Buying Strong, experts say, is somewhat of a daunting task, considering the once mighty firm was one of the first companies named in New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzers probe. As a result, total assets under management have fallen $8 billion to $34 billion, and several portfolio managers have left. Founder Richard Strong has since put the company up for sale and relinquished up all his posts. The company would not comment on the report that a settlement is imminent, but a spokeswoman said that talks with regulators are continuing.
The sale price is expected to be around $500 million, half the amount Strong could have gotten in 1997.
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