2021)

MBOs: 

  • Auréus Group (Netherlands): MBO (January 2022)
  • Wergen & Partner Wealth Management (Switzerland): MBO (January 2022)

 

Differing FI prerogatives

UK investors turned their backs on passive funds in July 2021, favouring actively managed sustainable investment products which chalked up one of their best months on record. (Financial News, August 2021)

Tag-out (disposals): 

  • Julius Baer: Disposal of Fransad Gestion (June 2022)
  • Sovcombank: Disposal of Septem Capital (February 2022)
  • Julius Baer Group: Disposal of Wergen & Partner Wealth Management (January 2022)
  • Société Générale: Disposal of Lyxor Asset Management (January 2022)
  • UBS: Disposal of UBS Swiss Financial Advisers (December 2021)
  • Deutsche Bank: Disposal of Deutsche Bank Financial Advisors (August 2021)
  • BNP Paribas: Disposal of ClimateSeed (July 2021)
  • Danske Bank: Disposal of Luxembourg wealth management business (July 2021) 

Tag-in (acquisitions):

  • Royal Bank of Canada (UK): Acquisition of Brewin Dolphin (March 2022)
  • ANZ (UK): US$50 million equity investment in Pollination (February 2022)
  • Graubündner Kantonalbank (Switzerland): Acquisition of 30{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} of Twelve Capital (January 2022)
  • Bank Syz (Switzerland): Acquisition of BHA Partners (January 2022)
  • UBS (US): Acquisition of Wealthfront (January 2022)
  • HSBC (India): Acquisition of L&T Finance’s Indian mutual funds business (December 2021)
  • Banco Desio e Brianza (Italy): Acquisition of 15{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} of Anthilia Capital Partners (November 2021)
  • Renell Bank (Belgium): Acquisition of Merit Capital (October 2021)
  • HSBC Asset Management (US): Acquisition of minority stake in RadiantESG (July 2021)
  • Union Bancaire Privée (Luxembourg): Acquisition of Danske Bank’s Luxembourg wealth management business (July 2021)

 

Financial planning M&A

Financial sponsors:

  • Nordic Capital (UK): Acquisition of Ascot Lloyd (April 2022)
  • Andera Partners (France): Acquisition of (undisclosed) equity stake in Patrimmofi (September 2021) 
  • Lightyear Capital–backed MBO (UK): Acquisition of Wren Sterling from Palatine Private Equity (July 2021)

Trade consolidators:

  • Groupe Crystal (France): Acquisition of CP Conseils Finance (December 2021)
  • M&G (UK): Acquisition of Sandringham Financial Partners (August 2021)
  • Perspective Financial Group (UK): Acquisition of Prolific Financial Services (August 2021)
  • Perspective Financial Group (UK): Acquisition of Evolve Financial Management (August 2021)
  • Perspective Financial Group (UK): Acquisition of Bowman Financial Planning (August 2021)
  • Perspective Financial Group (UK): Acquisition of Quantum Portfolio Management (August 2021)
  • Lloyds (UK): Acquisition of Embark (July 2021)

 

Fund management M&A

Deal highlight:

White & Case advised JTC, the global professional services business, on its acquisition of Essential Fund Services, the private capital fund administration services specialist.

The corporate and fund services space has seen relatively consistent numbers of transactions involving Europe-based targets over the last few years, and data suggests that the trend will continue. (Mergermarket, July 2021)

  • ZEDRA (US): Acquisition of Atlas Fund Services (April 2022)
  • Apex Group (UK): Acquisition of majority stake in Fund Admin Chain (March 2022)
  • Abrdn (UK): Acquisition of Interactive Investor (December 2021)
  • JTC (USA): Acquisition of Essential Fund Services (December 2021)
  • Apex Group (UK): Acquisition of Sanne (August 2021)
  • Sanne (Isle of Man): Acquisition of PraxisIFM’s funds administration business (July 2021)
  • IQ-EQ (Ireland): Acquisition of Davy Global Fund Management (July 2021)

 

Tax advisory M&A

  • Ludlow Trust (UK): Acquisition of Saffron Tax Partners (April 2022) 
  • Ludlow Trust (UK): Acquisition of Charter Tax (April 2022)

 

Debt servicing/NPL management

  • Cerved Credit Management (Italy): Acquisition of Rev (June 2022)
  • Dunya Varlik Yonetim, Hisar Stratejik Yatirimlar Holding & Merkez Alacak Yonetimi Danismanlik ve Destek Hizmetleri (Turkey): Merger (April 2022)
  • Collextion (Italy): Acquisition of Whitestar (April 2022)

 

Asset management in the digital world

  • Caceis (France): Digital asset custody JV with Taurus (June 2022)
  • CoinShares (France): Acquisition of Napoleon Crypto (December 2021)
  • Afry (Sweden): Acquisition of Trivalo (October 2021)
  • Tatton Asset Management (UK): Fund management JV with Fintel (September 2021)
  • Standard Chartered (UK): Cryptocustody JV with Zodia Custody (July 2021)
  • CoinShares (UK): Acquisition of Elwood Asset Management Services (July 2021)

 

Digitalisation marches on

  • Amundi: Acquisition of Finventum (June 2022)
  • Moneybox: Successful £35 million Series D funding round led by Fidelity International Strategic Ventures (April 2022)
  • FINVIA: Successful €20 million funding round led by HANNOVER Finanz (March 2022)
  • M&G: UK direct investments JV with Moneyfarm (January 2022)
  • TiFIN: Successful US$47 million Series C funding round led by Hamilton Lane (October 2021)
  • EveryoneInvested: Spare change investment JV with Mastercard (September 2021)
  • Wise: WealthTech JV with BlackRock (September 2021)

 

Click here to download ‘Financial institutions M&A: Sector trends — Other FS’ PDF

 

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