LDC, the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group, announced an investment in capital markets technology firm Etrading Software, a global provider of technology-led solutions to address highly complex and constantly evolving market and regulatory challenges. Financial details were not disclosed.
London headquartered Etrading specializes in the provision of market and reference data used by international financial institutions. It is the primary service and technology provider to the Derivatives Service Bureau (DSB), the global numbering agency for over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives. Its role as Management Services Partner (MSP) to the DSB was recently expanded to include a new mandate awarded to the DSB to operate the service that will generate Unique Product Identifiers (UPIs) – an identifier that will allow regulators in G20 countries to aggregate and track OTC derivative transaction data.
The firm also has a partnership with Coefficient Markets, a leading digital software provider to multinational corporate loan market participants. The sell-side desktop technology (EPIC) and execution platform (EPIC MIRROR) give financial institutions operating in the corporate loans market a data aggregation tool that enhances workflows, delivers efficiency gains to users and brings electronic execution to the loan market.
LDC’s investment will support Etrading Software to continue growing its range of technology-enabled services and to expand its offering of data services internationally. LDC is backing the existing management team, led by CEO Sassan Danesh, who founded the business in 2004.
The transaction was led by Joseph Fison, supported by Alex White and Francesca Speke. Joseph Fison and Alex White will join Etrading Software’s board, alongside fintech industry veteran Emanuel Mond, who has been appointed as chair and brings more than 25 years of experience building capital markets technology platforms.
Sassan Danesh, CEO of Etrading Software, said in a statement: “LDC’s investment will cement our position as one of the leading technology providers to global capital markets. One immediate benefit is to strengthen our proposition for creating a consolidated tape market data infrastructure for increased market transparency in the UK and Europe.”
Joseph Fison, investment director at LDC, said in a statement: “(Etrading Software’s) expertise in operating critical market infrastructures gives it the perfect platform to support public authorities and market participants in implementing future regulatory mandates such as a consolidated tape for market data. We look forward to working with the team as they embark on the next stage of their growth journey.”
Grant Wilson, managing director of Etrading Software, said in a statement: “I am excited to be focusing on expanding Etrading Software services in the loans business through our partnership with Coefficient Markets. Coefficient leverages Etrading Software’s technology development, platform business management, as well as our deep knowledge and expertise of the financial markets, to deliver intuitive front office solutions that can be seamlessly tailored and scaled across use cases.”