Charles Schwab to acquire TD Ameritrade

The Charles Schwab Corporation and TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement for Schwab to acquire TD Ameritrade in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $26 billion.

This transaction creates significant strategic benefits for the combined organization and is expected to deliver attractive returns for the owners of both companies, while further improving the investing and trading experience of both Schwab and TD Ameritrade clients. It allows Schwab to continue to add further scale on top of its organic growth, helping to drive sustainable, profitable growth and long-term value creation. More specifically, the acquisition will add to Schwab approximately

12 million client accounts, $1.3 trillion in client assets, and approximately $5 billion in annual revenue. This added scale is expected to result in lower operating expenses as a percentage of client assets (“EOCA”), help fund enhanced client experience capabilities, improve the company’s competitive position and further its financial success and diversification of revenue. The resulting combined firm is expected to serve 24 million client accounts with more than $5 trillion in client assets; taken together, the two firms recently generated total annualized revenue and pre-tax profits of approximately $17 billion and $8 billion, respectively.

“We have long respected TD Ameritrade since our early days pioneering the discount brokerage industry, and as a fellow advocate for investors and independent investment advisors. Together, we share a passion for breaking down barriers for investors and advisors through a combination of low cost, great service and technology. With this transaction, we will capitalize on the unique opportunity to build a firm with the soul of a challenger and the resources of a large financial services institution that will be uniquely positioned to serve the investment, trading and wealth management needs of investors across every phase of their financial journeys.” – Schwab President and CEO Walt Bettinger.

“Partnering with Schwab on this transformative opportunity makes the right strategic and financial sense for TD Ameritrade. We share a common history – a journey since 1975 that has made Wall Street more accessible and financial dreams more attainable for millions of Americans. Our associates are fiercely proud of that legacy and all that we have accomplished to make TD Ameritrade one of the premier firms in financial services. Now we look to join forces with a respected firm like Schwab that shares our relentless focus, and to do more than we could do apart. Together, we can deliver the ultimate client experience for retail investors and independent registered investment advisors. We can continue to challenge the status quo, pooling our resources and expertise to transform lives—and investing—and deliver sustainable, long-term value to our many stakeholders.” – Stephen Boyle, TD Ameritrade interim President and CEO.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of applicable regulatory approvals and approval by the stockholders of both companies.