The Warsaw Stock Exchange (Giełda Papierów Wartościowych w Warszawie or GBP in Polish) agreed to purchase a partial stake in Aquis Exchange. GPW Chief Executive Adam Maciejewski said that the bourse would acquire a 30% stake in the startup trading exchange for GBP 5 million or USD 7.8 million. The CEO told Reuters, "This is part of our strategy to look for new sources of growth and business diversification... Business growth in Poland and in central Europe has its limits." Earlier in August, GBW had announced plans to purchase the equity stake.
Launched in October 2012, Aquis Exchange is based in Britain. It is still awaiting regulatory approval to operate as a pan-European trading exchange. It plans to go live by October 2013.
Maciejewski also said that the bourse would keep on looking for more opportunities to grow outside central Europe. The GPW is also in the midst of discussions with a bourse operator in Vienna. The talks might lead to a merger, but Maciejewski did not give any new information about the transaction.
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