CMA Finds ION’s Purchase of Broadway Technology Raises Competition Concerns

Less than a month after the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced the start of its investigation into the Acquisition Acquisition Acquisition means acquiring or taking possession or the securing of property, services, or abilities. To put it simply, it is the act or process of acquiring or gaining. You can acquire a work of art, you can acquire an ability such as speaking another language, you can acquire a business or shares in a company and you can acquire an accountant's service. For example, you can acquire a new car. In a broad sense, Acquisition can mean the act of taking ownership or possession of something. There Acquisition means acquiring or taking possession or the securing of property, services, or abilities. To put it simply, it is the act or process of acquiring or gaining. You can acquire a work of art, you can acquire an ability such as speaking another language, you can acquire a business or shares in a company and you can acquire an accountant's service. For example, you can acquire a new car. In a broad sense, Acquisition can mean the act of taking ownership or possession of something. There Read this Term of Broadway Technology by ION Investments, the regulator has revealed its findings.

The CMA said in a statement today it found that ION’s completed purchase of Broadway Technology raises competition concerns in the supply of electronic trading systems.

Both companies provide specialist trading systems to financial organisations, such as banks, that allows the trading of foreign Exchange Exchange An exchange is known as a marketplace that supports the trading of derivatives, commodities, securities, and other financial instruments.Generally, an exchange is accessible through a digital platform or sometimes at a tangible address where investors organize to perform trading. Among the chief responsibilities of an exchange would be to uphold honest and fair-trading practices. These are instrumental in making sure that the distribution of supported security rates on that exchange are effectiv An exchange is known as a marketplace that supports the trading of derivatives, commodities, securities, and other financial instruments.Generally, an exchange is accessible through a digital platform or sometimes at a tangible address where investors organize to perform trading. Among the chief responsibilities of an exchange would be to uphold honest and fair-trading practices. These are instrumental in making sure that the distribution of supported security rates on that exchange are effectiv Read this Term (FX) and fixed income (FI) securities such as government bonds.

The CMA stated it has concerns relating to the supply of FI electronic trading systems. Based on evidence from the companies’ own documents and feedback received from their customers, the CMA considers that ION is by far the largest supplier of these systems and Broadway is one of only two significant competitors.

The CMA’s initial Phase 1 investigation has found that the deal could therefore leave customers facing a significantly reduced choice of supplier with the potential for higher prices or more onerous terms and conditions on their services.

A wide range of evidence

“We’ve examined a wide range of evidence during this investigation, and numerous customers have raised serious concerns. We consider ION to already be the largest provider of these products and they’re buying one of their closest competitors. We are therefore concerned that this merger could damage competition in a market which is critical to trading activities in the UK, leaving the merging companies’ customers with a worse deal,” Joel Bamford, CMA senior director, said.

ION must now address the CMA’s concerns within five working days. If the company is unable to do so, the deal will be referred for an in-depth Phase 2 investigation.

In February 2020, ION announced a recapitalization of provider of high-performance capital markets solutions Broadway Technology, in which ION acquired a controlling stake alongside Long Ridge Equity Partners and the Broadway founders.