The Irish Stock Exchange (ISE) has admitted a new member firm, bringing about a key milestone for the ISE - a membership base of more than 40 firms. The ISE’s membership has now grown by almost 50% since 2006 with most of this growth coming from global investment banks, international securities houses and proprietary trading firms. At that time, the international segment of the ISE membership base represented just over half of the total membership, it now stands at almost 80%.
Fortis Bank Global Clearing N.V. (FBGC) (“Fortis Clearing”), was admitted as a General Clearing Member in recent days and became the 40th member firm of the ISE. Commenting on their membership, Martijn Schuijt, Director of Relationship Management at Fortis Clearing, said “Fortis Clearing is very pleased to add this membership to the more than 85 already existing markets we offer. It gives our customers arbitrage opportunities in equities, ETFs and other listed products with MTFs and other European Exchanges.”
Brian Healy, Director of Traded Markets, Development, Operations at the ISE, said “The ISE is focused on expanding its international membership base for the overall benefit of the Irish securities market and to maximise the liquidity available to investors and market participants alike. We are very pleased that the ISE has now exceeded this important milestone. The addition of Fortis Clearing, which will provide general clearing services on the ISE, is significant as it further enhances competition and choice of GCM providers for trading participants on ISE Xetra. Fortis Clearing’s broad international client base also presents additional opportunities for the ISE to bring more trading firms to the Irish market.”