There has been a shakeup in the bidding group that is attempting to by the Chicago Stock Exchange.
In what appears to be a capitulation to the people who are against a foreign government or entity owning a US financial market exchange, CHX has filed a partial amendment to their rule filing with the SEC and has disclosed a new bidder list and ownership stake. The amendment includes an updated cap table from the multinational Chongqing Casin Enterprise Group for their proposed ownership stake in CHX.
John Kerin, CHX
As has been reported in recent weeks, certain investors have dropped out of the Chongqing Casin Enterprise Group, and CHX is now officially confirming those reports. Chinese companies Chongqing Jintian Industrial Co Ltd and Chongqing Longshang Decoration Co Ltd are both no longer involved in the transaction, while American entity Xian Tong Enterprises, Inc also dropped out of the ownership group.
The bidding group shakeup now means that American investors would own 71 percent of the exchange while Chinese investors would own a 29 percent stake, according to Drew Mauck, a spokesman for the exchange at 3Points Communications.
The Chinese entity, Chongqing Casin Enterprise Group Co., remains the lead investor through a subsidiary called North America Casin Holdings Inc.
“We are confident this will address any concerns the commission may have had about the ownership composition,” John Kerin, CEO of the exchange, said in a statement. “The CHX remains convinced of the benefits of this potential transaction, both in creating new jobs domestically and connecting the world’s two largest economies.”
Staff members at the SEC that were charged with examining the deal had originally endorsed the transaction back in August. However, more senior SEC commissioners deiced to step in and slow the purchase process and said they wanted an extended time period to consider the deal, which has been valued at $30 million.
The SEC said it would accept public comments about the proposal until Sept. 17.
