Could anyone buy Lehman Brothers right now?

July 16, 2008 — 12:25pm ET | By Jim Kim

The news that Lehman Brothers CEO Dick Fuld is considering a leveraged buyout highlights to some just how unattractive the firm has become to potential buyers right now. JPMorgan Chase would be a logical fit, but it is digesting Bear Stearns. Bank of America is digesting Countrywide, which will likely give it gas. Citigroup is in no position to make a major (or even minor) acquisition. The sovereign wealth funds are gun shy right now. Some have seen their investments in U.S. financial services companies tank. A MarketWatch article suggests that Deutsche Bank may be an outside candidate, along with Barclays and HSBC. Hey, the dollar is cheap right now, so why not? I doubt any bidders will emerge. So the stakes are high for Fuld. Perhaps we'll hear more about an LBO soon, though the firm can only bear so much debt.

For more:
- here's the MarketWatch article