PensionsJan 3 2017

Adviser Centre acquires research rival

twitter-iconfacebook-iconlinkedin-iconmail-iconprint-icon
Search supported by
Adviser Centre acquires research rival

Investment research and consultancy firm the Adviser Centre has bought rival Scopic Research, a specialist multi-asset research provider.

According to Embark Group, parent of the Adviser Centre, the aim of the acquisition will be to have a business equipped to conduct investment research and due diligence on funds, multi-manager products and discretionary fund management offerings.

Additionally, the business will carry out bespoke assessments of specialist illiquid investment instruments.

The combined business, which will trade under the names of both The Adviser Centre and Scopic Research, will be led by investment director Peter Toogood.

Scopic Research will be a trading style of the Adviser Centre for standalone multi-asset research.

Any combined offering will trade as the Adviser Centre and users of either toolset will automatically be offered open usage of the other.

According to Embark Group, the transition has been fully approved by all governance bodies.

Paul Ilott, director of Scopic Research said: “I am immensely proud of what we have built over recent years with the Scopic team, and the service we have provided to our clients.

“The market for investment research continues to develop at pace, and we feel that combining with a larger investment research group, which in turn is part of a retirement and wrap platform business, is an exceptional opportunity for us to grow further.”

Phil Smith, chief executive of the Embark Group said: “Scopic has exceptional capabilities and solid market relationships and combines well with our wider investment research and due diligence capabilities.

“I truly believe we are building the best investment research and capability aimed at the UK IFA market today.”

ruth.gillbe@ft.com