The Vienna Stock Exchange has acquired a 92.4% stake in the Prague Stock Exchange, seeing off an unwelcome approach from rival suitor the Warsaw Stock Exchange.
The acquisitive Vienna SE first signalled its agreement to take a controlling interest in the neighbouring Prague exchange last month. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
The Warsaw bourse was believed to be ready to offer EUR100 million for a controlling stake, although its approaches were rebuffed by Prague which feared a loss of independence under Polish control.
Michael Buhl, CEO of the Vienna Stock Exchange, comments: "We view ourselves as a long-term investor driven by the spirit of partnership and will be agreeing the specifics of this new partnership together with the management of the Prague Stock Exchange in the coming weeks and months."
The deal is subject to regulatory approval.
Upon completion, the Vienna Stock Exchange will become the majority owner of three stock exchanges in Central and Eastern Europe. Oesterreichische Kontrollbank and the Vienna Stock Exchange (50.4%) jointly own 68.8% of the Budapest Stock Exchange. In June of this year, the Vienna Stock Exchange acquired a majority stake of 81.01% in the Ljubljana Stock Exchange.