The Waddell deal is expected to close in the middle of 2021, which would place Macquarie as a top-25 actively managed mutual fund manager in the United States.
“We see the deal as financially compelling,” said Morgan Stanley analysts in a note, adding that after Waddell excess cash and investment, Macquarie’s actual cash outlay would fall to less than $900 million. “This signals (Macquarie) is ready to deploy excess capital.”