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Investing.com -- Northern Trust (NASDAQ:NTRS) stock rose 4.7% following a Wall Street Journal report that Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BK) approached the company to discuss a potential merger.
According to the report, BNY Mellon recently expressed interest in combining with its smaller rival, with the CEOs of both financial institutions having at least one conversation about a possible deal. While no specific offer was discussed, BNY Mellon is reportedly considering its next steps, which could include making a formal bid.
The talks represent a significant potential development in the financial services industry. Chicago-based Northern Trust has a market value exceeding $21 billion, with its share price already up approximately 9% year-to-date before this news.
JPMorgan analyst Vivek Juneja noted that the potential combination offers strategic benefits to both companies, particularly enhancing BNY Mellon’s wealth management business. Juneja added that while the regulatory environment appears to be improving, deal pricing would be crucial for market reception.
RBC Capital Markets analyst Gerard Cassidy highlighted the complementary strengths both firms bring to institutional clients. The combined entity would oversee more than $3 trillion in assets under management, with Northern Trust contributing approximately $1 trillion and BNY Mellon about $2 trillion.
The report indicated that other potential bidders for Northern Trust could include Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS), or Canadian bank RBC, though analysts cautioned that a bidding war resulting in a very high price might not be well-received by investors.
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