Invast Global to acquire FCA-regulated GMO-Z.com Trade UK
Invast Global has announced it has plans to acquire GMO-Z.com Trade UK and turn it into the UK subsidiary of the Australian headquartered Prime of Prime broker.
On the buying end of the deal is Invast Financial Services Pty Ltd., which will acquire GMO-Z.com Trade UK Limited from GMO Financial Holdings Inc., subject to approval from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) of the United Kingdom.
The Board of Directors of INV Inc. (7338) has already agreed to purchase all shares of GMO-Z.com Trade UK for a fair and reasonable but undisclosed price.
The deal was reached after an “appropriate due diligence and planning conducted over the course of the year”.
UK market further enhances Invast’s value proposition
Takeshi Kawaji, President and CEO of INV Inc. commented: “Invast Global has gone from strength to strength. As we continue to expand globally, we look for opportunities that match our business strategy with product offerings that align with our expertise. Upon examination, it became clear that GMO-Z.com Trade UK complemented our existing businesses in Tokyo, Sydney and Cyprus. We see great opportunities for continued growth and are excited about the future possibilities this acquisition creates.”
Gavin White, CEO of Invast Global, said: “As a multi-asset Prime Brokerage that has merged many decades of experience in Japanese online broking with some of the sharpest institutional brokerage executives in the industry to build a bespoke liquidity offering, this acquisition will speed up our global expansion plans that began with the office in Cyprus. This gives us access to the UK market that will further enhance our value proposition to our existing clients and enable us to continue to grow and service more clients.”
GMO-Z.com Trade UK has a registered capital of 1.5 million pounds (incorporated on October 19th 2012) and is based in London. GMO-Z.com Trade UK is a subsidiary of GMO Financial Holdings, Inc. (incorporated in 2012). Based in Tokyo, GMO Financial Holdings Inc. has a registered capital of 705 million yen with total assets of 996,049 million yen.
Invast Global to enter UK after European expansion last year
Invast Global operates a successful securities brokerage supported by long-standing relationships with numerous Tier 1 Prime Brokers and market-leading trading technology and data vendors.
Last year, the firm established its first European office in Cyprus as part of a strategic plan to build a global network of distribution channels in jurisdictions widely regarded for their regulatory standing. The acquisition of GMO-Z.com Trade UK is the next to fulfil this goal.
The London office will be used to further strengthen relationships with both existing clients and potential clients as well as vendors and partners. Invast Global will also be able to access a deep pool of talent, particularly in the areas of quantitative trading and market making.
