Titanbay, a private markets investment platform for sophisticated investors, and Mercer, a global specialist in reshaping retirement and delivering investment outcomes, deepen their partnership.

Titanbay and Mercer expanded their collaboration this week to provide a private markets solution for wealth managers and private banks.
 
In the next phase of the relationship, Mercer will support Titanbay’s fund selection and due diligence process, which will include access to its global research on managers spanning all private markets asset classes, the firm said in a statement. 

A senior Mercer alternatives investment professional will also take a seat on Titanbay’s investment advisory board, supporting Titanbay’s curation of what it believes to be a best-in-class private markets portfolio of leading funds, the firm added.  

Wealth managers and private banks using the Titanbay platform will have access to Mercer’s fund ratings and investment due diligence summaries on funds offered on the platform, the firm said. 
 
This builds on the existing collaboration which enables wealth managers to construct portfolios, across the range of private market strategies, for their clients using a blend of Mercer’s expertise in private markets portfolios implemented through Titanbay’s platform, the firm added.
 
The Titanbay platform helps wealth managers by simplifying investing into private markets for a wider client set through reduced investment minimums, a sophisticated technology solution whilst retaining a robust investment due diligence process.
 
Welcoming the move, Amit Popat, partner at Mercer and Europe and AMEA head of wealth management and endowments and foundations, said: “We’re delighted to be expanding our relationship with Titanbay, bringing the full weight of our private markets research and expertise to support fund selection and due diligence on the platform.” 

“Our recent global survey of wealth managers found that 73 per cent of respondents are either currently invested or considering investing in illiquid assets over the next 12 months. Through our combined offer, we continue to provide unprecedented access to attractive investment opportunities in markets and segments that were traditionally the preserve of institutional investors,” he continued.
 
Thomas Eskebaek, CEO of Titanbay, added: “Alongside better access, we know that due diligence is absolutely critical for wealth managers to feel confident in recommending private markets investments to their clients. By working even more closely with Mercer, our partners and investors can have total confidence that our portfolio of funds is among the most respected in the industry, as we pursue our shared commitment to widening access to the asset class.”
 
Other members of Titanbay’s Investment Advisory board include Benjamin Gargui, head of manager selection at EJS Investment Management, the investment company for the Edmond J. Safra Foundation; Jean Francois Le Ruyet, partner of the Quilvest Private Equity team, co-managing the US/Europe co-investments and funds programs with a focus on buy-out in Europe; Oliver Burgel, former CEO of Barings for the European region; and Przemek Obloj, managing partner and CIO at Blue Horizon, and former managing director and head of European Private Equity at PSP Investments, the firm said.