Monday, January 29, 2007

Merrill Lynch Goes UHNW

The Wealth Report blog at WSJ.com sees a merger mania in private banking. Today's example, Merrill Lynch's acquisition of First Republic in San Francisco:
The deal gives Merrill a new roster of rich clients: First Republic is a private bank whose average client has liquid assets of $8 million.

The deal also gives Merrill access to First Republic’s lending products. First Republic specializes in loans for big mansions, jets and yachts. If a wealthy Merrill client wants a mortgage for a new $10 million home in Palm Beach, or a $40 million Gulfstream, the client can now tap First Republic’s balance sheet.
Most of First Republic's clients are “venture-capital chiefs, hedge-fund managers, real-estate magnates, entertainers and entrepreneurs.”

The Wealth Report notes that the deal follows last year's acquisition of U.S. Trust by Bank of America.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Here is the recent Merryl's World Wealth Report
with Capgemini that analyzes the macroeconomic factors that drive and inhibit HNW clients
http://www.artbank.ch/art.html

Also, find Wealth Unused
Oliver Wyman report on HNW clients and the Future of Private Banking
http://www.artbank.ch/art.html