Capitolis, the FinTech company focused on financial resource optimisation, has agreed to buy independent securities lending specialist eSecLending for $200m, paid entirely in cash.
The deal brings securities lending into the Capitolis platform, where it will sit alongside the firm’s existing tools for optimising financial resources.
By combining the two, the companies expect to give banks and institutional investors a distinctive range of capabilities to operate more efficiently, make better use of their resources and pursue fresh opportunities in securities lending, repo and financing markets. It will be the fourth strategic acquisition Capitolis has made in five years, and the firm has continued to grow organically over the same period.
The acquisition also opens up eSecLending’s long-standing network of institutional asset owners to Capitolis. It brings with it infrastructure, specialist know-how and scale that the company says will help it innovate faster and support its expansion.
eSecLending has operated for 26 years. It lends securities to major global banks on behalf of some of the world’s biggest asset owners, including pension funds, insurers and asset managers. Over that time it has built a wide base of institutional investor relationships and an ecosystem that takes in every major bank and prime broker. This network supports its clients’ securities financing activity and has driven considerable growth in recent years.
Capitolis says its technology aims to make financial markets safer and more dynamic by easing capital constraints and widening access to more diversified capital and investment opportunities. Built on advanced technology and financial expertise, its solutions are designed to support growth at global and regional banks as well as institutional investors.
Capitolis is buying eSecLending from Parthenon Capital and eSecLending’s management team, and Parthenon Capital will invest in Capitolis as part of the deal. Completion depends on standard closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and antitrust clearance. eSecLending (Europe) Limited is not part of the acquisition, but it will keep providing services to eSecLending.
Capitolis president Okan Pekin said, “We’ve known the eSecLending team for years and have already been partnering to introduce new solutions to the market.
“We’ve seen firsthand the strength of their client relationships, the quality of their business, and the deep expertise of their team. Bringing eSecLending and Capitolis together expands our network and enhances our offering with securities lending capabilities that naturally complement our existing set of solutions.”
eSecLending CEO Craig Starble said, “We are incredibly proud of what we’ve built at eSecLending and grateful to the team, clients, and partners who have been part of that journey.
“Capitolis is an exceptional company with global reach, a strong commitment to innovation, and deep relationships with many of the world’s leading financial institutions. Joining them enables us to expand the solutions we bring to market and deliver even greater value to our clients.”
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