Frontier Advisers brings Segal Macro, LCP partnership to close

Frontier Advisers, Segal Marco Advisers and Lane Clark and Peacock (LCP) have decided to bring their Global Investment Research Alliance (GIRA) to a close, after 13 years of partnership.

Established in 2013 between Frontier Advisors and Segal Rogerscasey, which later rebranded to Segal Marco Advisors, the partnership supported the sharing of investment manager research across regions. LCP was admitted as a third member in 2014.

The alliance enabled cooperation and global perspective sharing between the firms.

"Research shared between the alliance partners was used as an additional input to each firm's assessment processes, rather than replacing each firm's own research, due diligence and judgement in assessing fund managers," Frontier Advisers said.

"This recognised the need for manager evaluation to take account of local client needs, regulatory settings, market structures and other regional nuances. The firms also collaborated on sharing market insights and regional perspectives via regular investment committee meetings."

However, in recent years, the partners had begun to review the ongoing role the alliance could play as each firm developed new ways to access and assess investment managers around the world, while also independently pursuing their own business strategies and international reach.

The firms also cited advances in technology, data access and remote meeting capabilities making it easier for their teams to engage directly with managers globally, reducing the need for formal research exchange arrangements such as GIRA.

"The collaboration that has taken place through GIRA, even including exchanges of staff between our firms, has been incredibly additive" LCP head of investments Zuhair Mohammed said.

"GIRA has been an important element of LCP's international growth and investment capabilities which we are continuing to develop in line with our evolving strategic needs."

Segal Marco Advisers chief executive John DeMairo added: "We are proud of our founding role in what was an innovative alliance reflecting a common commitment to independent thinking and global manager research."

"We thank Frontier and LCP for their partnership over this time."