Research and Due Diligence
Mercer Trust Company uses a disciplined approach with extensive research to identify external investment strategies and managers for construction of the Program’s investment platform. A broad pool of nearly 29,000 strategies allows Mercer Trust Company to focus on high quality managers with sound operational practices and forward looking potential. A four step process is utilized to filter down managers and strategies for consideration:
- Gather Data: Mercer’s Global Investment Manager Database is a proprietary, web-based database containing information on nearly 29,000 investment strategies. This global repository provides information and insights on investment managers and strategies across all asset classes.
- Prioritize Candidates: The entries into the Global Investment Manager Database are maintained by the investment managers themselves, with research consultants adding research notes, news items, and research priorities.
- Due Diligence: Seeking to identify sustainable advantage, four factors are used in idea generation, portfolio construction and implementation, and ongoing client business management. Additionally, Mercer reviews ten different operational factors seeking managers with sound operational practices.
- Investment & Operational Ratings: Ratings are determined for prioritized candidates and periodically reviewed by MTC’s Ratings Review Committee, separately for investment expertise and operation soundness. Highly rated candidates are considered for inclusion on the platform. The illustration below describes the spectrum of investment ratings based on Mercer Trust Company’s methodology. Candidates considered for the Program require an ‘A’ or ‘B+’ rating.