ETFS Capital, a strategic investment company, today announced it has acquired the business of ETF.com, one of the world’s leading authorities on ETF news, analysis and education, from Cboe Global Markets (Cboe), a market operator and global trading solutions provider.
ETF.com was founded in 2001 with a mission to deliver clear, independent and authoritative exchange traded fund (ETF) news, analysis and education to help participants make better investment decisions. When Cboe (previously Bats) acquired ETF.com in 2016, its goal was to help retail investors and advisors understand the benefits of ETFs through best-in-class educational content. Under Cboe’s ownership, ETF.com expanded its multimedia business with webinars, events, videos and podcasts, growing its readership and solidifying ETF.com as a leading media platform serving the wider ETF industry.
The global ETF industry continues to grow rapidly, reaching a record U.S. $8 trillion in assets under management (AUM) across more than 6,500 ETFs by the end of 2020 (source: ULTUMUS). ETF.com has evolved in tandem with the growing choice and complexity of the ETF market, offering participants the resources and tools needed to keep pace with this fast-growing market.
Graham Tuckwell, Chairman, ETFS Capital, said: “The ongoing record growth of the global ETF industry is an incredible opportunity for an industry-leading resource like ETF.com. All participants want more effective and innovative ways to share, analyse and understand the evolution of the global ETF industry, so we are acquiring and further investing in ETF.com to make this a reality.” Tuckwell added: “ETF.com is also expected to benefit from the related businesses and expertise across our portfolio, covering data, analytics, index services and front office technology amongst others, to help unlock further innovation opportunities.”
Created by ETF industry veterans and chaired by Graham Tuckwell, an ETF industry pioneer and founder of ETF Securities, ETFS Capital is focused on growth opportunities across the investment ecosystem. ETF.com joins its portfolio alongside ETF Stream, the leading European ETF website, and AltFi, the market-leading website for the global fintech community.
Laura Morrison, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Listings, Cboe Global Markets, said: “We are thrilled to have ETF.com join the ETFS Capital group. Cboe is a passionate champion for the global ETF industry and we believe the innovative thinking, deep experience and planned investment from ETFS Capital in the business and people of ETF.com will not only grow this journalistic enterprise into a global media brand, but also benefit the ETF industry as a whole. Cboe plans to continue offering ETF.com’s excellent resources and marketing services to our listings and trading clients as its global footprint broadens.” Morrison added: “This deal also creates the opportunity for related collaboration between Cboe and ETFS Capital over time.”
Drew Voros, Editor-in-Chief of ETF.com, said: “We are excited to join the ETFS Capital group, which shares both Cboe and ETF.com’s commitment to growing the ETP space through analysis, news coverage, education and data. Over the years, ETF.com has benefitted from Cboe’s strengths as one of the leading and fastest growing marketplaces for ETPs to expand our readership, voice and presence globally. We look forward to having ETFS Capital’s support in our continued success and creating a new relationship with Cboe to serve the ETF investing community.”
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The acquisition is immaterial from a financial perspective for Cboe Global Markets.
To learn more about ETF.com, visit www.etf.com.