Schwab
On 29 October 2004, UBS acquired Charles
Schwab SoundView Capital Markets, the Capital
Markets Division of Charles Schwab Corp.
(Schwab), for an aggregate cash consideration of
USD 265 million. The business comprises equities
trading and sales, including a third-party execution
business, along with Schwabs NASDAQ
trading system. This business handles over 200
million shares a day in trade volume and makes a
market in over 11,000 stocks. As part of the
acquisition, UBS and Schwab have entered into
multi-year execution service agreements for the
handling of Schwabs equities and listed options
orders. The business was integrated in the Equities
area of UBSs Investment Bank.
Brunswick UBS
On 14 December 2004, UBS acquired from
Brunswick Capital, who were equal partners in
Brunswick UBS, an equity brokerage and trading,
investment banking and custody joint venture
in Russia, Brunswick Capitals 50% stake in
the joint venture. UBS paid to the sellers at closing
a cash consideration of USD 99 million and
will pay a further USD 66 million at the end of
2005 plus 20% of Brunswick UBSs net profits
for 2005. Formed in 1997, Brunswick UBS has
developed a significant franchise in the Russian
securities market, employing 120 people in
Moscow.
Sauerborn
On 7 December 2004, UBS acquired Sauerborn
Trust AG (Sauerborn), an independent German
firm providing financial advisory services to individuals
in the ultra-high net worth segment.
Sauerborn has approximately EUR 6.3 billion of
invested assets. UBS has merged its ultra-high net
worth segment within the German wealth management
business with the operations of Sauerborn
to provide an expanded range of services
and products to its clients and reap the benefits of
synergies. UBS paid a cash consideration of
approximately EUR 91 million at closing, and
will pay a further EUR 42 million in three equal
installments over the next two years.
Acquisitions announced during the fourth quarter and after the balance sheet date
American Express Bank
On 25 November 2004, UBS and American
Express Bank (Luxembourg) S.A. signed an
agreement for UBS to acquire American Express
Banks private banking activities in Luxembourg.
The business comprises approximately USD 385
million of assets and will be integrated into UBSs
Luxembourg operations. The transaction has
been approved by the supervisory authorities and
is expected to close during first quarter 2005.
Julius Baer North America
On 6 December 2004, UBS announced that it had
signed an agreement to acquire Julius Baers
wealth management operations in North America.
The business manages over USD 4 billion of
client assets, including some custodial assets, and
employs 55 staff in four locations. The operations
will be integrated into the Wealth Management &
Business Banking Business Group and further
strengthen UBSs wealth management operations
in the Americas. The transaction is expected to
close at the beginning of second quarter 2005.
Dresdner Bank Lateinamerika
On 21 December 2004, UBS announced that it
had signed an agreement to acquire wealth management
operations from Dresdner Bank Lateinamerika
(DBLA). The business managed invested
assets from private clients worth EUR 4.8 billion
at 30 June 2004. UBS will take on 137 staff, who
currently work for DBLA in this business. DBLA
is active in all important Latin American markets
and will strengthen UBSs position as a wealth
management service provider for clients of that
region. The transaction is subject to regulatory
approvals and is expected to close in second or
third quarter 2005.
Etra
On 10 January 2005, UBS announced that it
signed an agreement with the shareholders of
Etra SIM S.p.A. (Etra), an independent Italian
financial intermediary firm, to acquire their company. Etra serves wealthy private and institutional
clients in Italy, manages approximately EUR
500 million of client assets and employs 25 staff.
The transaction is subject to approval by the Italian
regulatory authorities, and is expected to
close in within the next three months.
Siemens Real Estate Funds
On 20 January 2005, UBS announced that its
Global Asset Management Business Group will
acquire a 51% stake in the real estate fund business
of Siemens Kapitalanlagegesellschaft mbH (SKAG), currently a wholly owned subsidiary of
Siemens AG. The real estate fund business of
SKAG manages three open-end real estate funds
with a total fund volume of approximately EUR
2 billion. The transaction is subject to approval
by the German regulatory authorities and is
expected to close in second quarter 2005. The
real estate fund business of SKAG will be
renamed UBS Real Estate Kapitalanlagegesellschaft
mbH and will be integrated into the
Global Asset Management Business Group real
estate organization.