Financial Express buys fund research specialist eValue

Trustnet parent company Financial Express has bought fund research specialist eValue from NYSE-listed actuarial giant Towers Watson.

eValue provides a range of financial planning tools using stochastic modelling to forecast potential investment outcomes, allowing advisers to communicate investment, risk and reward to their clients.

The deal, announced this morning, will mean a wide range of fund research, forecasting, and stochastic modelling tools – designed by eValue – are available to Financial Express' clients and users of Trustnet for the first time.

Michael Holland, managing director, Financial Express said: "By combining Financial Express' historic performance analysis and eValue's pre-eminent financial planning tools and stochastic modelling capabilities, we have created a market-leading proposition for life and pensions companies and advisers.

"With integrated data, analysis and forecasting, this new entity will provide effective analytical and reporting solutions to meet the requirements of a changing regulatory environment.

"Clients will enjoy a broader portfolio of services designed to deliver rapid and effective responses to new challenges facing the industry."

Following the acquisition, Towers Watson will continue to market eValue to its pension fund clients. However, eValue's client contracts will transfer to Financial Express as well as all business and employee assets. The actuary will continue to operate from its base in Newbury under the management team led by Bruce Moss and Samantha Seaton. No redundancies are anticipated.

Martin Pike, EMEA managing director, risk consulting and software at Towers Watson, said: "The sale of eValue marks a natural step in the evolution of a long-standing working relationship with Financial Express and establishes a compelling solution for life and pensions companies and advisers."