Understand How Wealth Managers Are Deriving Real Value from Their Brands
20 Feb 2007
DUBLIN, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c83453) has announced the addition of “The Wealth Management Brand” to their offering.
Introduction
This brief explores how private banks brand themselves and leverage their brand value, including case studies and primary research.
Scope
- Explores the branding process and the multiple dimensions of the wealth management brand;
- Examines the competitive positioning of key players in the market;
- Analyses providers approaches to key challenges related to branding in the wealth sector.
Highlights
A firm's brand is reinforced through multiple layers of corporate policy, strategy and practice. Beyond explicit branding messages that may be communicated through websites, promotions and public relations, for example, clients also experience the brand through customer service, distribution channels and sales and marketing policies.
Some industry practitioners believe that, while old wealth client segments, including inheritors, rely very heavily on word-of-mouth referrals, new wealth client segments are likely to be more open to a strong, familiar brand, developed through targeted media and promotions. The latter group includes executives, entrepreneurs and expatriates.
Wealth managers also conduct branding research among intermediaries and strategies to target them include advertising and sponsored events. Preferred advertising media include trade publications, while events take the form of conferences, dinners,lunches and other bespoke events for the most important intermediary firms.
Reasons to Purchase
- Understand how wealth managers are deriving real value from their brands;
- Gain insights into best practice in brand building by examining the strategies of market leaders;
- Use our analysis to inform the development of strategies for branding across client segments and in international markets.
Companies Mentioned:
- American Express Company
- Bank of America Corporation
- Barclays PLC
- Coutts & Co
- Goldman Sachs Group
- HSBC Holdings plc
- JPMorgan Fleming Cont.European IT plc
- Julius Baer Group
- Morgan Stanley
- N M Rothschild & Sons Limited
- UBS AG
For more information, visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c83453
Contacts
Research and Markets
Laura Wood, Senior Manager
Fax: +353 1 4100 980
press@researchandmarkets.com
Thursday, February 21, 2008
E*TRADE FINANCIAL Enhances Research Tools
E*TRADE FINANCIAL Enhances Research Tools, Increases Efficiencies for Retail Investors
20 Feb 2008
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--E*TRADE FINANCIAL Corporation (NASDAQ: ETFC) today announced plans to offer greater customization features and enhanced research tools to help customers make informed investment decisions with ease. Scheduled to roll out in phases over the next 30 days, the expanded tools and services address customer needs for greater knowledge and education about both US and global markets.
“The enhanced portfolio management tools and research capabilities provide our customers an advantage they need – on a global level – to make informed investment decisions,” said R. Jarrett Lilien, acting Chief Executive Officer, E*TRADE FINANCIAL Corporation. “E*TRADE continues to build on its core retail competency by investing in areas that will provide the industry’s premier trading platform.”
The enhanced tools and features include:
Enhanced Charting Capabilities – With improved layouts and customization capabilities, customers will be able to compare US stock price charts against major indices and industry peers.
Redesigned “Global Markets” page – New company-specific profiles will be available for stocks listed in Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan and the U.K. – the local markets where E*TRADE offers online stock trading in local currencies through its ground breaking Global Trading Platform. The redesign will offer account holders a customizable “Global Markets Overview” page with real-time international stock quotes, index charts, world news, a global watchlist, and more.
Expanded Mutual Fund Center – Building on the significant enhancements introduced in 2007, the Mutual Fund Center will add research capabilities for customers seeking to match their diversification goals with specific mutual funds, including those looking for international diversification. In addition, by the end of April, customers will be able to conduct searches by categories such as emerging markets, by individual countries, and by sector. In addition, customers will have the opportunity to analyze mutual funds by category, similar to sector and industry research for equities, and by income from fund distributions.
Power E*TRADE Pro – Improved options charting and analytics for Power E*TRADE Pro users, in which options traders can view options prices, skew, put/call and implied volatility charts. Customers may also view and customize options analytics, including streaming Greeks and implied volatilities. In addition, a new Excel plug-in feature will offer active traders greater customization alternatives as well as the ability to create spreadsheets with unlimited conditional order algorithms using individualized cost basis methodologies. Customers may also submit trade orders from their spreadsheets.
Redesigned “US Markets” and “Market News” pages – New features and links include Intraday Commentary & Blogs from Seeking Alpha; Daily Trading Ideas from MarketHistory.com; “My Recent Quotes” (the last 10 ticker symbols accessed by the customer); E*TRADE’s “Most Frequently Viewed” (daily list of 10 most frequently viewed symbols by E*TRADE customers); and other news.
