Jacques Magliolo
Nervousness among smaller stockbrokers was highlighted this=20 week by Frankel Pollak Vinderine’s (FPV) takeover of Hayes=20 Cutten & Co, a stockbroking firm which concentrates on=20 futures trading.
Hayes Cutten & Co’s John Cutten says the move was prompted=20 largely by the changes likely to materialise with the=20 imminent deregulation process which the JSE has undertaken.=20
Cutten believes that FPV is well positioned to take=20 advantage of the likely forthcoming deregulation changes.=20 These include permitting banks and financial institutions=20 to become corporate members of the exchange, introducing a=20 fully automated trading and duel trading systems and=20 restructuring the assets of the JSE.
Under such conditions, the smaller stock broking firms have=20 expressed fear for their survival and have been looking for=20 some form of alliance with the bigger players for future=20 security. FPV offers Cutten its spread of offices both=20 locally and internationally. FPV has seven branches=20 countrywide, it also has a presence in New York and its=20 finance department has established links with Donaldson=20 Lufkin & Jenrette (USA) and Yamaichi (Japan).
There is no doubt that, from a services point of view, FPV=20 can enhance Cuttin’s presence in the market. FPV is active=20 in equity and capital markets, has a strong research team,=20 is highly active in corporate finance and offers private=20 investors a deal and advisory service.
But what does Cutten have to offer FPV? A press release=20 issued by FPV’s chief executive officer Sidney Frankel=20 states: “Cuttin brings a broad range of skills to the new=20 venture. He has 18 years’ experience with various merchant=20 banks and in the corporate environment. In the past few=20
he has come to be regarded by the stockbroking industry as=20 a specialist in futures, and has developed a viable=20 business that has grown significantly.”
Although Frankel calls this deal a “merger”, it is=20 obviously a takeover. Cuttin will be appointed a director=20 of FPV, but not a partner. He will head the combined=20 futures division and his firm will cease to be a=20 stockbroking member of the JSE from June 1 this year. By=20 giving up his company to become a salaried employee he has=20 confirmed market rumours that his firm would not have=20 survived a takeover battle against the more experienced=20
Cuttin stresses that his firm is in a sound financial=20 position, with shareholders’ equity in excess of that=20 needed for the proposed new capitalisation requirements of=20 the JSE, and he is more than likely right. But this would=20 not be enough to cover a protracted battle against Frankel.=20 Rather than fight an open war, Cuttin has capitulated — as=20 others will during the deregulation process.