U.K. regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), published on August 25 its Final Undertakings report on FNZ’s acquisition of GBST, and it spells out the next steps for the FNZ-GBST breakup. The CMA wants this breakup because it has concluded that a combined FNZ-GBST would diminish competition in the retail investment platform solutions space…. Read More >>
FNZ Can Have GBST’s Post-Trade Wares: CMA
The FNZ-GBST acquisition saga may be entering its final act as the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the U.K. has reaffirmed its initial findings that their continued merger would reduce competition in the retail investment platform solutions space. This time around, though, the CMA has suggested that FNZ, a wealth management technology and investment… Read More >>
FNZ Told for a Second Time to Undo GBST Acquisition
FNZ may have to undo its acquisition of GBST because a regulator in the U.K. — the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) — has again determined that the union of FNZ and GBST would “substantially lessen competition” and is reviewing “different remedy options to address these concerns,” CMA officials say. GBST provides the Syn~ suite… Read More >>
CMA Rethinking Veto of the FNZ-GBST Merger
The unraveling of the GBST-FNZ merger has been put on hold as FNZ is getting a second hearing before the U.K. regulator that ordered FNZ to divest itself of the back-office technology provider, which it purchased in 2019. Toward the end of last year, FNZ challenged the order of the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) by… Read More >>
U.K. Regulator Orders FNZ to Undo GBST Acquisition
A U.K. regulator is ordering wealth management vendor FNZ to undo its controversial takeover of GBST and sell the back-office technology vendor because, the regulator argues, the merger could lead to a “reduction in the quality of service and higher prices” for retail investment platforms. The acquisition was completed before the U.K. Competition and Markets… Read More >>
FNZ Takes Aim at GBST Merger Ban
Wealth management vendor FNZ’s controversial takeover of GBST is back in the news as FNZ is responding to the initial decision by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to block the acquisition. At the same time, GBST appears to be willing to accept the U.K. regulator’s findings. In a provisional finding, the CMA earlier this… Read More >>
U.K. Regulator Blocks FNZ’s Purchase of GBST
U.K. regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has decided to block FNZ’s controversial acquisition of GBST, arguing that the combined company will lead to less competition, which could foster higher costs and a drop in the quality of service for U.K. consumers. After a fierce bidding war last summer that involved FNZ’s competitors Bravura… Read More >>
U.K. Watchdog Challenges ICE’s Trayport Acquisition
The Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) is pushing back on the provisional findings from the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) in-depth investigation showing that ICE’s $650 million acquisition of London-based Trayport, a trading software provider, could reduce competition. According to Simon Polito, chair of the CMA’s inquiry, “We examined the merger’s competition risks and given the… Read More >>
