London Stock Exchange Group to buy Mergent Inc
The London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) has inked a deal to buy a company that provides business and financial data on global publicly listed companies, Mergent Inc.
LSEG said Mergent Inc would add to their data and analytics capabilities, while it would form part of their information services division, which already included FTSE Russell.
Mergent has been supplying business and financial data and information for over 100 years. It would now also support the growth of FTSE Russell's core index offering and data services, LSEG said.
FTSE Russell's chief executive, and LSEG's group director of information services, Mark Makepeace said: "Mergent will broaden our range of data services, research and analytics to meet the increasing demands of our clients for benchmarks and related data and analytic services".
Mergent Inc CEO Jonathan Worrall said: "Mergent is delighted to become part of FTSE Russell and the wider London Stock Exchange Group".
LSEG said there had been significant growth of passive investments and demand was increasing for smart-beta and customised indices, which incorporated factors such as volatility, quality and liquidity into index creation.
"Multi-factor indexes, which include stocks with specific characteristics, are an important and innovative new tool for examining markets and creating investable products and FTSE Russell is well-positioned to meet this growing customer demand," the London Stock Exchange Group said.
LSEG and FTSE Russell also intended to expand and align Mergent's activities, to meet their existing client base demands.
The transaction was set to be completed by 31 January 2017, subject to various terms and conditions.
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