VPC acquired the Finnish clearing and settlement operation APK from OMX in 2004 after which the Swedish firm became a major shareholder in VPC.

Prior to today's deal, OMX, Handelsbanken Nordea, SEB and Swedbank each held a 19.78% each in VPC. But now OMX has sold off its share in VPC to the other shareholders for a consideration of Skr 575 million, making a profit of SKr80 million.

Following the deal, the four remaining major shareholders in VPC will each hold around a 25% stake in the business.

OMX says VPC has a license to use its clearing and settlement, but a joint development project regarding a Nordic CSD platform will be discontinued.

Magnus Böcker, CEO of OMX, says: "When we discontinue our joint development project and sell our shares in VPC, OMX's role in the Nordic financial market will be focused on developing the OMX Nordic Exchange."

Nordic and Baltic stock exchange operator OMX said last month that it was buying the Iceland stock exchange operator (Icex).

OMX was recently rumoured to be holding takeover talks with US stock exchange operator Nasdaq but the Scandinavian firm stated earlier this week it was not in merger talks with any exchange organisation other than the Icex.