UK specialist investor services consultant to set up in Australia

From Investment & Technology News - Dec 2006  (http://www.investmenttechnology.com.au)

UK-based specialist investor services consulting and research firm Thomas Murray was to open an Australian office early next year, regardless of its new Future Fund project.

The privately held firm already has some Australian clients for its information and ratings products and is currently involved in its first custody tender in the region – a review of custody for NZ Super.

Visiting Australia last month, Ross Whitehill, the chief operating officer, said Thomas Murray had several proposals in with potential Australian clients.
“We have had a lot of encouragement from the banks, both global and local,” he said. “We have already done a lot of work (overseas) for the globals.”
Whitehill was looking to recruit locally to staff the office.

The Australian office will concentrate on consulting, client service and sales. The major analytical work will be handled in London to retain a consistent view across the group. Thomas Murray has an office in Toronto, servicing North America, and Colombia, for South America.

The firm was founded in 1994 by Simon Thomas and Simon Murray. Murray left shortly after to pursue other interests. Whitehill, an expatriate Australian, joined in 1995 from Morgan Stanley’s custody operation.

Thomas Murray’s main product lines include:
• global custody reviews for institutions and private custody risk ratings and operational benchmarking
• global and domestic custody ratings, and market and Central Securities Deposit risk ratings.
• agent bank network management support/outsourcing, evaluation and risk rating of local markets
• alternative investments’ service provider ratings, evaluation and monitoring and an RFP tool

The firm has 42 staff. It has performed more than 100 reviews, using what is generally regarded as a rigorous detailed methodology.

Whilst reasonable care has been taken in the compilation of this information, neither Thomas Murray, its affiliates or information contributors shall have any liability for any errors, omissions, delays or inadequacies in the information or for any loss or damage however occasioned (whether arising directly or indirectly), to any person or company relying on this information, or any decision made, action or inaction taken by any party in reliance upon this information (except to the extent permitted by law).