Chicago-headquartered custody giant and bank Northern Trust has been been chosen by Dubai-based asset manager Sancta Capital Advisors (Sancta Capital) to provide brokerage and global custody services, the firm announced today. Sancta Capital is part of Sancta Capital Group, an alternative investment manager founded in 2013 with a focus on distressed and deep-value investing across the Middle East and Africa. The firm has offices in Dubai and Houston.
Northern Trust stated that it aims to help drive efficiencies across Sancta Capital’s business, enabling its team to focus more directly on core investment management functions and alpha generation. This includes supporting Sancta Capital’s trading programme through Northern Trust’s agency-only brokerage capability.
The capability combines far-reaching trading expertise in equities and fixed income with access to broad Liquidity and provides access to more than 80 global markets, as well as a suite of services supporting best Execution and client reporting.
Global custody services
Additionally, Northern Trust will provide global custody services for Sancta Capital’s local and global mandates to deliver process efficiencies for the safekeeping, reporting and administration of its assets.
“Northern Trust’s institutional brokerage services provide asset managers and asset owners with access to intelligent solutions and high quality liquidity. In turn this enables increased transparency and governance across their trading programme – as well as helping to optimize operational efficiency. Our expertise in these areas compliments both Sancta Capital’s investment specialisms and regional focus,” Guy Gibson, global head of institutional brokerage at Northern Trust Capital Markets said.
“We are excited to work with Northern Trust, whose brokerage execution and custody offering will provide us with the operational efficiency, market expertise and the innovative solutions required to achieve our long-term investment goals,” Ahmad Alanani, co-founder and chief executive officer of Sancta Capital, noted.
Northern Trust Middle East
Northern Trust began servicing clients in the Middle East in 1987. Today, from its offices in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, the firm provides a comprehensive range of solutions to a portfolio of clients that include many of the largest sovereign wealth funds, central banks, inter-governmental/governmental organizations, asset managers and family offices in the region.
Michael Slater, head of Middle East and Africa at Northern Trust, added that the company is committed to supporting asset managers across the Middle East and North Africa.
“Through market cycles our local presence and global capabilities provide clients like Sancta Capital with access to scale and sophisticated asset servicing solutions, assisting their growth, while helping them adapt to change and position their investment operations for the future,” he said.
Northern Trust Capital Markets provides trading and execution services on behalf of institutional clients, including foreign exchange, institutional brokerage, securities lending and transition management services.
