The sales tool, InvestmentView, will be used by the firm's brokers to research, present and sell funds in its 'Offshore Fund' programme to retail investors. The package also provides the fund families participating in the programme with the opportunity to better market their offshore funds through UBS PaineWebber’s brokers.

"As the number of offshore fund offerings continue to increase, investors are demanding to see more compelling illustrations, comparisons and comprehensive analysis of the various offshore funds available,” says Sharon Pascarelle, divisional vice president of marketing, at the international private accounts groups of UBS PaineWebber. “Providing our offshore brokers with a hypothetical illustration and research software enables them to meet the growing needs of these investors."

Of the 16 fund families participating in UBS PaineWebber’s offshore fund programme, a total of 12 have thus far included their data in Wiesenberger’s InvestmentView. Another six firms are slated to sign up for the programme.

“The role of third party distributors in selling offshore funds is all the more crucial in today’s market,” explains Robert Hall, assistant vice president of analytical data, at MFS Investments, whose fund family is a participant in the programme and feeds its offshore fund data to InvestmentView. “Having our funds included in a sales tools that brokers use to sell offshore funds creates an even more effective distribution channel.”

Thomson Financial/Wiesenberger says it is in advanced talks with another leading broker\dealer to create a similar customised InvestmentView offshore version to meet the broker’s distribution needs.