As part of its continuing strategy to provide integrated services and technology across the investment lifecycle, asset management firm Northern Trust has reached an agreement to take an equity stake in Equity Data Science (EDS), a cloud-based analytics platform that provides decision support tools to asset managers for idea generation, portfolio construction and risk management.

The EDS decision-support and analytics platform is designed to support the unique processes of active, institutional investment managers. Capabilities include research management, idea generation screening, portfolio construction and optimization, risk management, and order generation.

The deal integrates EDS decision support tools with Northern Trust’s core technology platforms to provide solutions to institutional investors across the globe. The investment is an extension of Northern Trust Whole Office, an approach that integrates Northern Trust’s architecture alongside innovative partners, facilitating client access to new technologies, services and solutions.

“Institutional investors need to drive efficiency and transparency and embed data-driven feedback into their investment decision-making,” says Pete Cherecwich, president of corporate and institutional services at Northern Trust. “By partnering with EDS, we provide our clients with access to enhanced technology that helps them make the right, repeatable and measurable decisions in the quest to achieve alpha.”