S&P Global, Cambridge Associates and Mercer Collaborate to Create Comprehensive Private Markets Performance Analytics
Rhea-AI Summary
S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) has announced a strategic collaboration with Cambridge Associates and Mercer to develop comprehensive private markets performance analytics, scheduled for beta launch by year-end 2025. The initiative will utilize S&P Global's iLEVEL portfolio monitoring platform to create a unified data ecosystem for private markets.
The collaboration aims to address data fragmentation challenges by providing aggregated, anonymized insights including global fund performance monitoring, fundraising tracking, and deal analytics. Key features include data extraction across asset classes, consistent comparison capabilities for limited partners, and reduced reporting complexity for general partners.
The partnership will introduce an enhanced classification system for private markets funds and investments, enabling better market analysis and more informed decision-making for investors.
Positive
- Creation of industry's most comprehensive private markets data ecosystem
- Standardization of data collection and reporting processes
- Enhanced classification system for better market analysis
- Reduction in operational inefficiencies for both GPs and LPs
Negative
- None.
Insights
S&P Global's partnership with Cambridge Associates and Mercer creates significant data advantage in the growing private markets sector.
S&P Global's collaboration with Cambridge Associates and Mercer addresses a critical pain point in the $10+ trillion private markets industry - data fragmentation. By combining S&P's iLEVEL platform with the research expertise of two major investment consultants, they're creating what could become the industry standard for private markets data.
The timing is strategic. Private markets continue to attract significant capital flows, with Mercer noting that nearly half of large asset owners plan to increase allocations to private debt/credit this year. However, the industry has been hampered by inconsistent reporting standards and fragmented data collection.
The value proposition is compelling: standardized data collection across asset classes, improved classification systems for funds and investments, and normalized performance metrics that enable proper benchmarking. For GPs, this reduces reporting complexity. For LPs, it enhances due diligence capabilities and portfolio analysis.
For S&P Global, this initiative strengthens their position in the high-margin financial data sector by expanding their private markets offerings. The collaboration leverages their existing iLEVEL platform while adding the credibility and client relationships of Cambridge Associates and Mercer - effectively creating network effects that could establish their solution as the industry standard.
While revenue impact won't be immediate (beta launch by year-end 2025), this represents a smart strategic move to capture market share in a growing segment of financial services where quality data commands premium pricing.
Leveraging the capabilities of S&P Global's iLEVEL portfolio monitoring platform, the solution will deliver aggregated, anonymized insights, including global fund performance monitoring, fundraising tracking and deal analytics, creating the market's most comprehensive private markets data ecosystem.
"The private markets industry has experienced tremendous growth, but data fragmentation has made it challenging for investors to get a clear picture of performance," said Saugata Saha, President of S&P Global Market Intelligence and Chief Enterprise Data Officer of S&P Global. "By combining S&P Global's trusted data and solutions with the research expertise of Mercer and Cambridge Associates, we aim to transform how private markets intelligence is created, shared and utilized, empowering critical investment decisions."
"We've heard from our clients that fragmented data and inconsistent reporting standards are creating operational inefficiencies and limiting informed investment decisions," said Sally Moore, Chief Client Officer at S&P Global. "This collaboration creates a unified data ecosystem that addresses those pain points and delivers actionable market insights."
Standardizing Data Collection and Reporting
As strategic clients of S&P Global, Cambridge Associates and Mercer leverage the iLEVEL platform for client portfolio analysis, data collection or both. Key features include:
- Extraction and normalization of fund performance data across asset classes
- Consistent comparison capabilities for limited partners
- Reduced reporting complexity for general partners
Enhanced Classification System for Better Market Analysis
The collaboration creates a new way to classify private markets funds and investments that better reflects how the industry operates today. Leveraging iLEVEL as the centralized data exchange, this improved classification system breaks down funds, assets and deals into more detailed categories, making it easier for investors to compare similar investments and analyze performance trends.
"The power in this collaboration is it will provide investors with a one-stop shop for comparative private market intelligence, enabling more informed insights and decision making," said Andrea Auerbach, Global Head of Private Investments at Cambridge Associates. "It couldn't be happening at a better time given the continued evolution and increasing complexity of the private markets."
"Private markets represent an opportunity to tap into many of the future growth drivers of the global economy. Our research shows that nearly half of large asset owners anticipate growing their portfolio allocations to private debt/credit this year," said Rob Ansari, Global Head of Analytics and Portfolio Solutions at Mercer. "However, for too long, our clients have struggled with inconsistent reporting formats and fragmented data across private asset classes. This standardized approach will dramatically reduce the administrative burden on both GPs and LPs while giving our clients clearer insights to build more resilient and agile private markets portfolios."
This collaboration represents S&P Global's ongoing commitment to providing a comprehensive suite of solutions to the private markets industry, with offerings spanning private company data, valuations, risk analytics and portfolio management services designed to drive investment and operational alpha.
To learn more about S&P Global's private markets insights and offerings, visit here.
Contact:
Media:
Erina Aoyama
S&P Global Market Intelligence
+1 917-755-7943
erina.aoyama@spglobal.com
Orla O'Brien
S&P Global
+1 857-407-8559
orla.obrien@spglobal.com
Investor Relations:
Mark Grant
Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Treasurer
S&P Global
+1 347-640-1521
mark.grant@spglobal.com
About S&P Global:
S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) provides essential intelligence. We enable governments, businesses and individuals with the right data, expertise and connected technology so that they can make decisions with conviction. From helping our customers assess new investments to guiding them through sustainability and energy transition across supply chains, we unlock new opportunities, solve challenges and accelerate progress for the world. We are widely sought after by many of the world's leading organizations to provide credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help the world's leading organizations plan for tomorrow, today.
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SOURCE S&P Global
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