Who stepped up to buy control of Retail FX and CFDs broker AvaTrade? At what valuation?

Which industry CEO did STARTRADER bring on board to launch and run its new institutional / B2B arm, STARprime?

Why did Exness pluck down €75 million to buy real estate in Paphos?

What are the new branding campaigns launched by each of NAGA and Swissquote all about?

Some of the most read and commented-on FX/CFD industry news stories to appear over the past seven days on FNG included:

Top FX and CFDs industry news stories this week

AvaTrade ownership transfer planned at $500M valuation. Israel business news site Calcalist is reporting that Retail FX and CFDs broker AvaTrade has issued a request to Israel’s ISA securities authority to approve a change-in-ownership in the company, which will see one of AvaTrade’s two founders and controlling shareholders exit, and a new investor group enter.

Exclusive: Jay Mawji joins STARTRADER as CEO of STARprime. FNG Exclusive… FNG has learned that former INFINOX CEO Jay Mawji has joined Retail FX and CFDs brokerage group STARTRADER, as CEO of STARTRADER’s newly launched institutional prime services business, STARprime. STARprime is the new institutional product of STARTRADER. The focus will be on offering liquidity and technology services to brokerages, funds and fintech companies across the CFDs industry.

Bybit TradFi launches as crypto exchange adds FX and CFDs trading. Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, has announced the launch of Bybit TradFi, marking what the company calls another milestone in the crypto-native platform’s evolution toward becoming a comprehensive financial destination that serves all customer needs. Bybit’s initial foray into CFDs brokerage will be via offshore Infra Capital, domiciled in Mauritius.

Expansion to Paphos? Exness buys €75M property from Bank of Cyprus. Cyprus news site KNEWS is reporting that leading online broker Exness has acquired €75 million (USD $86 million) worth of property from the Bank of Cyprus in Paphos. Exness, headquartered in Limassol and one of the largest employers in the city, has been dealing with real estate issues in Limassol for a number of years.

NAGA unveils brand building campaign with Bundesliga football club Borussia Dortmund. Online brokerage and investment firm NAGA Group AG (ETR:N4G) has unveiled its newest brand-building campaign, in partnership with German Bundesliga football club, Borussia Dortmund. NAGA first announced its sponsorship of Borussia Dortmund in September of last year.

Swissquote launches new brand campaign: Take your finances by the horns. Leading Switzerland based online broker and banking firm Swissquote Group Holding SA (SWX:SQN) has launched what the company calls a “bullish” new brand campaign, entitled Take your finances by the horns. Swissquote plans a series of joint video, digital and print ads, featuring new videos and online/offline spots to market the new campaign. The new campaign was developed with help from Swiss communications and advertising agency Cavalcade.

Top FX industry executive moves this week

❑ GCEX hires Finalto alum Stanislav Bunimovich as Managing Director APAC.

❑ GTN hires experienced banker Jon Lester as COO Middle East.

❑ Ricardo Grados joins INFINOX to lead eFX institutional sales in LATAM.

❑ Exclusive: CFDs broker Neex expands MENA hiring Hietham Abdulhalim.

❑ TMGM hires Elpiniki Ester Gatzoudi Soriano from SquaredFinancial as Partnerships Manager.

❑ Exclusive: Match-Prime compliance head Anastasia Theofanous leaves for Perpetuals.com.