Cboe Global Markets Completes Acquisition of BIDS Trading

January 4, 2021 - Cboe Global Markets, Inc. has announced it has completed its acquisition of BIDS Trading, a registered broker-dealer and the operator of the BIDS Alternative Trading System (ATS), the largest block-trading ATS by volume in the U.S.

Through ownership of BIDS Trading, Cboe gains a competitive foothold in the off-exchange segment of the U.S. equities market, which now accounts for more than 40 percent of overall U.S. equities trading volume. The acquisition of BIDS Trading also provides Cboe with the opportunity to expand its global footprint and diversify its product and service offerings in markets beyond U.S. equities and options.

The acquisition follows Cboe and BIDS Trading's successful partnership in Europe, which began in 2016 with the creation of Cboe LIS for European equities block trading. Since its launch, Cboe LIS has grown to become one of the largest block trading platforms in Europe, accounting for approximately €240 million in average daily volume.

Cboe Global Markets Chairman, President and CEO Ed Tilly said: "Through our successful collaboration on Cboe LIS, Cboe and BIDS Trading have established a proven track record in delivering best-in-class block trading capabilities for European equities. We are excited to have Cboe's reach extend into the off-exchange segment of the U.S. equity markets through its ownership of BIDS Trading, and to broaden our ability to potentially expand into other asset classes and geographies as well. I am pleased to welcome the entire BIDS Trading team to Cboe."

Cboe will maintain the BIDS ATS as an independently managed and operated trading venue, separate from and not integrated with the Cboe U.S. securities exchanges. BIDS Trading Chief Executive Officer Tim Mahoneywill remain in his current role and lead BIDS Trading as an independent business within Cboe Global Markets, reporting into an independent committee of the board of Cboe Global Markets.

BIDS Trading CEO Tim Mahoney said: "We have had a long and fruitful relationship with Cboe and have achieved remarkable success with Cboe LIS in Europe and we are excited by the additional opportunities and benefits that this acquisition could bring to BIDS Trading subscribers and sponsored users. We look forward to becoming a part of the Cboe Global Markets family and continuing to build on our history of successful innovation."

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The company did note that the purchase price is not material from a financial perspective. BIDS Trading generated approximately $41 million in net revenue over the last 12 months ending September 30, 2020. Cboe also reiterated that it expects the acquisition of BIDS Trading to be immediately accretive to the company's earnings, contributing adjusted earnings per share of approximately $0.05 - $0.06 in 2021.