Today our firm was mentioned as the advisor to SMARTS Group in a discussion of its impending sale to Nasdaq OMS by Institutional Investor.
Nasdaq OMX Group has agreed to acquire Smarts Group, a long-established leader in the market surveillance technology that is becoming increasingly critical in rooting out illegal or improper exchange and brokerage transactions.
The July 27 agreement, for undisclosed terms, will add what Nasdaq describes as “the most proven and widely adopted surveillance solutions in the world” to the offerings of the Nasdaq market technology business, which has more than 70 exchange and other securities-infrastructure customers in more than 50 countries. Sydney, Australia-based Smarts says it has 30 exchange and regulatory customers and 50 brokerage clients in more than 30 countries.
Andreas Furche, CEO of Smarts Group, which was advised in the transaction by New York-based Marlin & Associates, said the affiliation with Nasdaq OMX promises “enormous growth opportunities” and “the direct connection to the U.S. markets that we have been seeking.” He added that Smarts customers will gain from “working with a world-leading company that has a similar customer base and therefore understands the business and requirements of Smarts’ customers.”
Smarts, which officially launched its technology into the U.S. market last year, has been particularly active this year with new and expanded customer agreements. For example, when the U.S. BATS Exchange, a Smarts customer, entered the European market, it extended its Smarts relationship as well. Also figuring in recent announcements were Swedbank of Sweden, Credit Suisse Standard Securities, CME Group and ICE .
Marlin & Associates acted as exclusive Strategic and Financial Advisor to SMARTS Group.