FE to acquire minority interest in Square Mile

Square Mile Investment Research (Square Mile), the expanding research and consulting company, announces a strategic partnership with FE, the award-winning provider of ratings, investment research, data, software and performance analysis to the financial services industry.

The strategic partnership will provide Square Mile with access to FE’s quantitative data as well as creating mutual opportunities for both companies to increase the visibility of the qualitative and quantitative ratings provided by Square Mile and FE respectively. In addition, FE has agreed, in due course, to take a minority non-controlling stake in Square Mile.

Once Square Mile’s rating service launches at the end of Q2 / beginning ofQ3, both FE and Square Mile fund factsheets will include FE Alpha Manager, Crown Ratings and Square Mile fund ratings, bringing together influential ratings on one factsheet thus providing a major benefit to financial advisers. In a recent survey conducted by The Platforum, FE and FE Trustnet were voted the most influential data providers in the marketplace.

Simon Davies, Chairman, Square Mile Investment Research, says:
“The strategic partnership with FE is a major initiative for Square Mile. FE has an unrivalled reputation in the market and we look forward to a long and fruitful alliance.

“With the increased regulation, there is a need for clients to undertake strong fund governance using both qualitative and quantitative research. This is a strategic partnership with FE enabling Square Mile to provide the level of high quality due diligence fund research that financial advisers and wholesalers require in today’s competitive environment.”

Michael Holland, Managing Director, FE, says:
“We have had a long association with the senior management team at Square Mile during their former years at OBSR. We share a similar culture, worked with them on mutual clients and have similar objectives to provide clients with the best solutions. This strategic partnership will deliver enhanced solutions to all our clients and we are looking forward to working with Square Mile.”

Square Mile Investment Consultancy and Research provides investment services, including fund research, consultancy and model portfolios.

For further information, please contact:

Nigel Whittingham, Square Mile Investment Research
Tel: 07909 886091

Richard Romer-Lee, Square Mile Investment Research
Tel: 07747 626019