and settlement services through its central securities depository (CSD), Euronext Securities, based on Euronext's ownership of previous national CSDs in Denmark, Italy, Norway and Portugal. Clearing Between 2016 and 2019 Euronext owned a 20% share in European Central Counterparty N.V. (EuroCCP). As of December 2019, Euronext owns an 11.1% share in LCH SA. As part of its acquisition of the Italian Bourse in 2021, Euronext obtained the multi-asset clearing house Cassa di Compensazione e Garanzia S.p.A. (CC&G). CC&G was renamed Euronext Clearing. Euronext Corporate Services (ECS) Euronext Corporate Services (ECS) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Euronext. Founded in 2016, ECS provides solutions and services to more than 4,000 organisations, ranging from corporates to the public sector. It has acquired a number of companies, including Company Webcast (webcasting), iBabs (board portal), InsiderLog (compliance software), and launched new solutions, such as IntegrityLog (whistleblowing), and IR.manager (Investor relation management). Financial information History Background: Exchange companies that merged into Euronext 2000–2007: Founding merger and early acquisitions In 1998, the London Stock Exchange and Deutsche Börse announced their intention of forming an alliance to fend off competition from the United States, and take advantage from the European Union's (EU) single currency and harmonisation of financial markets. In April 1999 the stock exchanges in Paris, Zurich, Madrid, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Milan signed a memorandum of understanding in Madrid, which formalised plans to include these bourses as well. Ultimately, only three decided to proceed, and on 22 September 2000 Euronext was formed following a merger of the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, Brussels Stock Exchange, and Paris Bourse. In December 2001, Euronext acquired the shares of the London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange (LIFFE), forming Euronext.LIFFE. In 2002 the group merged with the Portuguese stock exchange Bolsa de Valores de Lisboa e Porto (BVLP), renamed Euronext Lisbon. In 2001, Euronext became a listed company itself after completing its initial public offering. In 2003, Euronext cash products were integrated onto a single platform (NSC). In 2004, Euronext derivatives products were integrated onto LIFFE CONNECT. In 2005, Euronext introduced Alternext as a market segment to help finance small and mid-class companies in the Eurozone. 2007–2014: Merger with the New York Stock Exchange and acquisition by Intercontinental Exchange Due to apparent moves by NASDAQ to acquire the London Stock Exchange or Euronext itself, NYSE Group, owner of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), offered €8 billion (US$10.2b) in cash and shares