UBS has purchased a minority stake in Integrity Research Associates LLC, a research advisory firm that offers access to sources of alternative research, including channel checkers, expert networks, environmental research and other non-traditional providers.
Terms of the investment were not disclosed.
Through the arrangement, UBS will be able to facilitate access to Integritys ResearchSelect services evaluating over 1,600 alternative research firms around the globe. Integritys services, which identify and recommend research services to institutional investors, are currently available in the US with a global rollout planned later this year. Integritys services are objective, confidential and customised to meet specific research needs.
“Clients are increasingly demanding non-traditional sources of research that give them increased opportunities to capture alpha. Our partnership with Integrity will give clients access to high-quality, relevant sources that give them the information that they need to execute their investment strategies,” says Mark Steinert, global head of Equity Research, UBS.
“Integrity was the first firm to cover the full spectrum of alternative research providers. Working with UBS, we will continue to expand our global coverage, reflecting the rapid growth in both the number and variety of research providers. Clients will continue to benefit from our confidential, high touch service customised to their research requirements,” says Michael Mayhew, chairman and founder, Integrity.
“Integrity will complement the advice offered by our analysts clients will now have entry to meaningful, hard-to-find research that augments fundamental advice from UBS as a top global research provider. We offer clients the rare combination of leading research, best in class alternative sources and a full suite of trade execution services, leveraging the abilities of our state of the art Commission Management platform,” adds John Ingrilli, COO, Equities Americas at UBS.
UBS has a dedicated Commission Management team that will work closely with Integrity to simplify clients procurement and management of the recommended third party research while ensuring strict confidentiality.