E*TRADE’s investment in improving and building upon its research tools is part of an ongoing initiative to enhance the customer experience and attract new customers.
20 Feb 2008
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--E*TRADE FINANCIAL Corporation (NASDAQ: ETFC) today announced plans to offer greater customization features and enhanced research tools to help customers make informed investment decisions with ease. Scheduled to roll out in phases over the next 30 days, the expanded tools and services address customer needs for greater knowledge and education about both US and global markets.
“The enhanced portfolio management tools and research capabilities provide our customers an advantage they need – on a global level – to make informed investment decisions,” said R. Jarrett Lilien, acting Chief Executive Officer, E*TRADE FINANCIAL Corporation. “E*TRADE continues to build on its core retail competency by investing in areas that will provide the industry’s premier trading platform.”
The enhanced tools and features include:
Enhanced Charting Capabilities – With improved layouts and customization capabilities, customers will be able to compare US stock price charts against major indices and industry peers.
Redesigned “Global Markets” page – New company-specific profiles will be available for stocks listed in Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan and the U.K. – the local markets where E*TRADE offers online stock trading in local currencies through its ground breaking Global Trading Platform. The redesign will offer account holders a customizable “Global Markets Overview” page with real-time international stock quotes, index charts, world news, a global watchlist, and more.
Expanded Mutual Fund Center – Building on the significant enhancements introduced in 2007, the Mutual Fund Center will add research capabilities for customers seeking to match their diversification goals with specific mutual funds, including those looking for international diversification. In addition, by the end of April, customers will be able to conduct searches by categories such as emerging markets, by individual countries, and by sector. In addition, customers will have the opportunity to analyze mutual funds by category, similar to sector and industry research for equities, and by income from fund distributions.
Power E*TRADE Pro – Improved options charting and analytics for Power E*TRADE Pro users, in which options traders can view options prices, skew, put/call and implied volatility charts. Customers may also view and customize options analytics, including streaming Greeks and implied volatilities. In addition, a new Excel plug-in feature will offer active traders greater customization alternatives as well as the ability to create spreadsheets with unlimited conditional order algorithms using individualized cost basis methodologies. Customers may also submit trade orders from their spreadsheets.
Redesigned “US Markets” and “Market News” pages – New features and links include Intraday Commentary & Blogs from Seeking Alpha; Daily Trading Ideas from MarketHistory.com; “My Recent Quotes” (the last 10 ticker symbols accessed by the customer); E*TRADE’s “Most Frequently Viewed” (daily list of 10 most frequently viewed symbols by E*TRADE customers); and other news.
E*TRADE’s investment in improving and building upon its research tools is part of an ongoing initiative to enhance the customer experience and attract new customers.
eSignal Wins Awards
eSignal Wins Awards from Traders, Investors and Industry Experts
eSignal Products Recognized in Readers’ Choice Awards by Technical Analysis of Stocks & Commodities Magazine and Trade2Win Web Site
20 Feb 2008
HAYWARD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--eSignal, the desktop solutions division of Interactive Data Corporation (NYSE: IDC) and a leading provider of streaming, real-time financial market data, news, analytics and decision-support tools for professional and individual traders, today announced it has received multiple awards from two prestigious trade-industry media outlets: Technical Analysis of Stocks & Commodities magazine and Trade2Win (T2W) Web site.
For the 15th year in a row, eSignal was the first place winner in the Real-Time Data category in the Technical Analysis of Stocks & Commodities magazine Readers’ Choice awards. The magazine is a leading industry publication serving professional and individual traders and investors. Other eSignal 2007 Readers’ Choice awards from the magazine were: first runner-up Delayed Data, first runner-up Institutional Platform, first runner-up Professional Platform, first runner-up Software >$1,000, and finalist in the Subscription Internet Analytical Platform category.
In addition, eSignal’s Advanced GET® product was first runner-up in the Futures Trading Systems category and a finalist in both the Software >$1,000 and Stock Trading Systems categories. eSignalCentral.com was a finalist in the Training category.
eSignal also won top honors from T2W, a leading community Web site for active traders in the UK. T2W's 2007 Readers' Choice Awards recognized eSignal with gold medals in Best Real-Time Data Feed and Best Software for UK Intra-Day Traders category.
