LONDON – Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM) and iCapital1 today announced an expansion of their US partnership to provide more banks and wealth managers globally with access to a suite of private markets funds managed by MSIM.
iCapital’s market-leading technology platform and solutions have effectively and efficiently diminished the historical barriers that wealth managers and their clients have faced when investing in private markets by automating the subscription, administration, operational and reporting processes for the life of the investment. iCapital also provides a full suite of research, due diligence and educational materials to advisors and investors.
Morgan Stanley is a long-standing strategic investor and partner of iCapital, and this development is a testament to the success of the relationship. It follows an existing strategic relationship through Morgan Stanley Wealth Management in the US, for which iCapital provides alternative investment feeder fund services.
Jacques Chappuis, Global Head of Distribution and Co-Head of the Solutions and Multi-Asset Group at MSIM, said: “This is a new chapter in Morgan Stanley’s partnership with iCapital. While our private markets funds have typically been restricted to institutional investors, we are excited to be able to expand the client base accessing our industry leading Private Markets funds and help High Net Worth Investors across the globe further diversify their investment portfolios.”
Private markets investments have the potential to generate higher returns and provide diversification benefits to investors as they seek to access relatively untapped opportunities.
Historically reserved to institutional investors, their increased accessibility allows banks and wealth managers to gain exposure to high-growth alternative asset classes such as private equity and private credit.
“Wealth managers are increasingly looking to alternative investments as another way to try and help their clients improve their financial outcomes,” said Marco Bizzozero, Head of International at iCapital. “We are extremely pleased to further strengthen our long-standing relationship with Morgan Stanley. The expansion of this successful partnership now offers access to the growth and diversification potential that premier private markets investment opportunities can provide to advisors and their HNW clients globally.”
About Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is a leading global financial services firm providing investment banking, securities, wealth management and investment management services. With offices in more than 41 countries, the Firm’s employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals. For more information about Morgan Stanley, please visit www.morganstanley.com.
About Morgan Stanley Investment Management
Morgan Stanley Investment Management, together with its investment advisory affiliates, has approximately $1.4 trillion in assets under management or supervision as of March 31, 2021. Morgan Stanley Investment Management strives to provide outstanding long-term investment performance, service and a comprehensive suite of investment management solutions to a diverse client base, which includes governments, institutions, corporations and individuals worldwide. The combination with Eaton Vance allows the firm to bring even more value to clients through many high quality, complementary investment offerings, delivered with an unwavering commitment to client service. Professionals across the globe draw upon these capabilities to develop strategies that address a wide range of investors’ needs across the public and private markets.
About iCapital
Founded in 2013 in NYC, iCapital is the leading global fintech company powering the world’s alternative investment marketplace. It has transformed the way the wealth management, banking, and asset management industries facilitate access to private markets investments for their high-net-worth clients by providing intuitive, end-to-end technology and service solutions. Wealth management firms use iCapital’s solutions to provide clients with quality funds at lower minimums and simplified digital workflows. Asset managers, RIAs, and banks leverage iCapital’s technology to streamline and scale their alternative investments operational infrastructure. Additionally, the iCapital ‘flagship’ platform offers wealth advisors and their high-net-worth clients access to a curated menu of private equity, private credit, hedge funds, structured notes, and other alternative investments to help meet their investing needs for return and diversification. iCapital’s research and diligence team offers robust analysis alongside the firm’s extensive suite of advisor education, compliance, portfolio management, and portfolio analytics tools and services. iCapital has been recognized on the Forbes FinTech 50 list in each year 2018 through 2022, the Forbes America’s Best Startup Employers in 2021 and 2022, and MMI/Barron’s Industry Awards as Solutions Provider of the Year in 2020 and 2021. As of May 31, 2022, iCapital services more than US$130 billion in global client assets, of which more than US$30 billion are from international investors (non-US Domestic), across more than 1,035 funds. Employing more than 800 people globally, iCapital is headquartered in NYC and has offices worldwide including in Zurich, London, Lisbon, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Toronto.
For additional information, please visit the iCapital website at icapital.com | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/icapital-network-inc | Twitter: @icapitalnetwork
See disclosures here.
(1) Institutional Capital Network, Inc. and its affiliates (together, “iCapital Network” or “iCapital”)
