By John McCrank
Nasdaq’s eye-popping $10.5 billion bet on the little known financial software company Adenza will help the exchange operator vastly expand the market for its products, from risk management and regulatory software to anti-financial crime technology.
Nasdaq said on June 12 it would buy Adenza from private equity firm Thoma Bravo, and its stock sank over 10% that day as investors reeled from sticker shock. Nasdaq shares are currently down around 12% since the deal was announced.
However, some experts including a major Nasdaq investor and two sources familiar with the deal said in interviews the acquisition was in line with Chief Executive Adena Friedman’s push to transform Nasdaq into a financial technology company and the price might eventually prove justified.
Subscribe now to have unlimited access
With our subscription, you will have unlimited access to the AML Intelligence site, updated daily with the latest analysis, opinion, and breaking news across the sector, newsletter delivered twice per week, access to our Global Bank Fines & Penalties database, free access to Boardroom Series and more!
