Nomura Continues Global Push with Lehman's European Equities and Investment Banking Businesses
Tokyo, London, September 23, 2008 – Nomura, the pre-eminent Asian-based investment bank, today announced it had reached an agreement to acquire the European and Middle Eastern equities and investment banking operations of Lehman Brothers.
The acquisition will provide Nomura with a market leading equities and investment banking platform in the region and further enhance Nomura's strategy of connecting Asia and Europe. The deal follows Nomura's agreement yesterday to acquire Lehman Brothers' entire franchise in the Asia Pacific region including Japan and Australia.
Lehman's equities and investment banking businesses in Europe and the Middle East employed around 2500 staff, of whom a significant proportion are expected to be retained.
The deal does not include any trading assets or trading liabilities and Nomura will pay an undisclosed sum for the businesses.
Kenichi Watanabe, Nomura's CEO, said: "In the past 24 hours Nomura has executed two transformational deals. This transaction will significantly extend our European footprint and international reach, enabling us to realize our strategy of delivering Asia to the world. Our immediate priority is to get the equity and investment banking divisions back in business operating under the Nomura name."
The transaction is subject to a number of conditions including regulatory approvals.
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Nomura
Nomura is a leading financial services group and the pre-eminent Asian-based investment bank with worldwide reach. Nomura provides a broad range of innovative solutions tailored to the specific requirements of individual, institutional, corporate and government clients through an international network in 30 countries. Based in Tokyo and with regional headquarters in Hong Kong, London, and New York, Nomura employs about 18,000 staff worldwide. Nomura's unique understanding of Asia enables the company to make a difference for clients through five business divisions: domestic retail, global markets, global investment banking, global merchant banking, and asset management. For further information about Nomura, please visit www.nomura.com.
