IG’s $1 Billion Bet on Tastytrade Seen as Pricey; Shares Fall

IG Group Holdings Plc shares fell the most in five months after it agreed to buy Chicago-based online brokerage Tastytrade Inc., with analysts raising concerns over the $1 billion cost of its bet that U.S. retail investors will embrace derivatives.

The deal comprises $300 million in cash and the issuance of 61 million IG shares to Tastytrade shareholders, according to a statement. The combination would add Tastytrade’s more than 105,000 active accounts to IG’s platform, whose core markets include the U.K., European Union, Australia and Singapore.

IG shares fell almost 10% before trimming the decline to close down ...