London, 30th October 2006– BGC, a leading inter-dealer brokerage firm providing integrated voice and electronic services to wholesale fixed income, interest rate, foreign exchange and derivatives markets worldwide, today announced the acquisition of Aurel Leven Securities (“Aurel Leven”), one of the longest established brokerage firms in France. It anticipates the deal will close in November.
Under the specific terms of the agreement, BGC has acquired 100% of Aurel Leven. Jérôme Frank will continue as CEO and will report to Jean-Pierre Aubin, BGC’s President for Continental Europe.
From its historical business in equities, Aurel Leven has progressively expanded into the fixed income and derivatives markets to become one of the leading brokerage firms in France. Today, Aurel Leven’s business is distributed evenly across the equity, fixed income and derivatives markets and employs 100 staff of which nearly two-thirds are brokers.
The acquisition of Aurel Leven by BGC follows its previous acquisition in France of ETC Pollak in October of 2005 and represents another major step in BGC’s continued expansion in Europe. It also marks BGC’s entry into the equity market.
Since its creation in October 2004, having been spun-off from Cantor Fitzgerald, BGC has experienced rapid growth organically and through selected acquisitions in Europe, Asia and the U.S. In 2004, BGC employed 666 people. Total employees have now more than doubled to nearly 1600, including the staff at Aurel Leven.
Commenting on the acquisition, Shaun Lynn, President of BGC said, “Aurel Leven is a highly respected and dynamic French brokerage firm with a long tradition at the forefront of its markets. Historically very strong in equities, Aurel Leven is now developing a growing reputation in the derivatives and fixed income securities markets.”
“Aurel Leven provides high quality customer service and its research has an excellent reputation”, said Jean-Pierre Aubin, BGC’s President for Continental Europe. “BGC will give Aurel Leven the full support it needs to keep on growing in the markets in which it operates.”
Jérôme Frank, Chief Executive Officer at Aurel Leven said, “We are delighted to have concluded this agreement. Being part of BGC will give us access to a full range of brokerage services worldwide, which will open up significant new paths for growth.”
BGC is headquartered in London. In the past two years it has opened offices in New York, Copenhagen, Milan, Nyon, Paris, Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo and Sydney. Further expansion in Europe, Asia and other emerging markets is anticipated.
About BGC Partners, L.P.
BGC Partners is a leading inter-dealer broker, providing integrated voice and electronic services for wholesale market participants worldwide. BGC is active in the global fixed income, interest rate, foreign exchange and derivative markets, offering both telephone and screen-based price discovery, trade execution, straight-through processing and access to electronic trading services rom eSpeed Inc. (Nasdaq: ESPD). The firm, named after fixed income trading innovator B. Gerald Cantor, has offices in London, New York, Copenhagen, Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing, Nyon and Milan. To learn more, please visitwww.bgcpartners.com.
About Aurel Leven
Aurel Leven Securities, a leading independent brokerage firm in France, provides services within the European equity, fixed income and equity derivative markets to institutional, professional and corporate clients. Aurel Leven Securities is a member of ICMA, Euronext Liffe, and Eurex, and is a listing sponsor on the Alternext Market.
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Contact:
Adrian Thomas
Director of Communications
BGC Partners, London
Tel: + 44 (0)207 894 8647
Fabrice Baron
Gavin Anderson & Company, Paris
Tel: + 33 1 5332 6127