It could be done in a flash.
The high-speed IEX Exchange — made famous in Michael Lewis’ 2014 bestseller “Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt” — is believed to be up for sale after its announcement last week that it is exiting the listings business.
Wall Street has been rife with speculation that IEX may be talking to prospective buyers after its sole listing departed for Nasdaq. IEX has never been successful in attracting new listings, and is instead now focusing on its core trading business.
Even though CEO and co-founder Brad Katsuyama says IEX is poised for a record year of revenue and profits, some analysts say its market share — and overall growth — is hardly trail-blazing. IEX accounts for 3 percent of US equities trading volume, compared with some 20 percent for incumbent Nasdaq.
One Street veteran, who declined to be named, said much of IEX’s rock-star quality has dimmed since Lewis’ book transformed founders Katsuyama and Ronan Ryan into legends.
Katsuyama put on a brave face about IEX’s decision to get out of the listing game.
“We exited because we are not an events company,” Katsuyama told The Post, referring to the dog-and-pony show culture of IPO and listings business today, with come-ons and often extravagant parties to lure companies. “Trading is our core business, and that continues to be our main focus,” he added.
“I would think now is a good time for IEX to sell itself,” Jason Lambert, president and CEO of Northwest Financial & Tax Solutions, said, adding that the upstart exchange, with its unique “speed bump” designed to thwart predatory high-frequency traders, could make inroads in its planned corporate buyback service.
Although he was unable to identify potential buyers, Lambert said Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch are the kind of buyers who might want to fold IEX into their arsenal of trading machinery.
CEO Brad Katsuyama denied the rumors.
“IEX is having a record year in terms of market share, revenue, and profit. We are in the strongest financial and strategic position we have ever been in as a company, and we are ready to win the execution battle versus the other exchanges. An anonymous source saying we are for sale is completely untue,” he said.