TOKYO -- Nikkei Inc. said Thursday that it has acquired an 8% stake in Wilshire Indexes, a leading, U.K.-based, global benchmark platform. With the Financial Times, a member of the Nikkei Group, already holding a stake in Wilshire Indexes, the group now holds around 20% in the platform.
The investment is aimed at furthering the global expansion of the group's index business and strengthening the Nikkei brand internationally, the Japanese media company said.
Wilshire Indexes currently offers the FT Wilshire 5000 stock price index, among others. In 2022, Nikkei and Wilshire Indexes jointly developed the Nikkei 225 Climate Change 1.5°C Target Index as a powerful tool for environmental, social and governance investment, Nikkei said. Futures trading based on the index has begun on the Singapore Exchange and the Osaka Exchange.
Through the latest investment, Wilshire Indexes aims to strengthen its cooperation with the Nikkei Group, including the FT, and to develop new indexes. Nikkei hopes to improve its brand recognition in the global market through joint promotion with Wilshire Indexes.
Wilshire Indexes was established in March 2023, when investment information service provider Wilshire spun off its index business. CEO Mark Makepeace founded FTSE International, now FTSE Russell, in 1995 and was responsible for turning the startup into one of the world's largest developers of indexes.
Tsuyoshi Hasebe, president and CEO of Nikkei Inc. said, "The Nikkei index business, which includes the Nikkei 225, is well known in Japan, and we plan to expand our presence globally."
Makepeace said, "The combination of the Nikkei Group's brand strength with our deep industry expertise and leadership will enhance the competitiveness of our global benchmark platform."
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