Exco International

Exco International was a British financial-services company focused on money brokering. Its operating history began in 1965, when the business was established under the name Astley & Pearce. It subsequently merged with Godsell & Co, another money-broking firm, creating the basis for the business that later traded under the Exco name. The company was previously owned by Gerrard & National. In 1978, its management completed a buyout from that owner, marking a change in control and a transition toward independent management. Exco later became a publicly traded company, obtaining a London Stock Exchange listing in 1981. During its time as a listed business, it grew sufficiently in market significance to become a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index, reflecting its position within the United Kingdom's financial-services sector at that time. In 1986, Exco was acquired by British & Commonwealth Holdings. The acquisition ended its independence as a listed operating company, although the business continued within the acquiring group's corporate structure. British & Commonwealth Holdings subsequently collapsed, and the money-broking operations were sold off and re-emerged as Exco plc. A later strategic transaction reshaped the company again. In 1998, Exco plc acquired Intercapital plc through a reverse takeover. The transaction connected Exco with the Intercapital business and formed part of the corporate path that ultimately led to its integration into ICAP Group. Exco International is therefore best understood as a historical British financial-services brand and corporate predecessor rather than as an active standalone company today. The available historical record identifies money brokering as the company's core activity. It does not provide sufficient information to establish a detailed product catalogue, consumer-facing brand positioning, named executives, financial performance, or a current website. Its principal significance lies in its succession of ownership changes, public listing, inclusion in the FTSE 100, acquisition by British & Commonwealth Holdings, post-collapse restructuring, and eventual absorption into the ICAP organization.

Exco International originated in the British money-broking sector. The business was established in 1965 as Astley & Pearce and later merged with Godsell & Co, another money-broking company. These events formed the early corporate foundation of Exco and positioned it within the institutional financial markets rather than the retail banking or consumer-finance sectors. In 1978, management bought the business from Gerrard & National, its previous owner. The management buyout restored a degree of independence and preceded the company's move into the public markets. Exco was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1981. At one stage it was sufficiently prominent to be included in the FTSE 100 Index, making it a notable participant in the United Kingdom's listed financial-services sector. The company's independent public-market period ended in 1986, when British & Commonwealth Holdings acquired it. Exco thereafter operated within that group's structure. When British & Commonwealth Holdings collapsed, the business was sold off and continued under the name Exco plc. This represented a restructuring of ownership rather than the end of the underlying money-broking operations. In 1998, Exco plc acquired Intercapital plc through a reverse takeover. The transaction was the last major corporate development identified in the available account of the company. Exco was subsequently integrated into ICAP Group, ending its existence as a distinct standalone business brand. The historical trajectory of Exco therefore runs from an independently established money broker, through management ownership and a London listing, to acquisition, post-collapse reorganization, and incorporation into a larger global financial-markets group. The available sources do not identify a founder, chief executives, precise headquarters, financial figures, detailed brokerage products, or a current operating website. They also do not describe consumer campaigns or controversies. Exco's documented importance is primarily corporate and historical: it illustrates the consolidation of British money broking and the movement of a once-listed specialist firm into larger financial-services ownership.

• 1998

  Reverse takeover of Intercapital

  [1]Exco Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Exco plc acquired Intercapital plc through a reverse takeover.

• 1986

  Acquired by British & Commonwealth Holdings

  [1]Exco Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  British & Commonwealth Holdings acquired the company.

• 1981

  London Stock Exchange listing

  [1]Exco Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Exco became listed on the London Stock Exchange and later appeared among FTSE 100 constituents.

• 1978

  Management buyout from Gerrard & National

  [1]Exco Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Management acquired the business from Gerrard & National in a buyout.

• 1965

  Business established as Astley & Pearce

  [1]Exco Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  The money-broking business that later became Exco International was established under the name Astley & Pearce.

• Merger with Godsell & Co

  [1]Exco Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Astley & Pearce subsequently merged with Godsell & Co, another money-broking business.

• Business sold after British & Commonwealth Holdings collapse

  [1]Exco Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Following the collapse of its parent group, the business was sold off and operated as Exco plc.

• Integration into ICAP Group

  [1]Exco Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  The business was ultimately integrated into ICAP Group and ceased to operate as a distinct standalone brand.

A historical institutional financial-services and money-broking company serving participants in financial markets.

• Financial-market brokerage · 1965

  Money brokering

  Money brokering was Exco International's documented core business. The company operated as an institutional intermediary in financial markets, although the available source does not specify the individual instruments, currencies, customer segments, or trading venues covered.

• 1998

  Reverse takeover of Intercapital plcM&A

  Background

  After being sold off following the collapse of British & Commonwealth Holdings, the business was operating as Exco plc.

  Action taken

  Exco plc acquired Intercapital plc through a reverse takeover.

  Aftermath

  The business was subsequently integrated into ICAP Group.

  Source

• 1986

  Acquisition by British & Commonwealth HoldingsM&A

  Background

  Exco was a listed financial-services company operating in money broking.

  Action taken

  British & Commonwealth Holdings acquired Exco.

  Aftermath

  The company later re-emerged as Exco plc after the collapse and sell-off of its parent group.

  Source

• 1981

  Public listing on the London Stock ExchangeStrategy

  Background

  Exco was an established money-broking company following its earlier merger and management buyout.

  Action taken

  The company listed its shares on the London Stock Exchange.

  Aftermath

  Exco later became a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.

  Source

• 1978

  Management buyout from Gerrard & NationalM&A

  Background

  The business had previously been owned by Gerrard & National.

  Action taken

  Company management acquired the business in a buyout.

  Aftermath

  The transaction placed the company under independent management before its subsequent London Stock Exchange listing.

  Source

1. 1Exco Internationalen.wikipedia.org