Join +750K new investors every month who copy stock picks from billionaire's portfoliosSign Up Free

CMA threatens ICE with full competition probe into Trayport deal

Published 27/04/2016, 17:35
© Reuters. A screen displays the ticker symbol and logo for Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (ICE) on the floor of the NYSE
DB1Gn
-
LSEG
-
ICE
-
CME
-

By Huw Jones

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's competition watchdog said on Wednesday it is to open an in-depth investigation into Intercontinental Exchange's (N:ICE) takeover of commodities trading software house Trayport unless the exchange can offer undertakings within five days.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it was concerned that ICE could use its ownership of Trayport's software to raise prices and/or reduce the quality of its service to rival exchanges to divert its rivals' trades to ICE's own exchange and clearing house.

"Given these concerns and their potential effect on those providers that currently compete with ICE, along with extensive third party concerns, we think the merger warrants an in-depth investigation unless ICE can offer suitable undertakings," CMA executive director of markets and mergers, Andrea Coscelli, said in a statement.

ICE's $650 million takeover of London-based Trayport was completed in December.

A CMA spokeswoman said ICE has five days to offer suitable undertakings and if any are offered, the watchdog has another five days to decide if they address its competition concerns.

The watchdog said in February it was considering whether the acquisition hurt competition and on Wednesday spoke of "extensive third-party concerns".

ICE said Trayport's business complemented the exchange's existing operations and there has been no loss of customer choice.

"However, this is a complex industry and Trayport's software services are important to a range of market participants. So an in-depth review is not unexpected," ICE said in a statement.

"We will continue fully to co-operate with the review process and believe that the CMA will not object to ICE owning Trayport," it added.

An ICE spokeswoman later declined to comment on whether ICE would submit any undertakings.

ICE beat off arch-rival CME Group (O:CME) to acquire Trayport and reinforce its position in European energy trading markets.

© Reuters. A screen displays the ticker symbol and logo for Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (ICE) on the floor of the NYSE

ICE also completed a $5 billion (£3.4 billion) acquisition of fixed income data provider IDC last December, and is considering whether to make a bid for the London Stock Exchange Group (L:LSE), which has agreed to merge with Deutsche Boerse (DE:DB1Gn).

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.