Who owns BATS Global Markets?

In 2017, the story of BATS took a significant turn when Cboe, the owner of Cboe Options Exchange and Cboe Futures Exchange (CFE), made an offer to acquire BATS Global Markets. This acquisition marked a watershed moment in the financial industry. BATS was no longer an independent entity, but its legacy lived on within the Cboe family.

What is BATS Global Markets?

Bats Global Markets was previously known as Better Alternative Trading System (BATS) and was initially branded as an alternative trading platform, marketing itself to investors as a company that was more innovative than established exchanges. When it entered the European market in 2008, the company was rebranded as Bats Global Markets.

Is bats a stock exchange?

BATS was founded in June 2005, became an operator of a licensed U.S. stock exchange in 2008 and opened its pan-European stock market in October 2008. As of February 2016, it operated four U.S. stock exchanges, two U.S. equity options exchanges, the pan-European stock market, and a global market for the trading of foreign exchange products.