Aquis Exchange PLC announces that on 7 August 2023 it acquired a minority stake in OptimX Markets, US-based financial services start-up focused on the block trading market.
Created by a team of experienced equity capital markets professionals led by David Barnett, OptimX’s advanced technology suite will offer investment banks, brokers and institutions the opportunity to find additional matches for order flow. Aquis will work closely with OptimX in the UK and EU combining its market-leading technology platform with the OptimX technology suite. This initiative will further expand the product suite available to Aquis members reinforcing the innovative approach Aquis brings to capital markets.
The Investment was made as part of a consortium which includes DB1 Ventures, the venture capital arm of Deutsche Boerse Group.
The Investment is split into two tranches: Aquis will subscribe US$0.75m out of a total first tranche of US$3.0m payable in cash, followed by a second tranche in 12 months of a further US$0.75m out of a total $3.0m payable in cash. The pre-money valuation of the first tranche was US$10m and the valuation for the second tranche will be finalised at the date of investment.
It is expected that Jonathan Clelland, COO of Aquis, will join the board of OptimX as a Non-Executive Director in due course.
OptimX is a new venture and so has not yet generated any profits or losses.
Aquis CEO, Alasdair Haynes said:
“The investment in OptimX is a significant opportunity for Aquis, adding additional connectivity to our successful dark pool (the Aquis Matching Pool) and providing clients with the ability to cross large blocks. This alongside Aquis’s growing functionality will further enhance the range of execution options available to our members.”
The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (“MAR”).
Source: Aquis
