SIX announces the successful closing of its acquisition of Aquis Exchange plc, a leading European challenger exchange. With this strategic acquisition, SIX is evolving into a truly pan-European exchange innovator at scale, with an aggregated market share of 15% and access to 16 capital markets across Europe. This positions SIX as the only exchange group providing listing venues in all major European financial centers, including Switzerland, the EU, and the UK. Together, the two businesses will unlock new revenue streams by offering a seamless trading experience across multiple venues.
“The acquisition of Aquis marks a significant milestone in the evolution of SIX as a pan-European leader,” said Bjørn Sibbern, CEO SIX. “With Aquis, we gain not only access to new markets but also the technology and expertise needed to drive innovation at scale. We aim to offer our clients a unified experience with “One Plug, Multiple Trading Venues” – a single connection providing access to Switzerland, Spain, and the UK –, ensuring more liquidity, better market access, and innovative trading solutions.”
David Stevens, CEO Aquis, added: “Joining SIX is an exciting opportunity for Aquis and our clients. Aquis has achieved great momentum in our mission to challenge across European capital markets, and we will be able to go further, faster, and stronger as part of SIX. We will continue to innovate in trading, to deploy cutting-edge technology, and to provide a tailored listings environment for the UK’s high-growth smaller companies, while further benefiting from the strength of the European reach and infrastructure of SIX. Together, we are uniquely positioned to shape the future of the European exchange landscape.”
Tomas Kindler, Global Head Exchanges SIX: “Aquis is a key strategic building block for us to become a truly pan-European exchange, listing venue for growth companies, and trading technology provider. I’m excited about the opportunities we will pursue together.”
Aquis will continue to operate under its established brand, with its existing management team and business model, preserving its agile execution capabilities. This acquisition sets the stage for SIX to deploy Aquis’ next-generation technology as a nucleus for capital markets innovation. SIX works closely with the relevant regulatory authorities to obtain the necessary approvals, ensuring that all required authorizations are in place for further enhancing the trading experience for clients across Europe.