AJ Bell buys financial publisher MSM

Sipp and platform provider AJ Bell has acquired a financial publishing business so it can offer investment writing to its users.

AJ Bell has acquired MSM Media, which produces weekly magazine Shares as well as online publications MoneyAM, StockMarketWire and Brokerforecasts.

MSM will continue to be run by its existing senior management, led by chief executive David Motum.

Charles Galbraith, managing director of AJ Bell Securities, will be appointed non-executive chairman of the MSM board.

AJ Bell said MSM would be run as a separate business, with full editorial independence but would provide investment commentary for Sippcentre customers.

Billy Mackay (pictured), AJ Bell marketing director, said: ‘Investment-based content is very, very valuable and this is something we have been looking at for a long time. We know there is a big thirst for content.’

David Motum, chief executive of MSM said: 'Content is becoming a key differentiator for investment platforms and our ability to generate specialist financial content will help to complement AJ Bell’s propositions in the platform space.’