Aquis Exchange Joins IPC's Connexus Extranet Service

JERSEY CITY, N.J., Oct. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- IPC Systems, Inc., a leading provider of electronic trading communications solutions to the world's top financial services firms and global enterprises, today announced Aquis Exchange has joined IPC's Connexus Financial Extranet service. The London-based, pan-European multilateral trading facility (MTF) is currently awaiting regulatory approval.

Using IPC's Connexus, buy-side and sell-side firms can quickly and cost efficiently access FIX exchange order flow and market data from across Europe. The MTF plans to offer equities from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and UK.

"We believe in making our venue as accessible as possible to as wide a user group as possible and in that spirit we are very pleased to welcome IPC on board as an authorized extranet supplier," said Aquis Exchange CEO Alasdair Haynes.

Currently, over 90% of European equity trading in each individual country takes place on two exchanges. The aim of Aquis Exchange is to encourage growth and innovation through a combination of its new pricing model, new order types, and new technology. Additionally, by bringing fresh competition into the marketplace, the trading costs currently maintained by the existing duopoly could be reduced.

"Aquis Exchange has demonstrated the foresight and willingness to experiment that is necessary in true trading innovators by introducing subscription pricing and innovative order types. We're pleased to enable access to the Aquis Exchange platform in a cost-effective manner by adding Aquis to the Connexus network," said Bart Bartolozzi senior product marketing manager, IPC. "We look forward to supporting Aquis Exchange launch successfully and grow their business."

Connexus is part of the IPC Financial Markets Network service portfolio which also includes private extranet and DirectConnect data services, as well as Trader and Enhanced Voice connectivity services. IPC's Financial Markets Network interconnects global financial centers and allows access to more than 4,000 market participant locations in over 700 cities in more than 58 countries. Connexus leverages a highly scalable, reliable and secure Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) platform which adheres to financial industry standards such as the FIX protocol.

About Aquis Exchange

*Aquis Exchange, which has applied for regulatory approval as a multilateral trading facility from the UK FCA, was established in October 2012 and has been created to operate a pan-European equities trading exchange and develop exchange software. Aquis Exchange is set to revolutionize the European trading landscape by its introduction of subscription pricing and innovative order types. Currently, over 90% of European equity trading in each individual country takes place on two exchanges. The aim of Aquis Exchange is to bring fresh competition into the marketplace in order to lower the trading costs maintained by the existing duopoly.

For further information, please contact:  Belinda Keheyan at Aquis Exchange on +44 (0)20 3440 7747.

About IPC

IPC offers high- and low-touch trading communications solutions to the global financial trading community including the top investment banks, hedge funds and investment managers in established and emerging markets. With a 100-percent focus on this sector and nearly 40 years of expertise and an unrivaled record of innovation, IPC provides customers with unified solutions that support collaborative voice trading and real-time electronic trading and market data connectivity.  IPC's offerings include the first unified communications/application platform, award-winning hard and soft turrets, electronic connectivity services including enhanced voice services, business continuity solutions, and follow-the-sun service and support. IPC's global reach extends to nearly 60 countries – including a financial extranet of 4,000 on-net locations in over 700 cities and more than 115,000 turrets deployed worldwide. Headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey, IPC has approximately 1,000 employees located throughout the Americas and the EMEA and Asia-Pacific regions. For more information, visit www.ipc.com.

SOURCE IPC Systems, Inc.