Consolidation Year for Forex Brokers is Coming Up in 2019

So many years in a row we keep hearing about an upcoming industry consolidation. The theme started in 2015, when some of the risks of running a retail brokerage became apparent.

At the time the regulatory reshape of the industry was still far away, but experienced industry professionals were starting to see that the business is about to change in a material way.

The advent of the new regulatory framework which was publicized in December 2016 by the FCA was largely met by the industry with denial. While the UK regulator led the effort, industry insiders have been largely dismissive of the prospects for such a radical change to regulations in Europe.

Despite this, the changes became reality and since August 2018, many brokers are starting to realize that the industry is really changing for good.

M&A Spree Incoming

After the first couple of months were viewed as very difficult, the industry adopted a new tactic. Shifting to markets outside of the EU and offshore regulatory jurisdictions was the next logical step.

The mainstays of the industry in the meantime started driving client Acquisition Acquisition Acquisition means acquiring or taking possession or the securing of property, services, or abilities. To put it simply, it is the act or process of acquiring or gaining. You can acquire a work of art, you can acquire an ability such as speaking another language, you can acquire a business or shares in a company and you can acquire an accountant's service. For example, you can acquire a new car. In a broad sense, Acquisition can mean the act of taking ownership or possession of something. There Acquisition means acquiring or taking possession or the securing of property, services, or abilities. To put it simply, it is the act or process of acquiring or gaining. You can acquire a work of art, you can acquire an ability such as speaking another language, you can acquire a business or shares in a company and you can acquire an accountant's service. For example, you can acquire a new car. In a broad sense, Acquisition can mean the act of taking ownership or possession of something. There Read this Term costs much higher than any of the small companies could afford. With major firms losing 20% of their revenues in the EU, the majority of smaller firms have lost 50 even 70% of their income.

These numbers have not been officially mentioned, but the rumors circulating across the industry are unforgiving. The status of the industry has changed, focusing on the short term is no longer an option if you are running a regulated company.

Australia has been a regulatory safe haven, and that saved a lot of companies who have an ASIC ASIC The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is the prime regulator in Australia for corporate, markets, financial services, and consumer credit. It is empowered under the financial service laws to facilitate, regulate, and enforce Australian financial laws. The Australian Commission was set up and is administered under the Australian Securities and Investment Commission Act of 2001. ASIC was initially the Australian Securities Commission based on the 1989 ASC Act. Initially, the The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is the prime regulator in Australia for corporate, markets, financial services, and consumer credit. It is empowered under the financial service laws to facilitate, regulate, and enforce Australian financial laws. The Australian Commission was set up and is administered under the Australian Securities and Investment Commission Act of 2001. ASIC was initially the Australian Securities Commission based on the 1989 ASC Act. Initially, the Read this Term license. That said, the period during which the land down under will play this role is limited.

The financial regulatory regimes across the G-20 are frequently synchronized. According to estimates from industry insiders from the region, brokers can expect between 1 and 2 years of leeway. For some companies that is enough, others will end up paying for an expensive license only to find it useless in a little over 12 months.

Consolidation Consensus

Industry executives are not shy when speaking about consolidation. It seems that after 3 years of talk that was foreseeing an M&A spree, it is finally coming in 2019.

This year saw some big deals, including the sale of OANDA and the focus of GAIN Capital on its retail unit.

Retail brokers appear to be ever more dependent on income from outside of Europe and North America.

One thing is clear, those brokers which haven’t been working on diversifying away from the EU will either move offshore or be sold to larger companies who made a bank over the past several years.

In the meantime, 2019 might indeed be the year of consolidation. If you’re a buyer, you better keep your eyes open, if you’re planning to exit, be swift and don’t delay further.