The Swiss Payoff AG, operator of the financial platform «payoff.ch», is being acquired by Lucht Probst Associates (LPA) from Frankfurt. According to the company, LPA is a leading European provider of financial software and CapTech solutions.

With this transaction, LPA aims to strengthen its presence in the important Swiss financial market and expand its service portfolio in the areas of content, data, and analytics for issuers, distributors, asset managers, and fund providers, according to a company statement. No financial details of the acquisition have been disclosed.

Change of Ownership Expected

A change in ownership at Payoff had been anticipated after it became known that CEO Serge Nussbaumer would take on a new role at Zurich-based Maverix Securities in early October as Head of Public Solutions & Marketing, overseeing public distribution in Switzerland and Europe (as previously reported by finews.com).

Payoff provides up-to-date news, research, and events focused on structured products, derivatives, and ETFs. In addition to a monthly magazine, the company operates the financial portal payoff.ch and publishes specialized reports such as the Swiss Yearbook for Structured Products, the ETP & Indexing Guide, and the Swiss ESG Guide. Since 2006, Payoff has also organized the annual Swiss Derivative Awards.

Expanding Data and Analytics Capabilities

According to LPA, the acquisition marks the next step in expanding its data and analytics capabilities. By gaining access to comprehensive market, media, and product data, the company aims to strengthen its position as a holistic data and technology partner in the capital markets.

«Through this merger, we will be able to tailor Payoff’s existing offering in Switzerland even more closely to the needs of our industry,» said Nussbaumer. «Being part of LPA also opens up new opportunities to further develop the concept on an international scale.»

«Presence in Switzerland»

«The combination with Payoff not only strengthens our presence in Switzerland and our expertise in structured products, but also creates new opportunities for our clients and partners in the areas of content, data, and analytics,» emphasized Stefan Lucht, founder and CEO of LPA.

Founded in 1999, LPA provides technologies and solutions for financial market participants in sales, structuring, trading, and (regulatory) reporting. Its proprietary, scalable Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions are currently used by more than 200 banks and asset managers worldwide.

Payoff was launched in 2004 by the firm Derivative Partners. Nussbaumer took over as editor-in-chief in 2018. In July 2019, the Swiss banking software provider Avaloq acquired Derivative Partners and thus also its media division. Nussbaumer later acquired Payoff himself in early 2023.