BATS Chi-X Europe

BATS Chi-X Europe
TypeMultilateral trading facility
LocationLondon, United Kingdom
Founded2007
OwnerBATS Global Markets
Key peopleChairman and CEO: Mark Hemsley
CurrencyEuro

BATS Chi-X Europe is a London-based, order-driven pan-European equity exchange that has been a subsidiary of BATS Global Markets since 2011. It is a low latency, low cost alternative to exchange traded equities and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that are listed on primary exchanges such as the London Stock Exchange, Frankfurt Stock Exchange, Euronext and OMX.

Previously a multilateral trading facility (MTF), BATS Chi-X Europe received Recognised Investment Exchange (RIE) status from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in May 2013, and was from then authorised to operate a Regulated Market for primary listings alongside its existing business.

Initially two separate entities, Chi-X Europe was the first pan-European equities exchange to launch in 2007; BATS Europe was launched in 2008. In February 2011, BATS Global Markets agreed to buy Chi-X Europe for $300 million. The deal was referred by the Office of Fair Trading to the Competition Commission in June 2011 for further investigation to "determine whether a substantial lessening of competition is probable as a result of the anticipated merger." However, the Competition Commission approved the transaction in late November 2011, leading to BATS closing the deal on 30 November 2011.