Optiver joins Plato Partnership as a Sell-Side member
Optiver is the first market maker to be admitted as a full member of Plato Partnership
Plato Partnership, the not-for-profit member organisation bringing creative solutions and efficiencies to today’s equity market, has admitted Optiver, the global market maker and leading liquidity provider, as a sell-side member. This marks a significant milestone for Plato, as well as for Optiver, as the firm becomes the first market-making company to join the Partnership as a full member.
One of Plato Partnership’s core missions for 2023/24 is to broaden its horizons, aiming to hear, consider and represent a wider array of market participants. This strategic move is geared towards representing the diverse interests of all market participants and fostering innovations that enhance the overall market experience.
Optiver's inclusion is a testament to Plato's commitment to a broad-church approach to innovation, as well as to Optiver’s growth in the cash equities space. As part of its involvement, Optiver will appoint a representative to join Plato's Advisory Committee, actively engage in and contribute to the MI3 academic initiative, and become a valuable member of the Plato Turquoise Expert Group (TPEG). In addition to providing liquidity to exchanges and other trading venues, Optiver has built a unique cash-equity business over the past three years offering liquidity directly to institutional and retail counterparties. With its growing role in the global financial ecosystem, the firm promises to bring a fresh and unique perspective to the partnership.
Jan Boomaars, CEO of Optiver said “As part of our mission to improve markets, we proactively seek to share our knowledge and expertise as a way of driving progress throughout our industry. A leading forum for open discourse and debate on financial markets, the Plato Partnership is a natural venue for Optiver to continue this work.”
Ed Monrad, Head of Corporate Strategy EMEA of Optiver, who will join Plato’s Advisory Committee, said “We believe our unique perspective as a global market maker will bring a distinctive voice to the Plato Partnership. It also demonstrates our commitment to transparency and collaboration among industry participants. As the first market maker to join, we look forward to being an active member and participating in initiatives across all three core Plato groups.”
Mike Bellaro, CEO of Plato Partnership, said “We are thrilled to welcome Optiver to Plato Partnership as our first market-making member. This collaboration aligns closely with our mission to foster a diverse and dynamic set of voices as we look to innovate the equity market. Optiver's inclusion not only expands our membership base but also injects a new kind of expertise and innovation that will undoubtedly benefit not only our Advisory Committee and initiatives, but all market participants.”
Simon Steward, Buy-Side Chair of Plato Partnership, and Director & European Head of Equity Trading at Capital Group, said: “Over the last few years, Electronic Liquidity Providers (ELPs) have evolved and grown significantly, becoming a crucial part of the market. As we witness this transformative shift, it is imperative to incorporate the perspectives of ELPs into Plato's market structure initiatives. Optiver's inclusion as a market-making member is a significant step towards ensuring a comprehensive representation of both buy-side and sell-side dynamics in our efforts to shape the future of the equity market.”
