ACA Group acquires Global Trading Analytics

ACA Group, a governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) consultancy focusing on the financial services industry, has acquired Global Trading Analytics (GTA), a Rutherford, NJ-based transaction cost analysis services firm.

Founded in 2005, GTA provides transaction cost analysis and best execution solutions for asset classes such as foreign exchange, global equities, fixed income, and derivatives.

Transaction cost analysis enables financial services firms to evaluate explicit costs (commissions, fees) and implicit costs (market impact, slippage) – and optimize execution efficiency and trading strategies.

Firms can use trading cost analysis tools to refine their entire trading process – including algorithmic trading strategies, order routing improvements, and execution quality assessments.

Transaction cost analysis tools also help firms demonstrate compliance via robust reporting and broker performance assessments.

GTA’s client base includes registered investment advisers, asset managers, wealth managers, and broker-dealers. The boutique firm has 20 employees listed on LinkedIn.

ACA Group’s acquisition of GTA will create a new transaction cost analysis offering.

“The acquisition of GTA underscores our ongoing commitment to expanding our offerings and equipping our clients with the tools and expertise they need to meet evolving compliance requirements,” said Patrick Olson, CEO of ACA. “By offering clients a best-in-class TCA solution, we are addressing a key need for our clients while strengthening our position as a leader in the regulatory technology space.”

ACA Group says approximately half of GTA’s clients already use ACA for technology and GRC solutions, so the acquisition will create opportunities to deliver holistic end-to-end support.

“Together, we’re positioned to provide a fully integrated solution that meets firms' compliance and trading needs,” said John Halligan, co-founder and president of GTA.

ACA is the GRC consulting platform of Genstar Capital, which acquired and merged the New York-based company with Foreside in 2021. ACA has 1,400 employees across 10 offices in the US, UK, Malta, UAE, and India advising financial services clients on compliance, AML and finance crimes, ESG, cybersecurity, Brexit implementation, and distribution.

The firm last year acquired Encore Compliance, a New York-based compliance software firm.