BIDS Trading, an alternative trading system (ATS) focusing on U.S. equity block trading, has now connected to the Fidessa Latent Zero’s buy-side order execution management system (OEMS), called Minerva. Both companies announced the systems connectivity today, reflecting the need to provide institutions with access to new trading venues that are proliferating in the U.S. equity trading space.

With a rapid global connectivity push to connect dark pools to its buy-side OEMS, Fidessa LatentZero, a leader in buy-side front-office technology, seems to be announcing these deals in quick succession.

Connectivity to BIDS falls on the heels of Fidessa LatentZero announcing connectivity to NYSE Euronext’s MatchPoint last week and Pipeline Trading Systems' Pipeline ATS last week. “Access to the BIDS Trading platform enables Minerva clients to trade large blocks of U.S. equities without showing their hand,” stated Chris Gregory, head of connectivity services at Latent Zero in the release.

The BIDS Trading platform is designed for buy and sell side firms that want to trade large blocks through continuous order matching or trade negotiation. Average daily volume on BIDS reached 18.7 million shares in January 2008 while total volume reached more than 2.75 billion shares in less than eight months of trading.

Integration the two trading platforms could also expose BIDS to a wider base of market participants. “We view this as yet another positive step toward our goal of connecting to as many buy-and sell-side firms as possible,” commented BIDS Trading CEO Tim Mahoney in the release.