Who Really Owns Ancestry.com? All You Need To Know

As an insatiable knowledge seeker, I’ve often found myself wondering who’s behind the steering wheel of major brands. Ever wondered the same for Ancestry.com? Is your curiosity-edged mind entrancing you towards solving this puzzle too? If yes, then you are in for a treat!

Ancestry.com, a leading genealogy platform with over 2 million subscribers, is presently owned by private equity firm Blackstone Group. This change in ownership came about in December 2020 as part of a hefty $4.7 billion deal.

Who Owns Ancestry.com?

The question “Who owns Ancestry.com?” might not be as straightforward as it seems. As one of the leading genealogy services available, Ancestry.com’s ownership history involves several prominent companies and strategic acquisitions.

Let’s take a closer look at its current ownership.

A Look at the Ownership

As it stands today, Ancestry.com is owned by a notable private equity firm called Blackstone Group. Blackstone acquired the genealogy giant managed by Permira funds in 2020 for a whopping 4.7 billion dollars – marking another significant milestone in the ownership journey of Ancestry.

Yet, it’s essential to note that this journey has had its fair share of twists and turns over the years. For instance, before falling under Permira funds’ management, Ancestry.com was purchased by Spectrum Equity Investors alongside various minor stakeholders back in 2007.

Overall, understanding who owns Ancestry.com requires formidable knowledge about numerous acquisitions over decades – each acquisition representing a new phase in this popular platform’s life cycle.

The Company’s Evolution

Established back in 1983 under an entirely different name – Infobases Inc., the company that would ultimately fashion itself into what we know as Ancestry evolved dramatically both structurally and ideologically since its inception.

Paul B. Allen and Dan Taggart originally established Infobases Inc. – two graduate students from Brigham Young University with a vision for providing computer power to Latter Day Saints (LDS) Publishers. They began by distributing LDS Church publications on floppy disks!

In 1997 after several name changes including acquiring Family History Library but particularly driven by increased internet usage at that time domain name “Ancestry.com” was chosen officially – thus beginning an era of digital genealogical research for millions across the globe

Over time and with various leadership changes, their mission has remained consistent—helping users retrace their roots.

Still, the technology offering this opportunity has evolved at an impressive pace. In 2009, the company launched an iPhone App, and later in 2012 its DNA testing service is known as AncestryDNA was launched.

Also Read: Who Owns MyHeritage?

Who Bought Ancestry?

As we delve into the online genealogy world of Ancestry.com, it’s intriguing to uncover not just the past lives of users’ families but also the life and transitions of the company itself. Changes in ownership have played a huge role in shaping what the platform has become today.

Recent Transitions

In recent years, Ancestry.com has undergone significant changes as an organization, transitioning between several hands for a variety of reasons:

• The Permira Transaction: In 2012, a private equity group led by Permira bought Ancestry.com for $1.6 billion. The acquisition by this European private equity firm was seen as an opportunity to expand its international reach and enhance user experience.
• The Silver Lake and GIC Acquisition: Fast forward to 2016, leading investors Silver Lake and GIC acquired significant equity stakes in the firm. This investment collaboration aimed to propel innovative technology solutions that make family history easy for everyone.
• Blackstone’s Game-changing Purchase: The most recent change came in December 2020 when Blackstone acquired Ancestry from Silver Lake, GIC, Spectrum Equity among other shareholders for $4.7 billion. Blackstone sought to capitalize on increasing customer interest in learning about their family backgrounds and health through genetics. With this deal now complete, they currently hold majority ownership of the company.

These transitions depict a dynamic shift in who owns Ancestry.com driving its innovation powerhouse ever forward on its mission to help people discover their story.

Also Read: Best US and Canadian Genealogy Websites: Your Key to Ancestry

What Does This Mean for Users?

As a user of Ancestry.com, you might be asking yourself what these changes in ownership mean for you. Will they affect the security of your data or the quality and breadth of services offered? Let’s dive in to understand these aspects better.

Privacy Concerns

Privacy has always been a top concern for users when dealing with sites like Ancestry.com, which harbor personal data. Changes in ownership can usher in new policies and methodologies regarding how user data is handled.

