As Lars Seier Christensen, joint chief executive of Saxo, is fond of telling me, I’m slipping up. In the past, I have frequently called him to ask about some deal I’ve heard about through the grapevine. But recently, Saxo has announced initiative after initiative of which I have had no inkling.
This week, it’s the opening of a Tokyo office. As Saxo points out, the Japanese retail market is both large and it is growing, so it is no surprise that the bank is trying to boost its presence there. The centre already accounts for around 80% of the flow Saxo sees in Asia.
The office will be headed by Wataru Kojima, whose role will encompass the establishment and development of Saxo Bank Japan. Saxo currently has 11 white-label partners in Japan, and it says these will benefit from an improved level of support.
I have to say, I am a bit peeved to have missed so many stories. So I tried to second guess Saxo’s next move. “When will you buy a US bucket shop? Plenty going cheap,” I asked Christensen.
“You know of any decent US brokers for sale? And, Lee, really.