Deutsche Börse acquires majority stake in Quantitative Brokers

By Megha Bhattacharya

Deutsche Börse has acquired a majority interest in Quantitative Brokers, a provider of advanced execution algorithms and data-driven analytics for global futures, options and interest rate markets. The transaction is expected to bring Deutsche Börse closer to the sources of trading interest in the buy-side value chain, contributing to the Trading & Clearing division’s buy-side focused growth initiatives. It is also expected to accelerate buy-side product adoption and order flow attraction.

Christian Hauff, CEO and co-founder of Quantitative Brokers said, “The QB team is thrilled to join Deutsche Börse’s portfolio of strategic companies to further accelerate our institutional client uptake and global expansion across markets and asset classes. Our partnership with a 30 billion-dollar, global, multi-asset exchange group will provide even greater momentum to our growth plans.”

The company will be majority-owned by Deutsche Börse, with the founders retaining significant portions of their shareholdings and continuing in their respective roles; Christian Hauff will continue as CEO and Robert Almgren as Chief Scientist. The transaction will be finalised by the end of 2020.

Thomas Book, Head of the Trading & Clearing Division of Deutsche Börse and Member of the Executive Board said, “We are investing in a growth business with a renowned, innovative and leading quant team delivering a unique set of competencies in algorithmic execution. The exciting QB platform and team are a perfect fit with both our existing business and our long-term strategic perspective.”