The Colombian Securities Exchange (Bolsa de Valores de

April 29, 2015
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The Colombian Securities Exchange (Bolsa de Valores
de Colombia – BVC) acquires a leading company in the
implementation of technology solutions for the financial
and securities sector.
The Colombian Securities Exchange (BVC:CB) has reached an agreement to acquire 51% of
the outstanding shares of Sophos Banking Solutions, a leading company in the implementation
of technology solutions and consulting services for the financial and securities industry in
Colombia and Latin America.
The main purpose of BVC is contributing to the growth and development of Colombian capital
markets. Through this transaction, the BVC enters the technology services industry in Latin
America with a robust portfolio that will integrate with its current business lines. This will allow
BVC to deepen its expansion strategy in the field of technology services for participants of
financial markets, diversify its revenues and increase shareholder value. It is expected that,
through this acquisition, Sophos will increase its share in the region’s capital markets, taking
advantage of the commercial synergies with BVC.
Sophos has presence in Colombia, Chile and Mexico, from where it serves clients throughout
Central and South America. It has eight years’ experience, and some of its clients include
some of the best known financial institutions and brokerage firms of the Colombian exchange
and of the region.
In 2014 Sophos’s sales reached about COP$27 billion. Likewise, it has developed strategic
alliances with world-known technology providers, such as Infosys, Misys, Oracle and Wipro,
which enables it to provide services and solutions that are in line with the best global practices,
with high quality standards and support.
Along those lines, the CEO of the BVC, Juan Pablo Cordoba, explained: “Sophos is the ideal
complement for the BVC’s long-term vision, which aims at fostering its growth in the field of
enabling services for the financial and capital markets industry at the local and regional levels.
Hence, by incorporating a portfolio specializing in technology services into its long-term
strategy, the BVC becomes a pioneer among Latin American exchanges.”
Likewise, Sophos’s CEO, Amitt Agrawal, added: “Sophos has a highly qualified human team
of about 300 members, who effectively contribute to its positioning and leadership in the field
of technology services, and works under the direction of a managing team with more than 15
years’ experience and great managing capacity.”
In this regard, Cordoba added: “the BVC will work with Sophos’s excellent team, so that it
complements its growth and continues its successful management.”
With this transaction, Sophos becomes one of the BVC’s subsidiaries. Consequently, closing is
subject to the authorizations required by law, especially from the Colombian Superintendence
of Finance (Superintendencia Financira de Colombia). It is estimated that the closing will take
place once the relevant authorization procedures have finalized After the closing, and based
on both entities’ year-end 2014 pro forma financial results, BVC would have consolidated
revenue exceeding COP$111 billion (USD$55 million) and assets exceeding COP$149 billion
(USD$73 million).
This transaction will be paid in cash with BVC’s own resources. The price will be disclosed once
the transaction is closed. However, it may be anticipated that it is a fair price and that it is
consistent with BVC’s investment plans.
BVC’s financial advisor for this transaction was Grupo Helm’s HBI Banca de Inversion and the
legal adviser was Lewin & Wills.
For more information about this transaction, please visit the following link in the BVC’s
website.
Acerca de Bolsa de Valores de Colombia S.A.
La Bolsa de Valores de Colombia (BVC:CB) es una compañía privada listada en el mercado
público de valores que administra las plataformas de negociación del mercado de acciones,
renta fija y derivados estandarizados. Así mismo, la BVC opera a través de sus filiales los
mercados de Divisas (Set Icap FX S.A.); de renta fija y derivados OTC (Set Icap Securities);
de Commodities Energéticos (Derivex S.A.) y ofrece servicios de proveeduría de precios para
la valoración de títulos (Infovalmer PPV S.A.).
Acerca de Sophos Banking Solutions S.A.S.
Sophos Banking solutions is a Colombian company incorporated with Indian capital, leader in
the implementation of technology solutions and consulting services for the financial and
securities industry in Colombia and Latin America.
Para mayor información:
Jaime Sarmiento
Dirección de Medios y Relaciones Públicas
Bolsa de Valores de Colombia
Tel. (+57 1) 3139800 Ext. 1126
Email:[email protected] / [email protected]
Carlos Barrios
Director de Relación con Inversionistas
& Responsabilidad Social Corporativa
Bolsa de Valores de Colombia
Tel. (+57 1) 3139800 Ext. 1167
Email: [email protected]