"It is an honor to be chosen for these awards by the users of our products,” said Chuck Thompson, president of eSignal. "They further validate the many enhancements we’ve made to advance our offerings over the past year. We will continue to improve and expand our products and services to meet the dynamic needs of our customers.”
About Interactive Data Corporation:
Interactive Data Corporation (NYSE: IDC) is a leading global provider of financial market data, analytics and related services to financial institutions, active traders and individual investors. The Company's businesses supply real-time market data, time-sensitive pricing, evaluations and reference data for millions of securities traded around the world, including hard-to-value instruments. Many of the world's best-known financial service and software companies subscribe to the Company's services in support of their trading, analysis, portfolio management and valuation activities. Through its businesses, Interactive Data Pricing and Reference Data, Interactive Data Real-Time Services, Interactive Data Fixed Income Analytics, and eSignal, the Company has approximately 2,200 employees in offices located throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. The Company is headquartered in Bedford, Mass. Pearson plc (NYSE: PSO; LSE: PSON), an international media company, whose businesses include the Financial Times Group, Pearson Education, and the Penguin Group, is Interactive Data Corporation's majority stockholder.
For more information about Interactive Data Corporation and its businesses, please visit www.interactivedata.com.
About eSignal:
eSignal (www.eSignal.com), Interactive Data Corporation’s (NYSE: IDC) desktop solutions business, is a leading global provider of financial and business information to professional traders and active individual traders. Building on a legacy of nearly 25 years of delivering time-sensitive financial information, eSignal provides streaming, real-time market data, news and analytics. eSignal's suite of products includes eSignal®, Advanced GET®, QuoTrek®, FutureSource®, MarketCenter LIVESM, QCharts®, LiveCharts®, Market-QSM and the Web portals FutureSource.com, Quote.com® and RagingBull.com.
Contacts
eSignal
David Parkinson, 801-971-2450
davidp@d2pr.biz
eSignal Products Recognized in Readers’ Choice Awards by Technical Analysis of Stocks & Commodities Magazine and Trade2Win Web Site
20 Feb 2008
HAYWARD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--eSignal, the desktop solutions division of Interactive Data Corporation (NYSE: IDC) and a leading provider of streaming, real-time financial market data, news, analytics and decision-support tools for professional and individual traders, today announced it has received multiple awards from two prestigious trade-industry media outlets: Technical Analysis of Stocks & Commodities magazine and Trade2Win (T2W) Web site.
For the 15th year in a row, eSignal was the first place winner in the Real-Time Data category in the Technical Analysis of Stocks & Commodities magazine Readers’ Choice awards. The magazine is a leading industry publication serving professional and individual traders and investors. Other eSignal 2007 Readers’ Choice awards from the magazine were: first runner-up Delayed Data, first runner-up Institutional Platform, first runner-up Professional Platform, first runner-up Software >$1,000, and finalist in the Subscription Internet Analytical Platform category.
In addition, eSignal’s Advanced GET® product was first runner-up in the Futures Trading Systems category and a finalist in both the Software >$1,000 and Stock Trading Systems categories. eSignalCentral.com was a finalist in the Training category.
eSignal also won top honors from T2W, a leading community Web site for active traders in the UK. T2W's 2007 Readers' Choice Awards recognized eSignal with gold medals in Best Real-Time Data Feed and Best Software for UK Intra-Day Traders category.
"It is an honor to be chosen for these awards by the users of our products,” said Chuck Thompson, president of eSignal. "They further validate the many enhancements we’ve made to advance our offerings over the past year. We will continue to improve and expand our products and services to meet the dynamic needs of our customers.”
About Interactive Data Corporation:
Interactive Data Corporation (NYSE: IDC) is a leading global provider of financial market data, analytics and related services to financial institutions, active traders and individual investors. The Company's businesses supply real-time market data, time-sensitive pricing, evaluations and reference data for millions of securities traded around the world, including hard-to-value instruments. Many of the world's best-known financial service and software companies subscribe to the Company's services in support of their trading, analysis, portfolio management and valuation activities. Through its businesses, Interactive Data Pricing and Reference Data, Interactive Data Real-Time Services, Interactive Data Fixed Income Analytics, and eSignal, the Company has approximately 2,200 employees in offices located throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. The Company is headquartered in Bedford, Mass. Pearson plc (NYSE: PSO; LSE: PSON), an international media company, whose businesses include the Financial Times Group, Pearson Education, and the Penguin Group, is Interactive Data Corporation's majority stockholder.
