Linklaters and Simmons & Simmons have advised on the acquisition of UK-based stock exchange virt-x by Swiss stock exchange, SWX – a ground-breaking deal that looks set to prompt a raft of similar transactions in coming months.

SWX, doubled its stake in virt-x with the acquisition of banking and investors’ consortium the Tradepoint Group’s (TPG’s) 38% stake in the stock exchange, creating the first pan-European market for blue-chip equities.