Aquis Exchange is set to be acquired by Switzerland’s Six Group in a significant market move.
- The deal values Aquis at a substantial £207 million, marking a 120% premium over recent share prices.
- Shareholders are expected to witness considerable returns, reflecting a strategic consolidation in the financial sector.
- The acquisition is pending shareholder approval, with a decision expected by April 2025.
- Aquis will maintain its current brand and operational model under this new ownership.
In a strategic announcement, the London-based challenger exchange, Aquis, has confirmed its acquisition terms with Switzerland’s Six Group. This significant agreement places Aquis at a valuation of £207 million, a notable enhancement from its recent stock market position.
The acquisition proposal by Six Group presents a cash offer of 727p per share. This figure stands in stark contrast to Aquis’s recent share price of 340p, reflecting a significant increase of 120%. This valuation highlights not only the growth potential recognized by the acquiring company but also the immediate benefit to current shareholders.
On the day of the announcement, Aquis’ shares rose sharply to 700p at the London Stock Exchange, nearing its highest recorded value since the company’s IPO in 2018. The timing of this surge underscores the market’s favorable view of the acquisition’s potential impact.
Bjørn Sibbern, global head of exchanges at Six, emphasized the strategic fit between the two companies, stating that the merger represents a chance to enhance and innovate within the capital markets space. He assured that Aquis will continue operating under its existing brand, integrating its strengths into Six’s broader platform aims for a pan-European exchange model.
Aquis, which was founded in 2012 by Alasdair Haynes, has grown into a dynamic platform focusing on technology-driven market operations. Haynes expressed pride in Aquis’s achievements and acknowledged that this acquisition represents an opportunity for accelerated growth and enhanced competitiveness across Europe while preserving its entrepreneurial core.
The agreement remains subject to final approval by Aquis’ shareholders, anticipated to occur at the forthcoming annual meeting. Until then, both parties remain optimistic about the beneficial outcomes of this proposed consolidation.
This acquisition marks a pivotal step in leveraging combined strengths for innovation in European capital markets.
