IG Group Holdings plc today announced the proposed acquisition of a high growth US online brokerage and trading education platform tastytrade.
The landmark deal would expand and diversify IG’s growth drivers through entry into the world’s largest listed derivatives market – the US. In addition, tastytrade is highly complementary to IG’s existing client offering, adding a provider of exchange traded derivatives and increasing the contribution from agency-only activities. The acquisition will also boost f IG’s existing US business.
IG is considering paying $1.0 billion to tastytrade’s shareholders, comprising $300 million in cash and the issuance of 61.0 million IG shares, valued at $700 million.
June Felix, Chief Executive of IG, commented:
June Felix
I am thrilled to welcome tastytrade to the IG Group family. This acquisition will materially expand and scale our business in the US and see us further diversify into the exciting high growth market of US retail options and futures, a market which is adjacent to IG’s core retail trading skill set. The US market has more than 1.5 million retail traders and is the largest derivatives market in the world. tastytrade has grown impressively and proven itself to be an innovative market disrupter passionately committed to delivering for their clients. The financial and strategic rationale underpinning this deal are compelling. I am confident that with our shared clientcentric ethos, passion for innovation and growth, IG and tastytrade will prove a winning combination.
Tom Sosnoff, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of tastytrade, added:
Early on we knew tastytrade was a very special company. While our long-term goal has always been to go global, we waited almost 10 years until we found the right partner and perfect match. Together we will focus on empowering the self-directed investor and change the way people perceive and engage with financial markets.
IG Group also announced its half a year results for the six months ended on 30 November 2020.
The online trading company reported a record performance for H1FY21 with net trading revenue jumping 67% to £416.9 million, compared to the H1FY20 when it was £249.9 million.
Other highlights for H1FY21 include:
Profit before tax increased 129% to £231.3 million (H1 FY20: £101.2 million)
Active clients rose 55% to 238,600 (H1 FY20: 154,000), 64,000 new clients onboarded (H1 FY20: 28,800).
New client retention rates are comparable to historical average.
Capital, funding, and liquidity remain very strong with regulatory capital resources of £712.3 million (31 May 2020: £675.5 million).
Interim cash dividend of 12.96 pence per share (H1 FY20: 12.96 pence per share)
June Felix, Chief Executive, said:
I am delighted to announce an outstanding performance over the first six months of our financial year. We delivered record revenue and profit, made excellent progress against our strategic growth objectives and continued to build a more sustainable and diversified global business.
Demand for our products remained high, benefitting from favourable trading conditions, although it is the quality of our technology and the dedication of our people, throughout the global pandemic, that has enabled us to convert this demand into a step change in the size of our active client base.
Experienced writer and journalist, working in the global online trading sector, Steffy is the Editor of LeapRate. She has previous experience as a copywriter and has been with the company since January 2020. Steffy has a British and American Studies degree from St. Kliment Ochridski University in Sofia.
