Reuters first with BATS plan to go after IPOs and take on Nasdaq and NYSE

Reuters was first to report on March 29 that private exchange operator BATS Global Markets planned to go after IPOs with a new listings venue by year end, taking on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq. BATS Chief Executive Joe Ratterman told Reuters in an exclusive interview that the company was banking on a merger frenzy in the exchanges business — specifically a bid by Nasdaq for the NYSE — to give its own listings business some life as regulators mull antitrust concerns. The Financial Times and other media outlets cited the Reuters scoop, which came as many of the world`s top exchanges battle for position in an unprecedented consolidation wave. Bloomberg and Dow Jones only had the news after BATS issued a press release hours later.