Key Takeaways
- • Notz Stucki, a Geneva-based asset manager with CHF 10 billion under management, has acquired JAM Research, a hedge fund selection and analysis boutique founded in 2002 by Alexis Sautereau.
- • JAM Research specializes in multi-strategy hedge fund portfolio construction focused on absolute return generation and capital preservation for wealthy private clients; the acquisition expands Notz Stucki's alternative investment capabilities.
- • Operational integration is scheduled for January 2020, with the JAM Research team retaining focus on client management and contributing alternative manager selection expertise to Notz Stucki's platform.
- • Notz Stucki positions this acquisition as part of a broader consolidation strategy in the Swiss independent asset management industry, leveraging its scale and operational infrastructure to attract talent and drive organic growth.
- • The transaction reflects complementary business models—JAM Research's hedge fund expertise and client relationships combined with Notz Stucki's institutional infrastructure and distribution capabilities.
Summary
Notz Stucki, a Geneva-based independent asset manager overseeing CHF 10 billion in assets, has acquired JAM Research, a specialized alternative investment manager providing hedge fund selection services to high-net-worth clients. Founded in 2002 by Alexis Sautereau, JAM Research focuses on analyzing and selecting hedge funds to construct multi-strategy portfolios designed to deliver consistent absolute returns. The deal marks Notz Stucki's strategic entry into a more focused alternative investment boutique model while expanding its hedge fund research and portfolio management capabilities.
JAM Research's founder and management team bring significant institutional pedigree to the transaction. Sautereau, who has over 20 years of financial services experience, previously served as executive director at Unigestion, one of Europe's leading alternative asset managers, before establishing JAM Research two decades ago. His background spans options and equities trading, technology consulting, and corporate finance—a combination positioning JAM Research as a research-driven alternative investment specialist rather than a generalist wealth manager.
Under the acquisition terms, JAM Research will be integrated into Notz Stucki's operational structure effective January 2020. The JAM team will concentrate on client relationship management and business development while contributing their alternative manager selection expertise to Notz Stucki's broader platform. This structure allows JAM Research to leverage Notz Stucki's operational infrastructure and scale while maintaining focused execution on core client service and manager research—a model increasingly adopted in Swiss independent asset management consolidation.
Damiano Paternó Castello, representing Notz Stucki, emphasized operational synergies and complementary capabilities: the two firms share similar investment philosophies around alternative investments and capital preservation. With CHF 10 billion in assets under management, Notz Stucki possesses the scale necessary to invest in operational infrastructure, compliance, and technology—resources that enable smaller specialized managers like JAM Research to focus on their core competency. Sautereau echoed this sentiment, noting that Notz Stucki's infrastructure would allow JAM Research to concentrate on delivering personalized client service and high-performing, capital-preservation-focused management.
The acquisition reflects broader consolidation trends within the Swiss independent management industry. Notz Stucki has explicitly positioned itself as an active consolidator, using its asset base and operational capabilities to attract management talent and acquire complementary businesses. This approach mirrors broader industry dynamics where mid-sized independent managers pursue bolt-on acquisitions of specialized boutiques to expand service offerings and deepen expertise in alternative asset classes.
JAM Research's founder and management team bring significant institutional pedigree to the transaction. Sautereau, who has over 20 years of financial services experience, previously served as executive director at Unigestion, one of Europe's leading alternative asset managers, before establishing JAM Research two decades ago. His background spans options and equities trading, technology consulting, and corporate finance—a combination positioning JAM Research as a research-driven alternative investment specialist rather than a generalist wealth manager.
Under the acquisition terms, JAM Research will be integrated into Notz Stucki's operational structure effective January 2020. The JAM team will concentrate on client relationship management and business development while contributing their alternative manager selection expertise to Notz Stucki's broader platform. This structure allows JAM Research to leverage Notz Stucki's operational infrastructure and scale while maintaining focused execution on core client service and manager research—a model increasingly adopted in Swiss independent asset management consolidation.
Damiano Paternó Castello, representing Notz Stucki, emphasized operational synergies and complementary capabilities: the two firms share similar investment philosophies around alternative investments and capital preservation. With CHF 10 billion in assets under management, Notz Stucki possesses the scale necessary to invest in operational infrastructure, compliance, and technology—resources that enable smaller specialized managers like JAM Research to focus on their core competency. Sautereau echoed this sentiment, noting that Notz Stucki's infrastructure would allow JAM Research to concentrate on delivering personalized client service and high-performing, capital-preservation-focused management.
The acquisition reflects broader consolidation trends within the Swiss independent management industry. Notz Stucki has explicitly positioned itself as an active consolidator, using its asset base and operational capabilities to attract management talent and acquire complementary businesses. This approach mirrors broader industry dynamics where mid-sized independent managers pursue bolt-on acquisitions of specialized boutiques to expand service offerings and deepen expertise in alternative asset classes.
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