The broker voting process is taking on growing importance for institutional investors.
Facing serious balance sheet constraints and return expectations, brokers are taking a hard-nosed look at research costs and revenues and altering the way they allocate resources to maximize profitability.
Institutions are also watching the horizon for the impact of regulatory reforms in Europe that could bring sweeping changes to the way institutions value and pay for research.
In May 2015 Greenwich Associates interviewed 118 buy-side U.S. equity broker liaisons, heads of commission management, and head traders. Respondents answered a series of qualitative and quantitative questions about the structure of their broker vote process, valuing broker research, and expected influences from the changing regulatory landscape coming out of Europe. All respondent institutions in Greenwich Associates Equity Investors research are placed into one of seven tiers, based on their aggregate cash equity commissions generated. Greenwich Associates Priorities are the largest commission generators, comprised of Tiers 1-4.
The data reported in this document reflect solely the views reported to Greenwich Associates by the research participants. Interviewees may be asked about their use of and demand for financial products and services and about investment practices in relevant financial markets. Greenwich Associates compiles the data received, conducts statistical analysis and reviews for presentation purposes in order to produce the final results. Unless otherwise indicated, any opinions or market observations made are strictly our own.