Goldman Sachs acquires NEOS Investments for $2.3B to expand options ETF business

Published Aug 13, 04:03 AM UTC

Goldman Sachs announced a deal to acquire NEOS Investments, a firm specializing in active derivative income ETFs, for up to $2.3 billion. The acquisition adds 19 active income ETFs and $30 billion in assets to Goldman's lineup, bringing its total options ETFs to over 220. This follows Goldman's earlier purchase of Innovator ETFs, creator of the first buffer ETF. The move reflects a broader industry trend of democratizing options-based strategies, traditionally used by institutions, for retail investors. Demand is driven by a massive US retirement wave, with over 50 million adults leaving the workforce and seeking income while preserving assets. Options ETFs also carry higher fees than passive funds, offering asset managers a competitive edge. Year-to-date, derivative income ETFs have attracted nearly $41 billion in assets. Goldman's global head of asset and wealth management, Marc Nachmann, described the deal as part of a long-term shift toward options strategies for income generation.