THURSDAY, 12.00NOON:
INVESTEC Bank has signalled its intention to expand into the North Ameriucan financial services market by buying New York-based securities firm Ernst & Company.
Investec CEO Stephen Koseff, while refusing to disclose the value of the deal, said that although the new acquisition is a small operation, the purchase is the first meaningful step towards Investec’s stated intention to expand its US operations.
The deal is expected to be finalised by January, pending due diligence studies and regulatory approval.
The latest deal adds to a long list of recent international acquisitions by the the bank, including UK stockbroker Carr Shepherds and a controlling stake in the Israel Geberal Bank and the Mauritian Banque Prive Edmond de Rothschild.