09-May-05
07:39 AMTD E*Trade pursues Ameritrade merger talks - WSJ (11.31 )
The WSJ is reporting, citing people familiar with the matter, that E*Trade Financial has formally expressed an interest in buying rival Ameritrade. Late last week, E*Trade Financial sent a "bear hug" letter to Ameritrade, hoping to lure the online trader into merger negotiations. The letter notifies Ameritrade's board of its intention to pursue a deal by signaling the price that it would be willing to pay. That price couldn't be learned. It is too soon to say if a merger will result from E*Trade's overture, but analysts said a combination could be valued by investors at $12 bln to $14 bln, taking into account cost-cutting and growth opportunities that likely would result from a deal. As of Friday afternoon, E*Trade's mkt value stood at $4.4 bln, and Ameritrade's was $4.55 bln. "This is the deal the industry has been waiting for," said Richard Repetto, an analyst for Sandler O'Neill. "The benefits of consolidation are undeniable, especially in light of recent pricing pressure and soft trading volumes that have consumed the sector in recent months."
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