Global wealth management JV
Morgan Stanley and Citi Group have formed a new wealth management joint venture.
The two companies announced today that the joint venture, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, was launching ahead of schedule and was the product of combining Morgan Stanley’s Global Wealth Management group with Citi Smith Barney in the US, Quilter in the UK and Smith Barney Australia retail units into a new wealth management firm.
The new brand will boast over 18,500 financial advisers worldwide.
Commenting on the launch of the joint venture company, Morgan Stanley chairman John Mack claimed it would be a clear industry leader.
Under the terms of the arrangement, Morgan Stanley and Citi will access the joint venture for retail distribution and each firm’s institutional businesses will continue to execute order flow from the joint venture.
Under the final terms of the agreement, Citi will transfer 100 per cent of its Smith Barney, Smith Barney Australia and Quilter retail units for a 49 per cent stake in the joint venture and an upfront cash payment of $2.75 billion.
Morgan Stanley will transfer 100 per cent of its Global Wealth Management business for a 51 per cent stake in the joint venture.
Recommended for you
Record flows into iShares ETFs helped BlackRock’s assets under management reach US$13.5 trillion in the third quarter, but it reported outflows from the APAC region.
Regal Partners has passed $20 billion in funds under management, helped by $723 million in net inflows during the last three months.
Global investment manager Fidante has formed a strategic partnership with a London-based asset manager to secure exclusive distribution rights across the APAC region.
Blackwattle Investment Partners has hired a management trio from First Sentier Investors – who departed amid the closure of four investment teams last year – to run its first equity income offering.