For more information about Interactive Data Corporation and its businesses, please visit www.interactivedata.com.
About eSignal:
eSignal (www.eSignal.com), Interactive Data Corporation’s (NYSE: IDC) desktop solutions business, is a leading global provider of financial and business information to professional traders and active individual traders. Building on a legacy of nearly 25 years of delivering time-sensitive financial information, eSignal provides streaming, real-time market data, news and analytics. eSignal's suite of products includes eSignal®, Advanced GET®, QuoTrek®, FutureSource®, MarketCenter LIVESM, QCharts®, LiveCharts®, Market-QSM and the Web portals FutureSource.com, Quote.com® and RagingBull.com.
Contacts
eSignal
David Parkinson, 801-971-2450
davidp@d2pr.biz
TD AMERITRADE Launches Innovative Retirement Planning Tool
TD AMERITRADE Launches Innovative Retirement Planning Tool
WealthRuler™ Projects the Likelihood of Your Retirement Plan’s Success
20 Feb 2008
OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation (NASDAQ: AMTD), through the launch of WealthRuler™, an innovative retirement planning tool, now helps you to build a retirement plan that aligns your projected retirement savings and expenses.
Simply input key information, including current retirement savings and financial goals. Based on broad asset allocation assumptions about your investments, WealthRuler™ runs a minimum of 500 simulations of assumed market returns over a defined time frame to determine the likelihood of a retirement plan’s success. It also demonstrates how your plan might perform in average versus poor market conditions.
Since more people are choosing to work in retirement or pursue a second career, WealthRuler™, unlike many other retirement planning tools, allows users to include assumptions about income earned during retirement as well as social security benefits and any partner contributions.
After reviewing the results, users can create their retirement plan or adjust their current savings amount, retirement age, income and expenses in WealthRuler™ to see how each of these variables might affect their financial outlook over time.
“No matter your age, there has never been a better time to look at your retirement plan and take control of your future,” said Bill Vulpis, Managing Director, Investor Group, TD AMERITRADE. “You just need to take the initiative and WealthRuler™ projects if your current retirement plan will likely meet your long term financial needs. This isn’t just a retirement planning calculator; it’s an indicator of your potential retirement preparedness.”
WealthRuler™ is free to everyone. For more information, please visit: http://www.tdameritrade.com/planningretirement/wealthruler.html
About TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation
TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation, through its brokerage subsidiaries¹, provides a dynamic balance of investment products and services that make it the investment firm of choice for millions of retail investor and independent registered investment advisor (RIA) clients. Listed by Barron’s as the #1 Web browser-based online broker and Forbes as one of America's best big companies, the Company offers a full spectrum of investment services, including a leading active trader program, intuitive long-term investment solutions and a national branch system, as well as relationships with one of the largest independent RIA networks². The Company’s common stock trades under the ticker symbol AMTD. For more information, please visit www.amtd.com.
1TD AMERITRADE, Inc., member FINRA (www.finra.org) /SIPC (www.SIPC.org), receives clearing and custodial services from TD AMERITRADE Clearing, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. TD AMERITRADE and TD AMERITRADE Clearing, Inc. are subsidiaries of TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation.
2“The Best Web Browser-Based Online Broker” by Barron's, 3/5/2007 based on Trade Experience, Trading Technology, Usability, Range of Offerings, Research Amenities, Portfolio Analysis & Reports, Customer Service & Access, and Costs. Barron's is a registered trademark of Dow Jones, L.P. More info on the Forbes award is available at www.forbes.com/platinum.
Contacts
TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation
For Media:
Sandra Kelder, 212-369-8714
Communications and Public Affairs
sandra.kelder@tdameritrade.com
or
For Investors:
Tim Nowell, 402-597-8440
Investor Relations
timothy.nowell@tdameritrade.com
WealthRuler™ Projects the Likelihood of Your Retirement Plan’s Success
20 Feb 2008
OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation (NASDAQ: AMTD), through the launch of WealthRuler™, an innovative retirement planning tool, now helps you to build a retirement plan that aligns your projected retirement savings and expenses.
Simply input key information, including current retirement savings and financial goals. Based on broad asset allocation assumptions about your investments, WealthRuler™ runs a minimum of 500 simulations of assumed market returns over a defined time frame to determine the likelihood of a retirement plan’s success. It also demonstrates how your plan might perform in average versus poor market conditions.
