[ by Howard Haykin ]

An added bonus: Wells could get John Thain.

Stifel Nicolaus says Wells Fargo needs 'earning assets' at attractive yields.  And to address that need, matchmaker Stifel Nicolaus would couple the San Francisco-based bank with an East Coast financial firm.  Stifel believes the CIT Group would make a financially attractive acquisition target for Wells.

About CIT.  Founded in 1908, CIT is a bank holding company with more than $33 billion in finance and leasing assets. A member of the Fortune 500, it provides financing and leasing capital to its small business and middle market clients and their customers across more than 30 industries. CIT maintains leadership positions in small business and middle market lending, factoring, retail finance, aerospace, equipment and rail leasing, and global vendor finance.

CIT also operates CIT Bank (Member FDIC), BankOnCIT.com, its primary bank subsidiary, which offers a suite of savings options designed to help customers achieve a range of financial goals.

And guess who (presumably) comes with the package: John Thain, Chairman and CEO of CIT.  Nicknamed "Superman" because of his facial resemblance to the character's alter-ego Clark Kent, Mr. Thain previously was Chairman and CEO of Merrill Lynch before its merger with Bank of America.  Prior to that, he had been CEO of the NYSE, and served in many capacities at Goldman Sachs.

By Coincidence, Thain is Looking for a Buyer for CIT. Fox Business Network's Charley Gasparino reports that Thain is seeking a buyer for the CIT Group.  Mr. Thain reportedly is interesting in running a larger organization, and the sale effort began after CIT's unsuccessful effort to buy ING Direct. 

For the record, CIT currently trades at $41 a share.

[C-I Note: You think Wells would really be interested in taking John Thain onto its Senior Management Team?  I dunno.]

[Theflyonthewall.com, 9/24] and [WSJournal Online, 9/24/12].