Business Performance & Highlights
The diversified business model of SIX once again demonstrated its worth during the past year. SIX grew its operating income in the Banking Services business unit by 6.0% in reporting currency and by 6.8% at constant currencies. The operating income in the Financial Information business unit also grew, by 1.1% in reporting currency and 4.3% at constant currencies. The investments into these business units over the past three years have paid off and largely compensated for the declines in the Exchanges and Securities Services business units of SIX as a result of unfavorable market conditions.
SIX successfully launched new products in all business units, and pushed the strategic expansion into ESG markets and digital assets. In the Financial Information business unit, SIX expanded its ESG data and services offering as part of the EU Sustainable Finance Action Plan. With a series of new offerings on SIX Digital Exchange (SDX), SIX has prepared the foundation for the future of financial market infrastructures and services based on distributed ledger technology (DLT).
In the past year, SIX finalized the acquisition of the European trade repository REGIS-TR and expanded numerous services in its international custody business. The workforce grew by 6.1% compared to 2021, to a total of 3,910.5 employees in full-time equivalents by year end. This was mainly driven by the integration of REGIS-TR and the expansion of the central services in Warsaw.
SIX continued to execute its growth strategy, focusing on increasing volumes on its infrastructures and expanding its international reach. SIX welcomed a total of 14 new companies on SIX Swiss Exchange, and a total of 18 new companies on BME Exchange in their different exchange market segments. The global presence of SIX in the custody markets was strengthened with an office opening in Singapore.
Further milestone projects included the expansion of the CONNEXOR reference data platform into Spanish markets, the consolidation of market data feeds and SWIFT systems in both home markets, and the settlement and custody of Swiss securities now possible via the Spanish central securities depository Iberclear.