Banc One Looking to Buy Nonbank Firms, Mergers and Acquisitions

Banc One Corp., historically a voracious acquirer of community banks, is on the hunt for nonbank financial companies, according to its chief dealmaker.

After watching others, the bank is eager to take steps of its own, said William Boardman, its senior executive vice president in charge of mergers and acquisitions.

But he deferred comment on rumors that Banc One might make a big splash by acquiring Beneficial Corp., the $14 billion-asset company in Wilmington, Del., the nation's 10th-largest finance company.

He declined to say what sort of nonbank entity Banc One might buy, although he said it had been interested in Dreyfus Corp. The mutual fund giant was bought by Mellon Banking Corp., in early 1994.

And Banc One is still interested in buying commercial banks, Mr. Boardman added, although he remains concerned with the high deal prices paid this year.

Although Mr. Boardman did not mention it, most Wall Street observers said they think the relatively tepid performance of its stock has curbed Banc One's acquisition appetite.

Mr. Boardman's comments came at the first annual Mergers and Acquisitions Strategies Forum co-sponsored by American Banker and KPMG Peat Marwick.

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