Merchant Banking Modernization Act

The Merchant Banking Modernization Act (HR5291) was introduced on September 10, 2025 by Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX-25) and reported favorably (amended) by the Committee on Financial Services on November 4, 2025 by a 35-17 vote. It was then placed on the Union Calendar (Calendar No. 320), meaning it is ready for floor consideration in the House. The bill amends Section 4(k)(7)(A) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 to mandate that the Federal Reserve's regulations must permit financial holding companies to hold merchant banking investments for no less than 15 years — up from the current 10-year limit — and applies retroactively to investments already held. This is a regulatory relief bill with zero direct federal spending. There is no authorization or appropriation of taxpayer funds. The mechanism is a statutory mandate reducing the holding period constraint on regulated financial holding companies. The obligated parties are banks that engage in merchant banking — primarily the largest Wall Street institutions. The money trail runs through private equity returns: longer hold periods allow these banks to time exits better, avoid fire sales, and capture later-stage value creation in portfolio companies. The structural winners are the banks with the largest merchant banking operations relative to their overall business mix. Goldman Sachs ($GS) and Morgan Stanley ($MS) are the most leveraged to this change — both derive significant revenue from principal investments and asset management. JPMorgan ($JPM) and Bank of America ($BAC) benefit as well but the impact is diluted by their massive retail and commercial banking revenue streams. Wells Fargo ($WFC) has the smallest merchant banking operation among the five and gains the least. Real market data shows a mixed 7-day picture but strong 30-day momentum across the sector. $GS is at $905.6, down 2.76% in 7 days but up 12.13% in 30 days. $MS trades at $187.08, down 0.83% in 7 days but up a sector-leading 18.13% in 30 days. $JPM at $309.25 is down 0.78% in 7 days and up 8.98% in 30 days. $BAC at $52.88 is actually up 0.78% in 7 days and up 11.96% in 30 days. $WFC at $81.51 is up 1.24% in 7 days and up 6.13% in 30 days. The 30-day positive trends reflect broader market strength in financials, partly on expectations of deregulation. The 7-day slight pullbacks in most names are minor noise against the uptrend. Legislative timeline: The bill has cleared committee with bipartisan support (35-17 vote) and sits on the Union Calendar. Floor consideration in the House is the next step. A companion bill S2663 is active in the Senate, having been read twice and referred to the Banking Committee. With strong committee support, a single Republican sponsor, and bipartisan Senate companion, the path to passage is credible but not guaranteed. The 119th Congress runs through 2027, so there is ample time for floor action.