Friday, July 6, 2007

Lehman seen close to buying 51% in Brics Sec

Lehman Brothers, one of the biggest global financial services providers, is in advanced stages of picking up a 51% controlling stake in local securities firm Brics Securities.

The Wall Street major will scale up its stake in the Mumbai-based brokerage firm to 100% over the next three years, if the deal goes through, according to sources close to the development. They said Lehman is picking up a stake in Brics Securities which is the financial services arm of the JV Gokal Group. It was created in October 2003, following the acquisition and rechristening of Birla Sun Life Securities — joint venture between the Aditya Birla Group and Sunlife Group of Canada.

The Mumbai-based brokerage has a retail and private client business. It offers portfolio management services, besides distributing third-party products. It also has an NBFC licence, which currently does lending against shares, albeit in a small way and a commodities broking business.

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