Hoche Avocats advised the shareholders of smartTrade, global leader in multi-asset electronic trading solutions, as part of Hg’s investment

Co-founded in 1999 in Aix-en-Provence (France) by David Vincent, smartTrade has developed an automated trading platform which enables fast access to a wide range of liquidity for Foreign Exchange (FX), Fixed Income, Equities, Cryptocurrencies and Derivatives. These solutions optimize liquidity aggregation, order routing, order execution, distribution, risk management and connectivity to various liquidity providers.

The smartTrade group is located across four continents, with offices in France, Geneva, London, Milan, New York, Singapore and Tokyo. This international presence has enabled smartTrade to build a prestigious client base all over the world, including major financial institutions like the Bank of China, Citi, HSBC, Nomura, Kepler Capital Market and most recently, Mizuho Bank.

Since its inception, smartTrade has been supported by Pléiade, an investment holding company owned exclusively by entrepreneurs or entrepreneurial families, joined since 2015 by Keensight Capital, one of the leading European Growth Buyout firms.

In order to pursue its growth, smartTrade hosts Hg, the largest European investor in software and services, alongside David Vincent and the management team as well as Keensight Capital and Pléiade. Hg’s support will help continue innovation and R&D and strengthening smartTrade’s position as one of the most technologically advanced players in the industry.

* * *

Hg is the largest European investor in software and services. Based in London, Munich and New York, Hg has current funds under management of approximately €12 billion, an aggregate portfolio enterprise value of c. €30 billion and serves some of the world’s leading institutional and private investors.

Keensight Capital, one of the leading European Growth Buyout firms, is committed to supporting entrepreneurs as they implement their growth strategies. For 20 years, Keensight Capital’s team of seasoned professionals has leveraged their knowledge of investment and growth industries to invest for the long term in profitable companies with high growth potential and revenues in the range of €15 million to €250 million. Drawing on its expertise in the IT and Healthcare sectors, Keensight identifies the best investment opportunities in Europe and works closely with management teams to develop and achieve their strategic vision.

Pléiade is an investment holding company owned exclusively by entrepreneurs or entrepreneurial families investing significantly in the software business.

* * *

smartTrade’s shareholders were advised by Hoche Avocats : legal transaction : Grine Lahreche (partner), Audrey Szultz (associate), Thomas Allemand (associate) and Héloïse Gravel (associate) ; tax : Jérôme Mas (partner) ; financing : Christophe Bornes (counsel).

Hg was advised by White & Case : Nathalie Nègre-Eveillard (partner), Alexandre Giacobbi (associate) and Amandine Grima (associate).

* * *