LeapRate has learned from industry sources that leading Dublin, Ireland based financial spreadbetting broker Shelbourne Markets is about to be acquired. Apparently Shelbourne has been holding sale discussions with a number of suitors, including a leading US-based forex brokerage, and several UK-based spreadbetting rivals.
We understand that the likely buyer will be one of the UK firms – either ETX Capital or London Capital Group (LON:LCG), as was rumored in Irish press a few weeks ago. Two years ago ETX acquired certain businesses of another spreadbetting firm, WorldSpreads, which had closed its doors. LCG itself is in process of a takeover by an investor group led by Charles Henri-Sabet.
Readers of LeapRate should recall that Shelbourne rebranded about a year ago – it was formally known as MarketSpreads.
We’ll bring you more information as it becomes available, we expect a formal announcement of a deal within the next 24 hours – but until the ink is dry on the bottom line, you can’t be sure.