Since more people are choosing to work in retirement or pursue a second career, WealthRuler™, unlike many other retirement planning tools, allows users to include assumptions about income earned during retirement as well as social security benefits and any partner contributions.
After reviewing the results, users can create their retirement plan or adjust their current savings amount, retirement age, income and expenses in WealthRuler™ to see how each of these variables might affect their financial outlook over time.
“No matter your age, there has never been a better time to look at your retirement plan and take control of your future,” said Bill Vulpis, Managing Director, Investor Group, TD AMERITRADE. “You just need to take the initiative and WealthRuler™ projects if your current retirement plan will likely meet your long term financial needs. This isn’t just a retirement planning calculator; it’s an indicator of your potential retirement preparedness.”
WealthRuler™ is free to everyone. For more information, please visit: http://www.tdameritrade.com/planningretirement/wealthruler.html
About TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation
TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation, through its brokerage subsidiaries¹, provides a dynamic balance of investment products and services that make it the investment firm of choice for millions of retail investor and independent registered investment advisor (RIA) clients. Listed by Barron’s as the #1 Web browser-based online broker and Forbes as one of America's best big companies, the Company offers a full spectrum of investment services, including a leading active trader program, intuitive long-term investment solutions and a national branch system, as well as relationships with one of the largest independent RIA networks². The Company’s common stock trades under the ticker symbol AMTD. For more information, please visit www.amtd.com.
1TD AMERITRADE, Inc., member FINRA (www.finra.org) /SIPC (www.SIPC.org), receives clearing and custodial services from TD AMERITRADE Clearing, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. TD AMERITRADE and TD AMERITRADE Clearing, Inc. are subsidiaries of TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation.
2“The Best Web Browser-Based Online Broker” by Barron's, 3/5/2007 based on Trade Experience, Trading Technology, Usability, Range of Offerings, Research Amenities, Portfolio Analysis & Reports, Customer Service & Access, and Costs. Barron's is a registered trademark of Dow Jones, L.P. More info on the Forbes award is available at www.forbes.com/platinum.
Contacts
TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation
For Media:
Sandra Kelder, 212-369-8714
Communications and Public Affairs
sandra.kelder@tdameritrade.com
or
For Investors:
Tim Nowell, 402-597-8440
Investor Relations
timothy.nowell@tdameritrade.com
Industry Intelligence Prospecting Tool
First Research Unveils Industry Intelligence Prospecting Tool
New Tool Allows Users to Select and Rank Industries by Key Economic Metrics
20 Feb 2008
RALEIGH, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--First Research, a division of Hoover’s and a leading provider of Industry Intelligence, today announced the release of a new product - Industry Prospector. Available immediately, Industry Prospector ranks industries based on economic metrics and helps users to better target and prioritize sales leads and marketing campaigns.
“Industry Prospector is a powerful tool for business professionals who are looking for timely, accurate and dependable economic metrics to help them make decisions that impact their bottom line,” said Bill Walker, vice president of research at First Research. “The tool is extremely intuitive so users can compare industries on a variety of measures, from employment growth and wages, to current liabilities and net worth.”
The technology ranks industries by four key economic metrics: financials, human resources, industry drivers and industry growth forecasts. For accuracy and timeliness, data is pulled from several sources, including financial, government and company databases. The use of key economic metrics increases efficiency at the front end of the sales and marketing process and helps users target industries with the greatest business potential.
“Industry Prospector helps us avoid risk and channel our efforts towards industries that make the most sense for our business,” said Libbie Lanier, senior vice president at financial holding company BB&T. “It ultimately makes our sales team more efficient and positively impacts our commercial and industrial (C&I) deposit base.”
Like all other aspects of First Research, Industry Prospector is flexible and easy to use, providing drop down lists and the ability to download results and rank industries in ascending or descending order.
In addition to the launch of Industry Prospector, First Research has also added an Industry Growth Rating to its Industry Profiles. This rating reflects the expected industry growth relative to other industries over a 24-month span. First Research has also added Industry Driver icons to each profile to indicate sensitivities such as energy prices and construction spending that may positively or negatively affect an industry.
