Last week brought the news that PE firm Hellman & Friedman acquired a controlling interest in mega wealth manager Edelman Financial. Edelman is headed by radio-show personality Ric Edelman and manages about $15 billion for over 28,000 clients. While terms of the deal were not officially disclosed, the Wall Street Journal reported the transaction valued Edelman at a number north of $800 million, a nice pickup on Edelman’s going private deal in 2012, which transacted the company at $263 million. The financial press was practically hyperventilating over the price last week, but a little analysis on the number reveals pricing that is more normal than most would imagine.

On April 29th, 2015, Simmons First National Corporation.(NASDAQ ticker: SFNC), announced it has entered into an asset-purchase agreement to acquire Ozark Trust and Investment Corporation (OTIC) and its wholly owned subsidiary, the Trust Company of the Ozarks (TCO), a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) headquartered in Springfield, Missouri. The Trust Company of the Ozarks administers over $1 billion in client assets for over 1,300 clients with a 16% AUM compound annual growth rate. Simmons First National Corporation has agreed to a purchase price of $20.7 million, with a consideration of 75% stock and 25% cash. The deal is to close in quarter 3 of 2015. Unlike most acquisitions of closely held RIAs, the terms of the deal were disclosed via a conference call and investor presentation; the details of which are outlined here.