SunGard expands professional trading with Andover acquisition
Heather McKenzie - 3 Jan 2003
SunGard, the financial IT supplier, is to acquire New York-based Andover Brokerage for an undisclosed amount in a further move to strengthen its grip in the investment market.
The acquisition - via an asset purchase transaction subject to regulatory approval - will enable SunGard to expand its offerings to the professional investor marketplace by offering greater access to a wider range of liquidity pools, more sophisticated order routeing and execution services.
Founded in 1993, Andover is one of the largest equity trading firms in the US and provides direct access trading, order routeing, brokerage and clearing services to professional investors. The company's Hammertrade day trading platform will be integrated with SunGard's existing trading, brokerage and trade processing systems.
Hammertrade provides real-time market data and direct access to all electronic communication networks (ECNs) and the New York Stock Exchange. It can be customised to suit any style of trading and is designed to deliver the same trading services used by Andover's in-house traders.
Michael Picozzi, founder of Andover Brokerage, said the acquisition would enable the firm to offer its technology to a larger segment of the securities trading industry.
Robert Greifeld, executive vice-president, SunGard said Andover's technology was a perfect complement to SunGard's business, providing a flexible and modular front-end technology that can be tailored to individual customer segments.
In August 2002, SunGard completed its acquisition of Brut, the alternative trading system that operates an ECN for the trading of Nasdaq securities. Brut provides liquidity and trading execution services to the professional investment community.
The total purchase price incorporated an upfront cash payment of about $50m plus additional cash payments of up to $55m contingent upon Brut's performance over the two years following closing.
SunGard claims that more than 70% of Nasdaq trades flow through its systems.