About First Research
First Research, a division of Hoover’s (a D&B company), is the leading provider of Industry Intelligence tools that help sales and marketing teams perform faster and smarter, open doors and close more deals. First Research performs the “heavy lifting” by analyzing hundreds of sources to create insightful and easy to digest Industry Intelligence that can be consumed very quickly to better understand a prospect’s or client’s business issues. Customers include leading companies in banking, accounting, insurance, technology, telecommunications, business process outsourcing and professional services such as ADP, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch and Sprint. Used by more than 83,000 sales professionals, First Research can benefit any organization that has prospects in multiple industries. First Research is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information, visit www.firstresearch.com.
Contacts
First Research
Lindsey Underwood, 919-861-0854
lunderwood@firstresearch.com
New Tool Allows Users to Select and Rank Industries by Key Economic Metrics
20 Feb 2008
RALEIGH, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--First Research, a division of Hoover’s and a leading provider of Industry Intelligence, today announced the release of a new product - Industry Prospector. Available immediately, Industry Prospector ranks industries based on economic metrics and helps users to better target and prioritize sales leads and marketing campaigns.
“Industry Prospector is a powerful tool for business professionals who are looking for timely, accurate and dependable economic metrics to help them make decisions that impact their bottom line,” said Bill Walker, vice president of research at First Research. “The tool is extremely intuitive so users can compare industries on a variety of measures, from employment growth and wages, to current liabilities and net worth.”
The technology ranks industries by four key economic metrics: financials, human resources, industry drivers and industry growth forecasts. For accuracy and timeliness, data is pulled from several sources, including financial, government and company databases. The use of key economic metrics increases efficiency at the front end of the sales and marketing process and helps users target industries with the greatest business potential.
“Industry Prospector helps us avoid risk and channel our efforts towards industries that make the most sense for our business,” said Libbie Lanier, senior vice president at financial holding company BB&T. “It ultimately makes our sales team more efficient and positively impacts our commercial and industrial (C&I) deposit base.”
Like all other aspects of First Research, Industry Prospector is flexible and easy to use, providing drop down lists and the ability to download results and rank industries in ascending or descending order.
In addition to the launch of Industry Prospector, First Research has also added an Industry Growth Rating to its Industry Profiles. This rating reflects the expected industry growth relative to other industries over a 24-month span. First Research has also added Industry Driver icons to each profile to indicate sensitivities such as energy prices and construction spending that may positively or negatively affect an industry.
About First Research
First Research, a division of Hoover’s (a D&B company), is the leading provider of Industry Intelligence tools that help sales and marketing teams perform faster and smarter, open doors and close more deals. First Research performs the “heavy lifting” by analyzing hundreds of sources to create insightful and easy to digest Industry Intelligence that can be consumed very quickly to better understand a prospect’s or client’s business issues. Customers include leading companies in banking, accounting, insurance, technology, telecommunications, business process outsourcing and professional services such as ADP, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch and Sprint. Used by more than 83,000 sales professionals, First Research can benefit any organization that has prospects in multiple industries. First Research is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information, visit www.firstresearch.com.
Contacts
First Research
Lindsey Underwood, 919-861-0854
lunderwood@firstresearch.com
Sun Capital Announces Acquisition of Kellwood
Sun Capital Announces Acquisition of Kellwood
20 Feb 2008
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sun Capital Securities Group, LLC today announced the successful completion of the acquisition of Kellwood Company (NYSE: KWD) for approximately $767 million, including the assumption of Kellwood’s net debt. The transaction was consummated through a cash tender offer by Cardinal Integrated, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Capital, followed by a short-form merger of a subsidiary of Cardinal Integrated with and into Kellwood. As a result of this acquisition, Kellwood becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cardinal Integrated.
Jason Bernzweig, Vice President of Sun Capital, said “We are pleased to announce the successful completion of Sun Capital’s acquisition of Kellwood. We are eager to continue fostering our relationship with Kellwood’s management and employees and complete a smooth transition process, which is already underway.”
At the time of the merger, all outstanding shares of Kellwood common stock not validly tendered and accepted for payment in the tender offer were converted, subject to appraisal rights, into the right to receive $21.00 per share in cash (the same price paid in the tender offer). The paying agent for the merger will mail to the remaining former shareholders of Kellwood materials necessary to exchange their former Kellwood shares for such payment. As a result of the merger, Kellwood’s common stock will be delisted and will cease to trade on the New York Stock Exchange.
