Preparing to Buy a Brokerage

Foley Partner Edwin Mason authored an article that appeared in Compliance Reporter on March 28, 2011 titled "Preparing to Buy a Brokerage." Mason offers advice to in-house professionals on the regulatory issues they must handle when their firm is looking to buy a broker/dealer (B/D), stating that an increasingly competitive marketplace and a desire by larger financial institutions to expand the size of their U.S. investment banking practices are fostering an environment of M&A activity and consolidation within the B/D industry. He predicts continued increases in M&A activity, particularly amongst small and medium-sized firms, adding that paying close attention to the regulatory concerns affecting B/D M&A will increase the probability of companies completing successful deals.