Press Release

Sydney, 14 March 2021– Foresight Analytics, an independent provider of data analytics, investment diligence and advisory solutions firm has acquired Melbourne-based Australia Ratings Analytics Pty Ltd (ARA) from Australia Ratings Group to build its market share. ARA, an investment research and operational capability ratings business, delivers market leading Investment Ratings on wholesale and retail managed funds, separately managed accounts (SMAs) and exchange traded products (ETPs) to the wealth management industry. The combined entities will operate under Foresight Analytics brand.

The acquisition of ARA follows Foresight Analytics’ strategic partnership with London and Boston based Style Analytics Group, announced on 3 March 2021.

“We believe our complementary solutions will provide significant value to our clients as they increasingly rely on data and human insights to navigate through the proliferation of complex investment products and strategies in the market,” said Foresight Analytics’ Founding Director Jay Kumar.

“Foresight Analytics is challenging the incumbency of existing investment ratings providers by offering a more competitive and sophisticated service using its advanced data analytics processes for managed products with exposure to publicly traded securities. Australia’s managed fund industry jumped in the December quarter of 2020 to strike $4 trillion for the first time, and the need for expert investment ratings is greater than ever,” Kumar said.

“We are excited to welcome the ARA team, with its deep investment diligence expertise, diverse leadership experience and strong industry relationships. Both firms share the same mission: to serve clients by simplifying the challenges associated with investment decisions, and collectively we will bring meaningful benefits such as the expanded asset class coverage across equities, bonds, real assets, alternatives as well as diligence ratings on private and public market investment opportunities.”

The addition of ARA is the latest investment by Foresight Analytics to diversify its institutional data analytics and advisory solutions business and deliver a range of decision analytics and diligence services to institutional, wholesale and retail investors. Foresight Analytics’ innovative analytical process blends human and forensic insights to help investors make evidence-based investment and risk management decisions.

ARA’s regulatory compliant, Investment Ratings and Operational Capability Ratings will continue to be delivered using the same forward-looking process and approach. All Ratings issued by the firm will be vetted by a very experienced investment committee whose membership will remain unchanged. Foresight Analytics’ comprehensive ‘ESG Diligence’ and ‘Risk Diligence’ solutions will adopt the same 5-point ratings scale used by
the ARA team.

“Foresight Analytics market-leading data analytics and advisory solutions will enable the combined organisation to bring greater value to its growing client base,” said ARA’s Director of Research and Ratings Maggie Callinan. “We are excited to join Foresight Analytics given its commitment to provide high quality tools, research insights, ratings and asset allocation advice to financial advisors and investors within Australia’s quickly growing wealth
management industry”.

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About Foresight Analytics

Foresight Analytics, an independent Sydney based firm, provides investment diligence, data analytics, and advisory solutions to leading investment management companies, superannuation funds and wealth groups across the Asia Pacific. Foresight’s innovative, evidence-based approach blends both human and forensic insights to provide a range of analytical, predictive and market intelligence solutions to investors. Foresight Analytics was founded in 2015 by Jay Kumar, a former executive of Morningstar, Optimix Investment Management, ANZ Wealth & Private Bank and the Reserve Bank of Fiji.
 

Foresight’s fiduciary solutions includes Diligence Services (ESG Diligence, Risk Diligence), Data Analytics and Portfolio Allocation Advice. Foresight’s fund strategy solutions include Data Analytics for asset managers, Fund Strategy Benchmarking Solutions and Strategic Research.
 

For more information, please visit our website on www.foresight-analytics.com and social media platforms via LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter.