Investor Economics, Canadian Provider of Financial Services Business Intelligence Data and Research, Merges Its Business with Asset International

NEW YORK, Feb. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Asset International, Inc., a global provider of business intelligence through its data research, marketing services and events for the world's leading financial institutions, announced it has agreed to acquire Investor Economics.

Headquartered in Toronto, Investor Economics is the premier source of business intelligence data and research for Canadian banks, asset managers, brokerages, wealth managers, and insurance companies.

Earl Bederman, Founder and CEO of Investor Economics, commented, "Joining forces with Asset International is an exciting opportunity for me and my team at Investor Economics, the company I started more than 20 years ago. Asset International's passion about data, close customer relationships, and global resources will expand our capabilities to serve clients."

Investor Economics will become a part of Asset International's Strategic Insight division, the New York, Boston, London, Hong Kong, and Melbourne-based supplier of data, tools, and research to the global asset management industry.

As examples of anticipated synergies, Mr. Bederman cited plans for Investor Economics to introduce to its clients in Canada products, technology, and expertise from Strategic Insight and the broader set of Asset International's global brands. Investor Economics' research also will be incorporated into Strategic Insight's global services.

According to Jim Casella, Asset International's Chief Executive Officer, "Investor Economics allows us to have an unparalleled offering for asset management business intelligence throughout all of North America and extends our service platforms into adjacent sectors such as insurance and wealth management." He observed that Investor Economics shares valuable attributes with Asset International's other divisions, including market leading position, loyal customers served for more than 20 years, and unique business intelligence data and research.  Casella also noted that Investor Economics and Strategic Insight have enjoyed a longstanding relationship and recently finished a joint research project for the Investment Funds Institute of Canada.

Mr. Bederman and his team will continue to run Investor Economics.  According to Casella, "Retaining the founders and their teams has been a core acquisition strategy for Asset International in the 7 acquisitions we have made. It helps ensure we keep the entrepreneurial spirit and, most importantly, the close relationship to customers established over many years."

Mr. Casella added that Asset International, with financial backing from Austin Ventures and a credit facility with Goldman Sachs, continues to look to enhance its strong organic growth with additional acquisitions of specialized information providers to the asset management and other financial services industries worldwide. "Through Asset International's companies, global financial services firms can now access a broad spectrum of business intelligence information and technology in a comprehensive rather than fragmented manner," he asserted.

About Asset International
Asset International is a privately-held global provider of information and technology to pension funds, asset managers, financial advisers, banking service providers, and other financial institutions in the private and public sector. Its industry-leading brands include Strategic Insight, SIMFUND, Plan for Life, PLANSPONSOR, PLANADVISER, aiCIO, Global Custodian, and The Trade. The company has offices in New York, Hong Kong, London, Melbourne, Boston, and Stamford, CT. 

About Investor Economics
Headquartered in Toronto, Investor Economics is the foremost independent source of business intelligence on the asset management, wealth management, banking, brokerage, and insurance industries in Canada.

SOURCE Asset International, Inc.