CBL Markets to Acquire Water Exchange H2OX, on M&A Growth Path

SYDNEY & NEW YORK--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--CBL Markets (“CBL Markets”), leading spot exchange operator for environmental commodity markets, today announced it has signed an implementation agreement pursuant to which it will acquire a controlling interest in the Australian water exchange, H2OX Markets Limited (“H2OX”).

“The acquisition of H2OX brings scale and immediate access to a growing commodity market which will help take the business to the next level in its growth.”

This acquisition is a natural progression for CBL Markets into the broader soft commodity space, expanding its product set beyond energy and environmental markets, which remains a core focus for the company. It provides a unique opportunity to build transactional capability and cross-trading opportunities for market participants in both Australia and the US.

Australia has the most advanced and active water trading market in the world. H2OX was established to bring transparency, independence, efficiency and price discovery to the Australian water market and it has played a key role in streamlining the market for owners and users of water including farmers, irrigators and brokers.

“This is an exciting development for CBL Markets, and a natural fit for the Company as it further establishes itself as a leading spot trading platform for energy and environmental products, as well as other soft commodities,” said Donald H. Putnam, Chairman of CBL Markets.

“The acquisition of H2OX brings scale and immediate access to a growing commodity market which will help take the business to the next level in its growth.”

To assist CBL Markets in the execution of its strategy, CBL Markets has appointed Wilsons Advisory and Aitken Murray Capital Partners as financial advisors, to assist the Company with its capital requirements to facilitate its growth strategy including targeted acquisitions.

CBL Markets has made a number of strategic announcements over the last 12 months, including partnerships with the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (“CME”) Group and US registry APX, as well as the revamp of its Board appointing financial market professionals Donald H. Putnam, Larry Leibowitz and Jack Klinck and energy and environmental markets expert John Melby.

About CBL Markets

CBL Markets is a global exchange providing market participants with access to the world’s environmental commodity markets. Visit cblmarkets.com.