UBS Group and MSCI have announced a strategic partnership aimed at advancing transparency across private markets, according to a joint statement on Friday.
The partnership will combine MSCI’s data, analytics and AI-powered platform with UBS Group’s limited partner (LP) and wealth management insights.
The companies said the platform will bring together fund discovery portfolio management, analytics and benchmarking capabilities within a single ecosystem.
Sergio P. Ermotti, group chief executive officer of UBS, said: “This partnership builds on our long-standing relationship with MSCI and our shared ambition to increase transparency in private markets.”
“As a leading LP, our unified global alternatives business brings extensive industry insights and a deep understanding of clients’ evolving needs.”
“Through our collaboration with MSCI, our goal is to help to shape the next generation of private markets portfolio management solutions and transform the decision-making process for clients across public and private markets.”
The companies said they aim to offer a more connected and standardised experience across the full private markets investment lifecycle, enabling investors to access insights more efficiently and evaluate opportunities with greater confidence.
Investors have historically had difficulty benchmarking performance in private markets due to fragmented data and disconnected tools due to the opaqueness of the underlying assets and investment marketplace.
However UBS said in a statement it will be an early adopter and collaborate with MSCI to advocate for broader market adoption and standardization across the private markets industry.
Henry Fernandez, chairman and CEO of MSCI, said: “MSCI has long been committed to bringing independence, transparency and innovation to global investors.”
“As private markets become an increasingly important part of the investment landscape, investors are looking for the insights, rigor and accessibility that they have come to expect in public markets.”
“By combining MSCI and UBS’s respective strengths, we aim to help build the infrastructure that can shape the future of private markets investing.”
The platform will also streamline data management, bridge private and public markets, and foster a private markets ecosystem that connects general partners (GPs) with institutional and private wealth investors, the companies said.