London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) today announces it has agreed to acquire Global Data Consortium Inc (GDC), a global provider of high-quality identity verification data to support clients with Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements (the Transaction).
Founded in 2012, GDC specialises in delivering high-speed electronic digital identity verification. GDC provides global name and address matching capabilities that enable them to accurately source and enhance data from over 300 data sources globally and to deliver high quality identity data in near real-time for over 70 countries.
GDC’s services are currently used within the LSEG Customer and Third-Party Risk business, to provide global digital identity verification to customers. Following completion, GDC will be part of LSEG’s Data & Analytics division.
Andrea Remyn Stone, Group Head, Data & Analytics LSEG, said:
“Adding GDC to the suite of digital identity solutions within our Data & Analytics division, will enable us to continue to expand our capabilities in this high growth segment, through both direct sales and channel partnerships. I look forward to working with the team at GDC to deliver on our promise of being the platform of choice to manage financial crime related risks.”
Phil Cotter, Group Head of Customer & Third-Party Risk Solutions, LSEG, said:
“This transaction delivers a compelling opportunity to acquire a strategic capability aligned to our vision of becoming a market leading global Digital Identity and Fraud (DI&F) solutions provider. The acquisition of GDC, combined with our existing capabilities from GIACT and Qual-ID, will enable customers to verify digital identity and protect against fraud globally with a suite of real-time, accurate solutions.”
Bill Spruill, Founder and President, GDC, said:
“I’m thrilled that GDC is joining the LSEG family. Building on the previous partnership followed by the investment, with the Customer and Third-Party Risk business, LSEG always felt like a natural fit for GDC. The opportunity to accelerate our global growth, leveraging the breadth and scale of LSEG, presents a compelling opportunity for our team to better serve our global customers delivering innovative new solutions for the market.”
Refinitiv acquired a 11% stake in GDC in 2020. The terms of the Transaction have not been disclosed. The Transaction is expected to close in H1 2022, subject to regulatory approvals.
About LSEG
LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group) is more than a diversified global financial markets infrastructure and data business. We are dedicated, open-access partners with a commitment to excellence in delivering the services our customers expect from us. With extensive experience, deep knowledge and worldwide presence across financial markets, we enable businesses and economies around the world to fund innovation, manage risk and create jobs. It’s how we’ve contributed to supporting the financial stability and growth of communities and economies globally for more than 300 years.
Data & Analytics
Our acquisition of Refinitiv means we can provide the breadth and depth of financial data and best-in-class analytics that customers expect – driving innovation and growth across global markets. And our high-performance solutions – from trading, to market surveillance, to wealth solutions and more – help to enhance the performance of our customers. FTSE Russell is a leading global provider of financial indexing, benchmarking and analytic services with more than $17 trillion benchmarked to our indices – and offers an extensive range of data services and research. The combination of Refinitiv and FTSE Russell provides LSEG with leading capabilities in data, analytics, indices and benchmarks
Capital Markets
We offer our customers extensive access to capital markets and liquidity across multiple asset classes. We operate a broad range of international equity, fixed income, exchange-traded funds/exchange traded products and foreign exchange markets. Our Group is home to several capital formation and execution venues: London Stock Exchange, AIM, Turquoise, FXall and Tradeweb (through a majority ownership interest).
Post Trade
We support our customers’ clearing and reporting obligations, providing risk, balance sheet and financial resource management solutions, whilst working with our other divisions to extend this support across the value chain.
A leading global clearing house with a strong presence across multiple asset classes, LCH helps financial institutions all over the world use their capital efficiently and manage counterparty risk. We work closely with sell-side clearing members and buy-side clients in conjunction with trading venues globally.
UnaVista, a regulated platform that helps customers meet their reporting compliance obligations and reduce operational and regulatory risk through reporting, reference data and analytics solutions, further complements our Post Trade offering.
Through a comprehensive suite of trusted financial market infrastructure services – and our open-access model – we provide the flexibility, stability and trust that enable our customers to pursue their ambitions with confidence and clarity.
LSEG is headquartered in the United Kingdom, with significant operations in 70 countries across EMEA, North America, Latin America and Asia Pacific. We employ 25,000 people globally, more than half located in Asia Pacific. LSEG’s ticker symbol is LSEG.
