Three months after the initial announcement of a A$125 million all-cash deal, Tradeweb Markets Inc. reported today (Thursday) that it has successfully completed its acquisition of Yieldbroker, an Australian trading platform specializing in government bonds and interest rate derivatives. As part of this strategic move, Tradeweb clients can now access the debt market in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

Tradeweb Finalizes Yieldbroker Purchase to Expand Asia-Pacific Presence

The first information about Tradeweb's intention to acquire Yieldbroker for A$125 million emerged in April, but there were no guarantees that the transaction would be finalized at that time. The deal was subject to the approval of Yieldbroker's stockholders, final definitive documentation, and regulatory reviews.

A month after the initial announcement it was reported that both companies had come to an agreement and that the transaction would be completed before the end of the year, allowing both firms access to each other's offerings. According to a statement today, Tradeweb and Yieldbroker needed much less time to close the acquisition .

The acquisition pairs Australia and New Zealand's rapidly expanding markets with Tradeweb's global reach. Australia ranks as the fifth-largest pension fund market worldwide and holds the twelfth-largest sovereign bond market. Yieldbroker, founded by key players in these markets, has developed a trading solution that continually adapts to user needs, including an electronic auction platform for government bonds.

Billy Hult, the CEO of Tradeweb, expressed that the unified team in Sydney is "exceedingly well-positioned to seamlessly connect markets in Australia and New Zealand with our global network of clients and dealers."

Similarly, Anthony Robson, the CEO of Yieldbroker, emphasized the unique market insights that Yieldbroker brings. Robson that as part of Tradeweb, clients "can take full advantage of all that we have to offer, while leveraging Tradeweb's global presence to bring a world of opportunity to our local community."

A New Chapter in Electronic Trading

Both Tradeweb and Yieldbroker have been pioneers in the digitization of fixed-income markets since being founded in 1996 and 1999, respectively. Yieldbroker's client network will now benefit from Tradeweb's multi-asset marketplace, deep liquidity, and cutting-edge technology. On the flip side, Tradeweb's global customer base will gain access to Australia and New Zealand's growing bond and derivatives markets.

Enrico Bruni, the Head of Europe and Asia Business at Tradeweb, noted that the company has experienced significant growth outside the US and European markets, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.

"Tradeweb customers have been very positive about the acquisition, which will allow them to express nuanced views that include Australia and New Zealand as important parts of their global strategies through the single Tradeweb interface," Bruni added.

In July, the electronic trading platform announced its financial performance for Q2 2023, revealing growth in both profit and revenue. The company reported a year-over-year increase of 5% in revenue, reaching $310 million. Notably, the most significant growth was seen in the money markets segment where revenue surged 30% compared to the same quarter in the previous year.

In addition to its financial update, Tradeweb introduced a new digital tool called FX Swap Workflow. This cutting-edge solution is designed to simplify trading operations in local currencies, emerging market bonds, and FX swaps. The platform aims to offer users enhanced transparency and operational efficiency.