Financial Times Group: Around the business
History
The Financial Times newspaper launched in 1888, declaring itself: 'The friend of the honest financier, the bona fide investor, the respectable broker, the genuine director, the legitimate speculator.'
The newspaper is now printed in 24 cities, with five editions: for the UK, Continental Europe, US, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, and an award-winning online presence in FT.com. The FT has a daily circulation of over 435,000 and a readership of approximately 1.3 million worldwide. In 2008 FT.com attracted 7.1 million unique users, generating almost 72 million page views and attracting over 1 million registered users.
A growing global audience
The aim of the FT is to deliver the most accurate, incisive and timely business journalism to an increasingly mobile audience of global business leaders, and to ensure that our advertisers communicate effectively with this elite group. Readers rely on the FT to present a holistic analysis of global business and financial news - our global editorial network ensures we're able to join the dots between the regions. The FT's value lies in its ability to make connections and make the information relevant, whether the reader is in Sydney or San Francisco. It is this ability to collate, analyse and comment on the issues which sets us apart.
In recent years, we've seen the FT significantly expand its presence on the global stage. In 2008 we launched a new edition for the Middle East. In 2003, we launched an Asia edition in print and online, establishing a news editing operation in Hong Kong. This now forms part of the FT's global editing network, alongside New York and London. The Asia-Pacific edition has continued to grow and is now also printed in Sydney, making the FT the first international daily to print in Australia. The FT's Chinese language website, www.FTChinese.com, has also built a formidable reputation amongst China's fast-rising business elite.
In 2004, we celebrated the 25th anniversary of our European edition. From the days when the FT was delivered to key European cities by specially designed Citroën vans, we now print in 24 sites across the world, with two-thirds of our circulation outside of the UK.
The future of the FT
Over 100 years after its launch in 1888, the FT continues to top the global readership surveys and attracts a raft of prestigious editorial awards each year. Our 24 hour news cycle enables us to follow a story as it breaks and report on its impact across the globe. Intra-day services such as news and desktop alerts ensure that customers and readers stay ahead throughout the day. In 2008 FT.com attracted 7.1 million unique users, generating almost 72 million page views and attracting over 1 million registered users.
The FT is committed to maintaining its position as the definitive business information brand for today's international business audience.
FT Business
FT Business produces specialist information on the retail, personal and institutional finance industries. It publishes the UK's premier personal finance magazine, Investors Chronicle, and The Banker, Money Management and Financial Adviser for professional advisers.
Intelligence integrated into workflow
The Mergermarket Group is also a part of the FT Group. Through its products mergermarket, dealReporter, Debtwire, wealthmonitor, Pharmawire and Remark, Mergermarket provides the larger financial community with actionable intelligence and data. Mergermarket's clients are the world's leading investment banks, law firms, private equity firms, corporations, and hedge funds.
The FT Group also has a number of other associates and joint ventures, including:
- A 50% interest in The Economist Group, which publishes the world's leading weekly business and current affairs journal;
- FTSE International, a joint venture with the London Stock Exchange;
- Vedomosti, Russia's leading business newspaper and a partnership venture with Dow Jones and Independent Media;
- A 50% interest in BDFM, publishers of South Africa's leading financial newspaper and magazine.
