The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has granted approval for Optimus Capital Management (Private) Limited (OCMPL) to acquire a 95.59% shareholding in Alfalah Securities (Private) Limited (ASPL). The transaction, executed under a Share Purchase Agreement, received the green light following a comprehensive competition assessment.
The CCP defined the relevant product market as “brokerage services,” which include trading execution and related activities offered by equity brokers. The assessment concluded that ASPL’s low market share ensures that the acquisition does not result in a dominant position for OCMPL within the equity brokerage market.
Pakistan’s equity brokerage sector remains diverse and competitive, benefiting from regulatory oversight by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). The consolidation is anticipated to improve efficiency and raise service standards across the industry.
While the acquisition will marginally increase OCMPL’s market share, the CCP found no significant risk of anti-competitive practices, either unilateral or coordinated. The equity brokerage market in Pakistan remains resilient, ensuring healthy competition and accessibility for stakeholders.
Optimus Capital Management (Private) Limited, a privately-owned company, specializes in equity brokerage services, including stock and securities trading in the capital markets. Alfalah Securities (Private) Limited, also privately owned, provides equity brokerage services with a focus on trading solutions in equity markets.
This strategic move is expected to bolster OCMPL’s market presence while maintaining a competitive and regulated marketplace for equity brokerage services in Pakistan.