For instance, when Blackstone Group bought Majority Stake in Ancestry.com, there were concerns about how this acquisition might change the manner of operations concerning user data privacy.

• It’s worth noting that anytime an organization undergoes such a transition, its new leadership may choose to revise previous terms and conditions about privacy.
• Whenever there are changes, it is essential that users are vigilant. Take note of any revised policies and understand their implications on your usage of the platform.

It’s not all doom though! Sometimes change brings better protection standards and stronger encryption mechanisms to enhance information security. Thus while changes could potentially impact your privacy negatively, they could also work towards enhancing user data safety measures.

Service and Operations

Another potential outcome from a change in ownership pertains to the services offered by Ancestry.com.

• There could be significant improvements aimed at enhancing user experience as new owners bring fresh ideas to boost operational efficiencies.
• In 2016, after Silver Lake and GIC acquired majority shares in Ancestry.com via Permira funds (before Blackstone), they expanded their genetic testing capabilities remarkably!

On the flip side,

• We have instances where transitions result in cuts on expenditures thus diluting quality of service provided.
• A shift from genealogy service as core focus due to entry into unexplored ventures can deviate existing services rendering once vibrant functions inactive.

In summary, the key is to stay informed. Changes can bring exciting enhancements or unexpected turns, but at the end of the day, understanding more about who owns Ancestry.com and their plans gives us a better grip on what to expect as users of this platform.

Also Read: Uncover 1890 Census Substitutes for Genealogical Insights

Tracing Back Previous Owners

Digging into the roots of Ancestry.com is fascinating, just like researching one’s family tree. So, I’ve compiled a synopsis here to give you a better sense of its intriguing history.

Timeline of Ownership

Ancestry.com’s ownership has seen quite a change since its launch:

• The genesis begins in 1983: Paul Brent Allen and Dan Taggart, two Brigham Young University graduates started Infobases and started creating floppy disks with LDS Church information.
• Later in 1997, Infobases morphed into what we now know as Ancestry.com.
• In 1999, the company decided to go public and was listed on NASDAQ under the ticker ACOM.
• It shifted gears once more in 2012 when it was acquired by Permira, a European private equity firm, taking it off the public market.
• Then in 2016, Silver Lake and GIC Private Limited purchased majority stake marking another significant transition.
• Fast-forwarding to 2020; another major shift happened when Blackstone Group decided to buy Ancestry.com for $4.7 billion.

It’s been quite an evolution, hasn’t it? Now let’s delve deep into how each holder impacted its growth.

Business Impact

Each era of ownership introduced new aspects that contributed significantly towards business expansion:

1. Infobases Era (1983 -1997): Allen and Taggart focused on filling data gaps making genealogy accessible via compact disks. This established them as pioneers embedding technology with genealogy.
2. Initial Public Offering (IPO) Era (1999 – 2012): The IPO gave Ancestry.com an opportunity to raise capital that funded further research and development increasing usage.
3. Permira Reign (2012 – 2016): Permira’s influence resulted in considerable expansion into global markets. This period saw a significant increase in user base and diversity.
4. Silver Lake and GIC Private Limited Stint (2016 – 2020): In this era, there was increased investment in technology to improve user experience and diversification of data making Ancestry.com’s database more comprehensive.
5. Blackstone Group’s Takeover (2020 – Present): It’s still early days with this leadership transition so it might be too soon for tangible impact evaluation. Still, under Blackstone’s watch, Ancestry.com has continued to grow its user base.

Ownership changes clearly played an influential role in shaping what the company has become today. Each owner has contributed to molding Ancestry.com into the household name it is now by expanding its reach, services, and overall impact on users around the world.

Also Read: Best UK and Irish Genealogy Websites: Your Ancestry Guide

FAQs

Conclusion

It’s evident that the ownership of Ancestry.com has changed hands multiple times over the years. Its evolution from a genealogy startup to a company valued at billions of dollars is quite fascinating.

As users, we’ve seen various shifts in operations and services due to these changes. While some changes resulted in improvements, others raised concerns about privacy and data usage. Looking at the history of Ancestry.com, it’s clear that its investors have played significant roles in shaping its direction and growth.