Oct 29 (Reuters) - Investment banking giant Morgan Stanley said on Wednesday it will buy private shares platform EquityZen, as Wall Street races to meet growing investor demand for stakes in fastgrow... ...

Morgan Stanley agreed to buy a trading platform for shares in private companies, the latest move by Wall Street to expand offerings for fast-growing startups https://t.co/lVoG1xFdq3 ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Evercore reported record third quarter results with adjusted net revenues exceeding $1 billion, reflecting a 42% year-over-year increase, marking the best third quarter in the company's history [6][17] - Adjusted operating income for the third quarter was $228 million, up 69% year-over-year, with adjusted earnings per share reaching $3.48, a 71% increase compared to the previous year [17] - The adjusted operating margin improved to 21.8%, up from 18.2% in the prior year, indicating a nearly 360 basis points improvement [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Adjusted advisory fees reached $884 million, a record for the third quarter, reflecting a 49% year-over-year increase [18] - Underwriting revenues were $44 million, down 1% year-over-year but up 36% sequentially, while commissions and related revenue increased 15% year-over-year to $63 million, marking a record third quarter [19] - Private capital advisory business delivered a record third quarter, driven by GP-led continuation fund transactions, with revenues exceeding the full year 2024 total by the end of the third quarter [13][14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The investment banking environment has strengthened, with increased M&A activity and capital markets transactions returning to the market after earlier volatility [8][9] - Evercore advised on four of the 11 largest global M&A transactions as of the end of the quarter, indicating strong market engagement [12] - The wealth management segment achieved record quarter-end assets under management (AUM) of approximately $15.4 billion, driven by market appreciation and strong new client inflows [16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company remains focused on expanding its client coverage, enhancing product capabilities, and capitalizing on sector and geographic opportunities [7] - Evercore's strategy includes significant recruitment efforts, with a 50% increase in Senior Managing Directors since the end of 2021, positioning the firm for future growth [10] - The company is optimistic about the European market, anticipating continued growth and engagement following the acquisition of Robey Warshaw [53] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the ongoing investment banking recovery, driven by both cyclical and structural factors, with expectations for continued strengthening into 2026 [9][30] - The potential impact of the government shutdown is being monitored, but management believes it will not have a permanent effect on business operations [40][41] - The company is optimistic about the regulatory environment, expecting a loosening of restrictions that could facilitate deal closures [44] Other Important Information - The adjusted tax rate for the quarter was 28.7%, slightly down from the previous year [24] - The company repurchased approximately 170,000 shares at an average price of $326.62 during the third quarter, returning approximately $624 million of capital to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends [24][25] Q&A Session Summary Question: Current environment and trajectory of activity - Management noted a continued strengthening in the market across various sectors, with high engagement levels and backlogs at record highs [29] Question: Comp leverage and future expectations - Management acknowledged improvements in the compensation ratio but emphasized a focus on long-term value creation rather than short-term comp ratio optimization [33][34] Question: Impact of government shutdown on business - Management indicated that the government shutdown could slow down processes but does not anticipate a permanent impact on deal flow [40][41] Question: Regulatory environment and deal timelines - Management expressed optimism about the regulatory environment, expecting a more benign atmosphere for deal closures [44] Question: Impact of recent bank losses on client hesitance - Management believes that recent bank losses are isolated incidents and do not broadly impact market confidence [46] Question: Outlook for DCM business and pipeline - Management reported a strengthening pipeline and optimism about upcoming deals, despite potential slowdowns due to the government shutdown [49][50] Question: European market and investment opportunities - Management highlighted a record quarter in Europe and significant white space for growth following the Robey Warshaw acquisition [52][53]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Evercore reported record third quarter results with adjusted net revenues exceeding $1 billion, reflecting a 42% year-over-year increase, marking the best third quarter in the company's history [5][16] - Adjusted operating income for the third quarter was $228 million, up 69% year-over-year, with adjusted earnings per share reaching $3.48, a 71% increase compared to the previous year [16] - The adjusted operating margin improved to 21.8%, up from 18.2% in the prior year, indicating a nearly 360 basis point enhancement [16][17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Adjusted advisory fees reached $884 million, a record for the third quarter, reflecting a 49% year-over-year increase [16][17] - Underwriting revenues were $44 million, down 1% year-over-year but up 36% sequentially, while commissions and related revenue increased 15% year-over-year to $63 million, marking a record third quarter [18] - Private capital advisory business delivered a record third quarter, with revenues exceeding the full year 2024 total within the first nine months of 2025 [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The market environment for investment banking has strengthened, with increased M&A activity and capital markets transactions returning after earlier volatility [6][8] - Evercore's European advisory business achieved its best quarter on record, with strong performance across various sectors and products [10][11] - The company advised on four of the 11 largest global M&A transactions as of the end of the quarter, indicating robust market engagement [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Evercore is focused on expanding its client coverage and product capabilities while capitalizing on sector and geographic opportunities [5][6] - The company is committed to recruiting exceptional talent, having added 18 partners and one Senior Advisor in 2025, which is its largest partner hiring year [19][31] - The strategic acquisition of Robey Warshaw enhances Evercore's European presence and client service capabilities [9][50] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the investment banking recovery, driven by cyclical and structural factors, with pent-up demand from corporates and sponsors [8][24] - The potential impact of the government shutdown is being monitored, but management believes it will not have a permanent effect on business operations [38][39] - Overall, the company is confident in its ability to deliver strong results moving into 2026, despite geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainties [24] Other Important Information - The adjusted tax rate for the quarter was 28.7%, slightly down from the previous year [23] - As of September 30, the company had over $2.4 billion in cash and investment securities, with significant share repurchase activity ongoing [23][24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Current environment and trajectory of activity - Management noted a continued strengthening in the market across various sectors, with high engagement levels and backlogs at record highs [27] Question: Comp leverage and future expectations - Management acknowledged the challenge of lowering the compensation ratio while focusing on long-term value creation and client service [31][35] Question: Impact of government shutdown on business - Management indicated that the government shutdown could slow down processes but does not expect a permanent impact on M&A or equity capital markets [38][39] Question: Regulatory environment and deal timelines - Management observed a generally benign regulatory environment, with expectations of a loosening of regulatory scrutiny [42] Question: Impact of recent bank losses on client hesitance - Management stated that recent bank losses are viewed as isolated incidents and are not broadly impacting market confidence [44] Question: Outlook for DCM business in Q4 - Management expressed optimism about a strengthening pipeline and significant deals lining up, despite potential slowdowns due to the government shutdown [46][47] Question: European market environment and white space - Management highlighted a record quarter in Europe and significant growth opportunities as the company expands its coverage [50][52]

