UK/EUROPE – CAPS, the UK performance measurement company, jointly owned by Bacon & Woodrow, Watson Wyatt and William M. Mercer has been sold to Russell/Mellon Analytic Services, in a deal that will see a merger of the Russell/Mellon and CAPS UK and European Businesses.

The new combined UK organisation called Russell/Mellon CAPS will be headed up by Fred Settelmeyer as chief executive officer.
Settelmeyer was formerly managing director of Russell/Mellon in Europe.

“This is a very important development, not only for our two organisations, but also for our clients and prospective clients,” says Settelmeyer.
“CAPS has an excellent reputation in the market place, well respected products and services and an expanding portfolio of new products and services.”

Mick Brandt, the former chief executive of CAPS and newly named managing director of Russell/Mellon CAPS, adds: “The merger allows us to make the most of the unique advantages of each organisation. Intergrating all our products and services will give us a tremendous competitive advantage. Indeed, it is probably the best match for any two companies in our business and presents many new opportunities for us all.”

The new group claims that its ability to offer a one-stop-shop for consultancy/analysis services to pension funds and other institutional investors will set it apart from competitors.
The move also completes the transition of Russell/Mellon to an independent business with the combined group servicing around 1,200 European pension funds with assets of £500bn (e806bn).