J.P. Morgan Seen Close to $1.7 Billion Cazenove Deal

LONDON (Reuters) - J.P. Morgan is close to buying out British stockbroker Cazenove in a deal likely to be worth almost 1 billion pounds ($1.7 billion) and trigger windfalls for dozens of London's top dealmakers.

Talks are continuing between the two sides, people familiar with the matter said on Monday, and it appeared likely the U.S. investment bank would seal a deal shortly.

JP Morgan Cazenove was set up as a joint venture five years ago, whereby the U.S. investment bank took 50 percent ownership. Both sides have the right to trigger a full takeover by J.P.Morgan in February, under put and call options.

J.P. Morgan is in advanced talks to pay 500-525 pence per share for the remaining stake, the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Cazenove declined to comment, while J.P. Morgan was not available for comment. J.P. Morgan has in the past declined to comment on the matter.

Reuters reported last month the U.S. bank was keen to decide on whether to buy out its partner before bonuses are set for staff around the turn of the year, citing industry sources. One source said then that a deal at about 500 pence per share would be reasonable.

At 500 pence per share Cazenove would be valued at just under 1 billion pounds, and the joint venture at double that.

Cazenove shares do not trade on an open market, but can be bought or sold on an "internal market" during narrow windows twice a year. They last traded at about 260 pence in March, up from 240 pence at the start of the year but down from 350 pence at the end of 2007.

European bank shares <.SX7P> have almost doubled since March as financial markets have revived, and JPMorgan Cazenove has advised on most of the biggest capital markets deals of the year, including rights issues by HSBC , Xstrata , and the ongoing record cashcall by Lloyds Banking Group .