Sophis Sells Out

Today's announcement that sell-side and treasury software vendor Misys is acquiring Sophis has no doubt raised many an eyebrow among financial industry participants-particularly buy-side and hedge fund clients of Sophis.

Expected to close in February 2011, the deal's details have yet to be fully disclosed beyond purchase price and how the acquisition will boost Misys's standing in the industry.

As Waters editor-in-chief Victor Anderson notes in his analysis "There Goes Another One," just how positive or detrimental the acquisition's effects will prove for Sophis clients will depend on how the vendor's operations will be folded into Misys's larger infrastructure. A SunGard-esque approach wherein Sophis's brand and product development staff are allowed to retain a degree of automony and market distinction could bode well for all parties concerned. Otherwise, Sophis competitors can look forward to a surge of investment managers on the market for new trading and risk systems.

Stewart Eisenhart

Deputy Editor, Buy Side

Waters