Nov 21, 2019

Charles Schwab in talks to buy TD Ameritrade

Dan Primack

Photo: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

Charles Schwab is in talks to buy TD Ameritrade, according to multiple media reports this morning.

Why it matters: This would create a discount brokerage behemoth with over $5 trillion in assets under management.

  • The combined company would be just behind BlackRock ($6.9 trillion) and Vanguard ($5.6 trillion). Schwab already was in third place with $3.85 trillion but adding TD Ameritrade closes the gap quite a bit.

Market reax: TD Ameritrade stock jumped around 25% in early trading, giving it a $22.4 billion market cap, while Schwab moved mildly higher.

The big picture: Both Schwab and TD Ameritrade recently killed their online trading commissions, in an effort to blunt the rise of Robinhood, which this past summer was valued at $7.6 billion by venture capitalists.

Neither company is commenting, although both CNBC and Fox Business report that an official announcement could come as early as today.

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Dan Primack

Pre-Thanksgiving Merger Monday sees over $60 billion in announced deals

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

It's been a while since we've had a full-fledged Merger Monday, but today we've seen over $60 billion in announced deals.

Why it matters: This isn't about a macro economic shift. It's about bankers and boards wanting to enjoy their Thanksgiving breaks, without constant cell phone pings.

Go deeperArrowNov 25, 2019
Dan Primack

KKR agrees to buy defense component manufacturer Novaria Group

Illustration: Lazaro Gamio/Axios

KKR agreed to buy Novaria Group, a Texas-based manufacturer of components for the aerospace and defense industries, from Rosewood Private Investments and Tailwind Advisors.

Why it matters: This is the latest example of KKR buying an industrials company and then giving employees equity, something that has not caught on with many other private equity shops.

Go deeperArrowNov 25, 2019
Dan Primack

SoftBank-controlled Yahoo Japan agrees to merge with Line Corp.

Yahoo Japan and Line Corp. representatives hold a joint press conference, Nov. 18. Photo: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images

Yahoo Japan, which is controlled by SoftBank, agreed to merge with Japanese messaging app operator Line Corp., which is controlled by Naver Corp. The combined company would be worth around $30 billion.

Why it matters: This will create Japan's largest internet services company by revenue and gives it scale to better compete against Chinese rivals in Southeast Asia.

Go deeperArrowNov 18, 2019