Nasdaq Buys Mergent Index Business

Nasdaq OMX has reached an agreement to acquire company data provider Mergent's index division for an undisclosed sum, to bolster its custom index capabilities and dividend-themed index products

Mergent's index business, including its Indxis real-time index calculation and distribution subsidiary, creates custom indexes for clients and licenses index creation software, and is the creator of the Dividend Achievers Indexes, which are linked to more than $15 billion in assets under management in the form of product offered by major investment management firms. Assets under management in exchange-traded funds linked to Nasdaq indexes will grow by 30 percent as a result of the acquisition, exchange officials say.

The deal does not include Mergent's other business lines -- databases of corporate and government information, equity research and analytics, corporate actions and equity pricing, and fixed income data -- which continue to operate as a standalone business.