Investment managers looking for non-U.S. investors must consider a number of variables to ensure that their strategy is properly positioned. A first and crucial step in gaining exposure to such investors is database selection-managers will want to select databases with a large global audience. To name a few:
Mercer Investment Consulting is well known and maintains a global presence. Through their database, GIMD, they collect numerous metrics on asset management firms and are one of the most robust sources of this type of information. There are more than 3,700 investment manager entries and 20,000 investment products registered in GIMD. This provides the basis for more than 2,000 meetings worldwide by Mercer researchers.
Cambridge Associates began developing a global presence in the 1990s. Currently, they cater to clients in more than 25 countries worldwide, with regional offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Australia. In addition, they expect to open an office in Beijing, China this year.
CAMRADATA has experienced exponential growth over the past two years, with more than 80 investment consultants currently using their database for manager searches. The database has more than 3,500 products, which are largely tailored to the European market.
eVestment Alliance expanded their global presence in 2008 and now has offices in London, Asia, and Australia. Consultants with a global presence rely on eVestment as either their sole source for manager information or as a supplement to their proprietary systems. Towers Watson, Hymans Robertson, and Hewitt EnnisKnupp all utilize the eVestment Alliance database as their investment manager data provider.
Russell Investments has maintained its global commitment for more than 30 years. Russell collects account-level data directly and monitors more than 8,000 manager products. In addition, Russell holds more than 3,000 meetings with money managers worldwide each year.
Alpha Portfolio Advisors is a leading German investment consulting firm. They maintain their own database and have institutional clients ranging from corporations and pension funds to religious institutions and family offices.
Feri Institutional Advisors GmbH PPC is an independent advisor for institutional investors in German-speaking countries. It offers custom-made multi-asset/multi-manager and best partner solutions across all asset classes. Their proprietary database tracks 35 asset classes and covers 160 asset managers.
Ecofin Investment Consulting has been assisting large pension funds and other institutional clients in searches for external investment managers since 1992. Each year, Ecofin advises investors on the allocation of substantial sums of money to investment managers in Switzerland and around the globe, offering a wide range of different asset classes and types of mandates.
This is just the tip of the iceberg! There are many regional databases that may be of interest as well. Most importantly, when considering reaching out to non-U.S. consultants, you need to clearly define your marketing strategy. Focusing on particular countries or market segments, as well as identifying the most suitable fund structure, will help ensure success in achieving worldwide notability. 
Kin
