FIA and its affiliates, the European Principal Traders Association (EPTA), and the Principal Traders Group (PTG), jointly announce a new structure for the respective organisations that recognises the continued evolution and growth of EPTA and PTG, and their members, in markets outside of the cleared derivatives industry. With this announcement, EPTA and PTG will begin to operate independently of the FIA, advocating on behalf of their members in various markets and asset classes globally.
FIA will work closely with both groups over the coming months to support the full build out of their independent organisations in the US and Europe. With the launch of these new independent associations, FIA plans to create a new complementary membership category to allow principal trading firms, including EPTA and PTG members, to continue as members of FIA participating in its conferences and on industry initiatives.
“Since their launch more than a decade ago, we anticipated a time when EPTA and PTG would evolve into independent organisations. Today’s announcement is a testament to the power of these brands that can now serve as standalone organisations advocating for their members across multiple asset classes beyond cleared derivatives,” said Walt Lukken, president and CEO of FIA. “Principal trading firms serve as an integral source of liquidity for our global markets, and we look forward to working together as independent but aligned partners for the betterment of our industry.”
“It has been a privilege to be part of the FIA organisation for almost 15 years,” EPTA chairman Niels Lemmers said. “I am proud of what we have achieved together, advancing the principal trading industry while building strong working relationships across the industry as well as with regulators and policymakers. I want to thank the FIA leadership for their collaboration and EPTA members for their commitment and support. Looking ahead, we will continue to represent our shared interests and advocate for fair, transparent and competitive capital markets that enable efficient access to liquidity for investors to ensure sustainable economic growth.
“Since 2010, FIA has been an outstanding partner to PTG and our members,” said Graham Harper, Chair of PTG. “As our reach expands across asset classes, it’s the right time for us to become a standalone organization — but our commitment to open, competitive and transparent markets, and our strong relationship with FIA, will remain unchanged.”
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For media inquiries, please contact FIA’s communications team – fiapr@fia.org
FIA is the leading trade organization for the futures, options and cleared derivatives markets globally. FIA’s membership includes clearing firms, exchanges, clearinghouses, principal traders, asset managers, execution firms, commodity firms, end users and those legal, technology and other firms who serve this community. FIA’s mission is to support open, transparent and competitive markets, protect and enhance the integrity of the financial system and promote high standards of professional conduct.
EPTA represents the leading principal trading firms in the EU and UK. Its members are independent market makers and providers of liquidity and risk transfer for markets and end-investors across Europe, providing liquidity in all asset classes including shares, bonds, derivatives, ETFs and digital assets. EPTA works constructively with policy makers, regulators and other market stakeholders to ensure efficient, resilient and transparent financial markets in Europe.
PTG is an association of firms who trade their own capital on exchanges in futures, options and equities markets worldwide. PTG members engage in manual, automated and hybrid methods of trading, and they are active in a wide variety of asset classes, including equities, fixed income, foreign exchange and commodities. PTG member firms serve as a critical source of liquidity, allowing those who use the markets, including individual investors, to manage their risks and invest effectively. The presence of competitive professional traders contributing to price discovery and the provision of liquidity is a hallmark of well-functioning markets. PTG advocates for open access to markets, transparency and data-driven policy.
