AETOS Shuts Offshore Business, Focuses on Australia

AETOS has closed its offshore operations under its Mauritius-licensed entity, marking another significant step back from international markets. The CFDs broker confirmed that it stopped onboarding new clients under this offshore unit, transferring accounts to two independent regulated brokers after markets closed on September 12.

"As part of a broader strategic review, AETOS has decided to step back from certain offshore markets, including our entities regulated in Mauritius and Seychelles," a company representative said. The move comes just a month after AETOS gave up its Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) licence in the United Kingdom and dissolved its UK entity, effectively ending its presence there.

The broker stressed that the restructuring does not affect its Australian arm, which continues to operate under its licence from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). "Importantly, this adjustment does not impact our operations in Australia," the representative added, emphasizing that Australian clients can still register through the company's website. Non-Australian residents, however, are no longer accepted.

AETOS, founded in Sydney in 2007 and controlled by Chinese entrepreneur Yongqiang Lu, is one of the older names in the retail forex sector. Its retrenchment mirrors a broader trend among CFDs brokers retreating from tightly regulated jurisdictions such as the UK and EU, even as new firms continue to enter the industry.

Several other brokers have recently scaled back or exited these markets. Hirose Financial announced in August that it would stop onboarding retail traders under its UK and Labuan-regulated units, though its Japanese business remains active. ADSS and TrivePro have also shut down their UK operations, while ICM.com is in the process of relinquishing its FCA licence. Orbex, in contrast, closed its Cyprus-based operations last year and shifted offshore, securing licences in Mauritius and Seychelles.

For AETOS, the focus appears to be on consolidating operations in Australia while exiting smaller or more challenging markets abroad. The long-term impact of this restructuring on its overall business footprint remains to be seen.