Deutsche takes stake in Wilson HTM

Stockbroking and financial planning firm Wilson HTM has entered into a partnership with global investment banking giant Deutsche Bank, which has taken a 19.9 per cent stake in the Sydney-based company.

Deutsche said the purchase, which was approved by Wilson HTM shareholders, would give it a strong foothold in Australia’s retail broking distribution channels.

Apart from offering its own in-house product distribution services, the deal represents the first time Deutsche has taken a stake in a retail distribution operation in Australia and New Zealand said a spokesperson.

Wilson HTM is one of Australia’s sizeable retail stockbrokers, with over 240 employees.

“Our business can only be boosted by the Deutsche relationship. Among many things, it will help us grow our private client business and the services we provide — financial planning, estate planning and insurance — are an important part of that,” managing director Neil Shafer said.

Shafer said the deal will also give Wilson HTM’s 20 financial planners the opportunity to offer Deutsche’s structured investment products to clients.

“By structured products I mean hybrids and imbedded derivatives like credit derivatives that are appropriate for our investors. We could have created these services ourselves, but that would have taken us some time,” he said.

Shafer added that most of these products would usually be sold through the firm’s broking channels.

Shafer said Wilson HTM had no intention of selling any more of the company to Deutsche.

“It will stay at 20 per cent,” he said.