The European Energy Exchange (EEX), part of Deutsche Börse Group, and the owners of US-based Nodal Exchange Holdings, LLC announced that have successfully closed the transaction under which EEX has acquired 100% of the equity in Nodal Exchange.
All remaining regulatory conditions to closing were satisfied recently, especially the US merger control process was passed successfully.
The waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, was early terminated by notification as of 26 April of the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice Antitrust Division. As a result, Nodal Exchange has become part of EEX Group.
Through this acquisition, EEX Group enters the North American energy trading markets, thereby expanding its global presence and membership base in line with its growth strategy.
Peter Reitz
With the acquisition of Nodal Exchange we are taking the next step towards our vision of EEX Group as a global commodity exchange”, said Peter Reitz, Chief Executive Officer of EEX.
Nodal Exchange has enjoyed significant growth in recent years and we are very excited to build on this as part of EEX Group”, added Paul Cusenza, Chairman and CEO of Nodal Exchange. “As a leading energy exchange in Europe, EEX is well positioned to contribute to our further development and provide us the opportunity to grow our current business, including natural gas, and expand into new products and geographies.
Nodal Exchange is a regulated derivatives exchange which currently offers over 1,000 electric power and natural gas contracts on hundreds of unique locations allowing market participants to hedge against price risks in the United States. All of the transactions on Nodal Exchange are cleared through its clearing house, Nodal Clear, a derivatives clearing organization under the Commodity Exchange Act that is regulated by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
Nodal Exchange, which grew its North American power trading volumes 97% in 2016 and 76% in Q1 2017, has become a significant part of the North American power market with 28% market share of open interest as of 31 March 2017 and 23% market share of U.S. monthly power futures traded volume in Q1 2017.
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC was a financial advisor to Nodal Exchange Holdings, LLC for the transaction.