60 RGMP advisors move to Dundee Goodman Private Wealth

Richardson GMP is shedding 60 advisors of the 185 teams it gained in the Macquarie Private Wealth acquisition last fall.

Those advisors and their staff will be going to Dundee Goodman Private Wealth, a division of Dundee Securities Ltd. When the transaction completes, Richardson GMP will have $26 billion in assets under administration. The firm had $28 billion when the Richardson GMP-Macquarie deal was made in September 2013.

Read: Richardson GMP buys Macquarie Private Wealth

The teams slated to move to Dundee Goodman would bring $2 billion in AUA, or 15.5% of the assets RGMP acquired from Macquarie. The transaction would put Dundee Goodman at $6 billion in AUA and more than double its advisory force, which would rise to approximately 100 advisors.

In a release, RGMP CEO Andrew Marsh said, “During integration, we identified certain advisor businesses within Macquarie that were not a good fit with our business model focused on a disciplined approach to serving affluent families and entrepreneurs.”

Read: Advisors shocked by Macquarie sale

Marsh told a Monday evening conference call RGMP paid 75 basis points on the value of the $2 billion in assets that will move over, with virtually zero conditions on the sale. That puts the total price of the deal at $15 million.

“We’ve taken the time to get to know everyone [since the Macquarie acquisition was announced] those we were retaining and those we weren’t sure of,” he told the call. “We identified many advisors that fit our model from Macquarie that we’ve worked hard to retain.”

Dundee Goodman will take over the former Macquarie Private Wealth offices in Ottawa, Montreal, and Victoria, and some Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto advisors will move to Dundee Goodman’s offices in those cities.

“We are delighted to welcome this talented group of investment advisors and their clients,” said Jonathan Goodman, president and CEO of Dundee Capital Markets Inc., in a release. “This transaction marks a valuable addition to our growing wealth management business, thereby cementing our position as a strong and independently owned Canadian securities firm.”

Dundee Goodman Private Wealth CFO Dundee’s Bob Sellars told conference call participants the move increases the wealth operation’s national footprint. “An opportunity to come by this many advisors in one fell swoop isn’t common in Canada,” he said.

Read: Macquarie comp structure will challenge Richardson GMP

The news comes less than a week after the Financial Post reported that two RGMP brokers moved to RBC, taking $300 million with them.

Completion of the transaction is subject to a number of customary closing conditions, including regulatory and IIROC approval. The transaction is expected to be completed during Q1 2014. Staff joining Dundee Goodman will remain part of Richardson GMP during the transition period.

Executives at both firms told conference call participants they’ll remain opportunistic about future recruiting and consolidation opportunities; but for now will focus on the completion of this deal and integration of the affected advisors, and that no further transactions were in the works.

More to come.