IG Group buys UK trading app Freetrade for £160m

16th January 2025
London-based online trading platform IG Group has purchased the stock trading app Freetrade in an all-cash transaction worth £160 million.
The deal is expected to close by mid-2025, subject to regulatory approval.

IG Group stated that the acquisition will strengthen its trading and investment services in the UK and extend its reach by incorporating a well-established brand in the direct-to-consumer trading and investment space.

Freetrade will continue to operate as an independent entity under its existing brand, with its current management team, led by CEO and co-founder Viktor Nebehaj, staying in place.

IG Group also plans to invest in expanding Freetrade’s product offerings, hiring additional talent, introducing new features, and ramping up marketing efforts to drive growth. The company intends to reinvest the majority of Freetrade’s projected profits into business expansion over the next two years.

Founded in 2017 and regulated in both the UK and Sweden, Freetrade provides a variety of investment products, including ISAs, SIPPs, UK Treasury bills, fractional shares, securities lending, and access to 6,200 global stocks and ETFs.