ZURICH, Oct 2 (Reuters) – Resistance from shareholders and United States regulators torpedoed Swiss financial institution UBS’s (UBSG.S) $1.4 billion bid for U.S. digital wealth administration group Wealthfront, Swiss paper SonntagsZeitung reported, citing financial institution sources it didn’t determine.
UBS and Wealthfront stated final month they’d agreed to terminate the deal that was anticipated to fast-track UBS’s progress within the U.S. market. UBS has declined to touch upon why the transaction fell aside. learn extra
Large shareholders have been dissatisfied with the phrases of the deal after tech inventory valuations plunged as central banks started to tighten coverage to battle inflation, and thought UBS may construct its personal platform with out Wealthfront, the paper stated.
“In keeping with a number of sources, U.S. authorities additionally raised considerations. UBS has an extended historical past of scandals in the USA. Towards this background, U.S. authorities have been apparently not comfy with the deal,” it reported, citing two unnamed sources.
It cited one supply as saying that whereas U.S. banking regulators didn’t clearly veto the deal, UBS administration didn’t make any severe try to beat their considerations.
The paper stated the failed deal didn’t mirror any variations between Chief Government Ralph Hamers and Chairman Colm Kelleher, who joined UBS after the deal was introduced.
UBS declined to touch upon the report.
Reporting by Michael Shields; Enhancing by Kirsten Donovan
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