B. Riley Financial Provides Update on Wealth Management Business

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Nov 01, 2024, 07:00 ET

Enters into Agreement with Stifel Financial Corp. to Sell a Portion of Wealth Management Business

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- B. Riley Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: RILY) ("B. Riley" or the "Company"), a diversified financial services company, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell a portion of its traditional (W-2) Wealth Management business to Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF) ("Stifel") for estimated net consideration of $27 million to $35 million in cash. The transaction does not include B. Riley's approximately 190 independent advisors and 90 tax professionals. Subject to the terms of the agreement, the final consideration will be based on the number of advisors that join Stifel at closing. An expected 40 to 50 advisors, along with the associated customer accounts, will transition to Stifel in early 2025. The accounts represent total assets under management (AUM) of approximately $3.5 billion to $4.5 billion as of September 30^th, 2024.

Bryant Riley, Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of B. Riley Financial, commented: "The past year has proved disruptive to our Wealth Management business, with competitors taking advantage of the noise surrounding our principal investments business. We decided to take a proactive approach for those who wanted a fresh start and found a well-respected partner in Stifel. The individuals leaving will be able to transfer their accounts in a point-to-point transaction, with no impact on their day-to-day responsibilities upon closure. We respect the contributions of the Advisors who are leaving and are pleased they have found a great home at Stifel."

Mr. Riley continued, "As we continue to refocus B. Riley on our core middle market financial services business, we believe there are substantial benefits and synergies to maintaining a Wealth Management business in our portfolio. We are committed to investing in our core financial services businesses, which remain well capitalized and have the resources and market expertise to serve our clients and partners in the small- and mid-cap markets."

Details of the Transaction

The transaction has been approved by the Board of Directors of the Company and is subject to the receipt of required regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. It is expected to close early in the second quarter of 2025.

About B. Riley Financial

B. Riley Financial is a diversified financial services company that delivers tailored solutions to meet the strategic, operational, and capital needs of its clients and partners. B. Riley leverages cross-platform expertise to provide clients with full service, collaborative solutions at every stage of the business life cycle. Through its affiliated subsidiaries, B. Riley provides end-to-end financial services across investment banking, institutional brokerage, private wealth and investment management, financial consulting, corporate restructuring, operations management, risk and compliance, due diligence, forensic accounting, litigation support, appraisal and valuation, auction, and liquidation services. B. Riley opportunistically invests to benefit its shareholders, and certain affiliates originate and underwrite senior secured loans for asset-rich companies. B. Riley refers to B. Riley Financial, Inc. and/or one or more of its subsidiaries or affiliates. For more information, please visit www.brileyfin.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements made in this press release that are not descriptions of historical facts are forward-looking statements that are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, our business, operating results, financial condition, and stock price could be materially negatively affected. You should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are based on the information currently available to us and speak only as of today's date. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's performance or achievements to be materially different from any expected future results, performance, or achievements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and the Company assumes no duty to update forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Actual future results, performance or achievements may differ materially from historical results or those anticipated depending on a variety of factors, some of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to, the risks described from time to time in the Company's periodic filings with the SEC, including, without limitation, the risks described in the Company's 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K and in B. Riley Financial's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2024 under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" (as applicable). These factors should be considered carefully, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. All information is current as of the date this press release is issued, and the Company undertakes no duty to update this information.

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SOURCE B. Riley Financial