Marex Group Acquires Abu Dhabi-based Aarna Capital
Aarna Capital is a multi-asset brokerage firm, operating from Abu Dhabi Global Markets (ADGM), has been acquired by the UK-based Marex Group plc, the diversified global financial services platform, to expand into Middle East and grow its clearing business, in line with its strategy to broaden its client base, diversify its operations and increase earnings resilience.
Based in Abu Dhabi, Aarna Capital provides clearing, execution and customised risk management solutions in energy, base and ferrous metals, as well as financial markets such as equities, fixed income and FX.
The acquisition of Aarna Capital will provide Marex with additional capabilities in a new location and access to around 180 local clients, which includes institutional investors, family offices and corporate clients, through a well-established and respected team.
The acquisition will be highly complementary to Marex’s existing operations in the Middle East, which includes approximately 60 employees in Dubai, and is aligned with Marex’s strategy to bring new clients to its platform, increase the capabilities it can offer existing clients, and grow its global footprint.
The transaction is expected to be accretive to earnings and contribute around 5% of Marex Group’s profit after tax from fiscal year ended 31 December 2025 onwards.
This includes anticipated day one synergies from Aarna Capital’s business activity flowing through the Marex platform, with savings from internalising clearing fees and higher net interest income through Marex’s financing relationships.
Besides, Marex has identified significant scope for future growth by adding new clients in the Middle East through these additional capabilities and from cross-selling Aarna Capital’s products to existing clients. This acquisition is expected to close in late 2024, subject to regulatory approval.
Abour Aarna Capital and Marex
Marex Group is a diversified global financial services platform providing essential liquidity, market access and infrastructure services to clients across energy, commodities and financial markets. It has a leading franchise in many major metals, energy and agricultural products, executing around 129 million trades and clearing 856 million contracts in 2023.
The Group provides access to the world’s major commodity markets, covering a broad range of clients that include some of the largest commodity producers, consumers and traders, banks, hedge funds and asset managers.
Aarna Capital has been offering customers access to futures, options, FX, Bullion, equities, CFDs and fixed income products. Aarna Capital combines the talent and experience of its hands-on traders with the innovative electronic platform, global liquidity network, and high-speed market infrastructure.
Aarna Capital’s customers have access to liquidity from hundreds of exchanges and venue destinations globally across every developed and most emerging market and a majority of frontier markets. This includes all of the major electronic liquidity providers, multilateral trading facilities, and proprietary liquidity pools.
