Battery Ventures and the Blackstone Group, two US venture capital firms, have cashed in their stakes in Liffe, the UK's listed derivatives market, at a significant return of more than three times its original investment.

Battery and Blackstone snapped up 29% of Liffe, the London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange, towards the end of last year at a mere £6 (€9.6) per share, which included warrants giving it another 10% at £12 per share. Together the two firms paid £57m for their influential stake.