Rydex Sale Seen as Imminent

Rydex Investments, which has now informed employees that it is on the block, is expected to announce a sale any day now, for a price of as much as $1 billion, MarketWatch reports. Some analysts believe the price could be that high because of the high premium the market is putting on exchange-traded funds, for which Rydex is well known. However, other analysts believe the final price will be in the $800 million range.E*Trade and Invesco are said to be two of the most high-profile bidders.

“Our understanding through multiple industry sources is that Rydex is shopping itself,” said Matthew Snowling, an analyst with Friedman, Billings, Ramsey. “The sense we get is that something could be announced relatively soon.”

Rydex’s founder, A.P. “Skip” Viragh, died on pancreatic cancer in December 2003.