Wellington West Capital Inc. of Winnipeg and Harris Partners Ltd. of Toronto have agreed to forge a union and create an Institutional Trading Division that will see the new Harris Partners become Wellington West Capital Markets Inc.



“This business combination is advantageous all-around,” said Greg Thompson, Harris Partners’ President. “Our equity clients, many of whom are independent firms themselves, are looking to see strong and growing independent distribution networks for their products.”

It is expected that the company’s corporate issuer clients will benefit from direct access to a retail distribution network for their underwritings.

“We’ve been looking to add a first rate institutional group to our growing organization for some time now. Fortunately for us, we’ve been able to unite with a group that shares our corporate values of independence, entrepreneurship and employee ownership. Greg Thompson and his people are joining forces with us because they see the same thing we see - a significant opportunity to build a successful Canadian, employee-owned investment services firm,” said Charlie Spiring, CEO of Wellington West Capital.

The transaction is expected to close this month, subject to receipt of all appropriate regulatory approvals.