Smith Barney’s $15 billion barometer

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney is likely to be valued at about $15 billion today when a consultant’s report is finalized, The NY Post has learned.  That figure — determined by consultant Perella Weinberg — lies at about the midpoint between two competing values set by Citigroup and Morgan Stanley, the joint venture’s owners.

Morgan Stanley, which owns 51 percent of The Street’s largest brokerage, is exercising its right to buy an additional 14 percent slice of the business and wants to pay as little as possible. It valued the joint venture at $9 billion.

Citi, which is looking for top dollar, valued Smith Barney at $22 billion.

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