About Sun Capital
Sun Capital Partners, Inc. is a leading private investment firm focused on leveraged buyouts, equity, debt, and other investments in market-leading companies that can benefit from its in-house operating professionals and experience. Sun Capital affiliates have invested in and managed more than 180 companies worldwide with combined sales in excess of $35.0 billion since Sun Capital's inception in 1995. Sun Capital has offices in Boca Raton, Los Angeles, and New York, and affiliates with offices in London, Tokyo, and Shenzhen.
20 Feb 2008
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sun Capital Securities Group, LLC today announced the successful completion of the acquisition of Kellwood Company (NYSE: KWD) for approximately $767 million, including the assumption of Kellwood’s net debt. The transaction was consummated through a cash tender offer by Cardinal Integrated, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Capital, followed by a short-form merger of a subsidiary of Cardinal Integrated with and into Kellwood. As a result of this acquisition, Kellwood becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cardinal Integrated.
Jason Bernzweig, Vice President of Sun Capital, said “We are pleased to announce the successful completion of Sun Capital’s acquisition of Kellwood. We are eager to continue fostering our relationship with Kellwood’s management and employees and complete a smooth transition process, which is already underway.”
At the time of the merger, all outstanding shares of Kellwood common stock not validly tendered and accepted for payment in the tender offer were converted, subject to appraisal rights, into the right to receive $21.00 per share in cash (the same price paid in the tender offer). The paying agent for the merger will mail to the remaining former shareholders of Kellwood materials necessary to exchange their former Kellwood shares for such payment. As a result of the merger, Kellwood’s common stock will be delisted and will cease to trade on the New York Stock Exchange.
About Sun Capital
Sun Capital Partners, Inc. is a leading private investment firm focused on leveraged buyouts, equity, debt, and other investments in market-leading companies that can benefit from its in-house operating professionals and experience. Sun Capital affiliates have invested in and managed more than 180 companies worldwide with combined sales in excess of $35.0 billion since Sun Capital's inception in 1995. Sun Capital has offices in Boca Raton, Los Angeles, and New York, and affiliates with offices in London, Tokyo, and Shenzhen.
U.S. Equity Options Trading 2007
New Industry Benchmark Study Says U.S. Equity Options Trading is 'Rising Out of Obscurity,' Soaring to 2.8 Billion Contracts in 2007
Acceptance Driven by Better Understanding of Benefits, the Quest for Alpha and More Accommodative Regulatory Policies
20 Feb 2008
Marketplace Still Favors High-Touch Trading but TABB Group Says Over 60% of Buy-side Options Trades will be Electronic by 2010
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--According to TABB Group in a new industry benchmark study released today, “Equity Options Trading 2008: Rising Out of Obscurity,” “a perfect storm is about to hit the U.S. equity options market.” With trading levels reaching record levels on a monthly basis, volatility flirting with historical highs, a more accommodative regulatory environment and an improved understanding of the benefits of options strategies, the equity options markets are exploding, soaring to 2.8 billion contracts in 2007 (source: Options Clearing Corporation) – a 41% jump from 2006.
“Long perceived as a financial flea market where the naïve and uninitiated speculators attempted to get rich overnight,” writes Andy Nybo, senior analyst at TABB Group and co-author with senior analyst Kevin McPartland, “the options market is now a sophisticated bazaar where professionals ply their trade, using refined financial techniques that can no longer be viewed or portrayed as even remotely speculative.” Although TABB Group estimates that just 30% of institutional investors are actively using options as part of their portfolio strategies today, the market’s potential provides almost limitless opportunity with the number of institutional accounts that will begin trading options doubling in the years ahead.
Nearly insatiable demand is emanating from every quadrant of the institutional asset management community, even staid pension funds that have long shied away from using derivatives, explains Nybo. “Hedge funds and proprietary trading desks are developing and implementing new strategies that arbitrage incremental opportunities faster than the human mind can possibly comprehend at the same time that institutional investors are increasingly using options as part of sophisticated portfolio management activities that seek to improve, maintain and enhance their alpha-generating opportunities.”
Unlike the retail and wholesale options trading sectors where most trading is done electronically, equity options trading is still predominantly a high-touch trading area. However, McPartland says, “buy-side players, specifically hedge funds, major technology adopters, are crying out for automation.” Accordingly, TABB Group forecasts that by 2010 over 60% of all buy-side options trades will be executed through low-touch channels. In addition, as algorithms are beginning to see rapid adoption, TABB Group says that 35% of all order flow in equity options will be trading algorithmically by 2010, promoting greater electronic trading and efficiency in the trading process.