Group 1 - The new YieldMax ETF offerings utilize options to extract dividends from single stocks or market sectors, representing an interesting niche in the market [1] - Long-term performance of these ETFs does not closely track the underlying portfolio held outright, indicating potential limitations in their investment strategy [1] - Binary Tree Analytics (BTA) aims to provide transparency and analytics in capital markets instruments and trades, focusing on CEFs, ETFs, and Special Situations to deliver high annualized returns with low volatility [1]

Core Insights - Siebert Financial Corp. has opened a new office in Washington, D.C. to enhance its Capital Markets and Investment Banking operations [1][2] - The new office aims to strengthen relationships with policy, regulatory, and industry stakeholders, aligning with opportunities from new administration initiatives [2][3] Company Expansion - The Washington, D.C. office is located at 3000 K Street, N.W., Suite 245 and will be led by Daniel M. Ondeck, Head of Institutional Sales, and Brandon Fry, Managing Director, Debt Sales [1] - This expansion is part of Siebert's strategy to be closer to decision-makers in the capital, facilitating faster responses to market changes [3] Strategic Focus - The D.C. team will collaborate with colleagues in New York and Miami to support issuance, private placements, and structured solutions for corporate and institutional clients [3] - The focus will be on origination, disciplined distribution, and consistent coverage for issuers and investors, translating policy signals into actionable capital solutions [3]

Core Viewpoint - China Harbour International Financial Limited successfully assisted SIGUWORKS in the tokenization and issuance of real world assets (RWA) for its IP brand Puff Koala, marking a significant development in the digital finance sector [1][3]. Group 1: Project Overview - The RWA issuance project is designed around KOALA's IP licensing income rights in Southeast Asia, North America, and Europe, utilizing blockchain technology for tokenization [3]. - The total size of the issuance is in the tens of millions of US dollars, making it the largest IP RWA project in recent times [4]. - The project employs an offshore special purpose vehicle (SPV) structure, with cash flow from underlying assets distributed to token holders via smart contracts, ensuring transparency and automation in profit distribution [4]. Group 2: Company Expertise - China Harbour International specializes in digital financial investment banking and holds multiple licenses from the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong, enabling various financial services [5]. - The company offers comprehensive services in RWA issuance, including asset screening, structural design, legal compliance, and technical implementation, while maintaining close cooperation with leading industry institutions [5]. - China Harbour International has a deep understanding of global regulatory requirements, allowing it to design optimal cross-border issuance solutions for clients [5]. Group 3: Technical Capabilities - The company has developed an asset chain platform with independent intellectual property rights to ensure the authenticity and integrity of underlying asset data [6]. - The platform utilizes IoT devices to collect real-time asset operation data, providing investors with a transparent asset monitoring experience [6].

Core Insights - Evercore Inc. reported significant growth in net revenues and operating income for the year-to-date 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, indicating a strong performance in the investment banking sector [1]. Financial Performance - Year-to-date net revenues for 2025 reached $1,038.9 million, up from $734.2 million in 2024, reflecting an increase of approximately 41.5% [1]. - Adjusted net revenues for 2025 were $1,047.1 million, compared to $739.5 million in 2024, marking a growth of about 41.6% [1]. - Operating income for year-to-date 2025 was reported at $216.2 million, a significant rise from $122.0 million in 2024, representing an increase of approximately 77.3% [1]. - Adjusted operating income for 2025 was $227.9 million, compared to $134.6 million in 2024, indicating a growth of around 69.3% [1]. - Year-to-date net income attributable to Evercore Inc. for 2025 was $477.8 million, up from $314.4 million in 2024, which is an increase of about 52.2% [1]. - Adjusted net income for 2025 was $501.2 million, compared to $339.5 million in 2024, reflecting a growth of approximately 47.6% [1].

Most recently, Logan was a senior municipal investment banker at Raymond James, where he broadened the firm's market presence, generated incremental revenue and recruited senior bankers to strengthen its position across the public finance sector. Prior to that, he spent 26 years at Citigroup Global Markets. He held multiple leadership roles there and advised on some of the largest and most complex financings in the municipal marketplace. In 2024, Logan served as the lead senior banker on Jefferson County, A ...

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