IG GROUP HOLDINGS

Fitch affirms the long-term IDRs of IG Group and IG Markets at 'BBB', but lowers the outlook from 'stable' to 'negative'. The reason is the risk of higher medium-term leverage after the partly debt-funded acquisition of Underdog Sports Holdings, which Fitch estimates could push gross debt/EBITDA from 0.9x at end-June 2026 to around or above 1.5x. Fitch affirms the £1 billion MTN programme and the £550 million senior bonds, but warns of a possible downgrade to BBB- if leverage is not sustainably reduced below 1.5x. » Altro su de.investing.com

IG Group shares fall sharply after the half-year results and the announcement of the takeover of Underdog for up to around $1.3bn. Investors are worried about rising operating costs, a shrinking EBITDA margin, execution and regulatory risks related to the acquisition, and the suspension of the share buyback program until 2027. The planned relocation of domicile to Jersey and reliance on consenting regulators increase uncertainty; a strategy update with new financial targets is scheduled for 22 October 2026. » Altro su de.investing.com

IG Group shares fell 8.5% after announcing the acquisition of Underdog for $1.3 billion. The transaction includes roughly $160 million of assumed debt. IG Group has also suspended its share buyback program and thereby expands its U.S. business into daily fantasy sports and prediction markets. » Altro su de.investing.com