Many of the forces that will impact the market, writes McPartland, “such as penny pricing, dollar strikes, alternative execution venues, or the emergence of innovative options trading strategies, are themselves enough to shift market structure.”
The 56-page study with 40 exhibits is based on conversations with 49 traders at hedge funds, asset management firms and proprietary options trading institutions, supplemented by discussions with participants at pension plan sponsors, options market-making firms, exchanges and other liquidity pools, as well as the institutional options trading desks of major broker dealers.
To request an executive summary or to purchase the report, please visit http://www.tabbgroup.com or write to info@tabbgroup.com.
About TABB Group
TABB Group is the New York- and London-based financial markets’ research and strategic advisory firm focused exclusively on capital markets. Founded in 2003 and based on the proven interview-based research methodology of “first-person knowledge” developed by founder Larry Tabb, TABB Group analyzes and quantifies the investing value chain from the fiduciary, investment manager, broker, exchange and custodian, helping senior business leaders gain a truer understanding of financial markets issues. For more information, visit www.tabbgroup.com.
Acceptance Driven by Better Understanding of Benefits, the Quest for Alpha and More Accommodative Regulatory Policies
20 Feb 2008
Marketplace Still Favors High-Touch Trading but TABB Group Says Over 60% of Buy-side Options Trades will be Electronic by 2010
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--According to TABB Group in a new industry benchmark study released today, “Equity Options Trading 2008: Rising Out of Obscurity,” “a perfect storm is about to hit the U.S. equity options market.” With trading levels reaching record levels on a monthly basis, volatility flirting with historical highs, a more accommodative regulatory environment and an improved understanding of the benefits of options strategies, the equity options markets are exploding, soaring to 2.8 billion contracts in 2007 (source: Options Clearing Corporation) – a 41% jump from 2006.
“Long perceived as a financial flea market where the naïve and uninitiated speculators attempted to get rich overnight,” writes Andy Nybo, senior analyst at TABB Group and co-author with senior analyst Kevin McPartland, “the options market is now a sophisticated bazaar where professionals ply their trade, using refined financial techniques that can no longer be viewed or portrayed as even remotely speculative.” Although TABB Group estimates that just 30% of institutional investors are actively using options as part of their portfolio strategies today, the market’s potential provides almost limitless opportunity with the number of institutional accounts that will begin trading options doubling in the years ahead.
Nearly insatiable demand is emanating from every quadrant of the institutional asset management community, even staid pension funds that have long shied away from using derivatives, explains Nybo. “Hedge funds and proprietary trading desks are developing and implementing new strategies that arbitrage incremental opportunities faster than the human mind can possibly comprehend at the same time that institutional investors are increasingly using options as part of sophisticated portfolio management activities that seek to improve, maintain and enhance their alpha-generating opportunities.”
Unlike the retail and wholesale options trading sectors where most trading is done electronically, equity options trading is still predominantly a high-touch trading area. However, McPartland says, “buy-side players, specifically hedge funds, major technology adopters, are crying out for automation.” Accordingly, TABB Group forecasts that by 2010 over 60% of all buy-side options trades will be executed through low-touch channels. In addition, as algorithms are beginning to see rapid adoption, TABB Group says that 35% of all order flow in equity options will be trading algorithmically by 2010, promoting greater electronic trading and efficiency in the trading process.
Many of the forces that will impact the market, writes McPartland, “such as penny pricing, dollar strikes, alternative execution venues, or the emergence of innovative options trading strategies, are themselves enough to shift market structure.”
The 56-page study with 40 exhibits is based on conversations with 49 traders at hedge funds, asset management firms and proprietary options trading institutions, supplemented by discussions with participants at pension plan sponsors, options market-making firms, exchanges and other liquidity pools, as well as the institutional options trading desks of major broker dealers.
To request an executive summary or to purchase the report, please visit http://www.tabbgroup.com or write to info@tabbgroup.com.
About TABB Group
TABB Group is the New York- and London-based financial markets’ research and strategic advisory firm focused exclusively on capital markets. Founded in 2003 and based on the proven interview-based research methodology of “first-person knowledge” developed by founder Larry Tabb, TABB Group analyzes and quantifies the investing value chain from the fiduciary, investment manager, broker, exchange and custodian, helping senior business leaders gain a truer understanding of financial markets issues. For more information, visit www.tabbgroup.com.
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