Auerbach Grayson Expands Coverage of Turkish Market, Announces Partnership with IS Investment

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Auerbach Grayson & Company, Inc., a New York-based brokerage firm that specializes in providing global trade execution and exclusive local research to U.S. institutional investors, announced today that it has partnered in Turkey with IS Investment, a subsidiary of Isbank.

“We have been contemplating entering the U.S. market for several years and this arrangement fits seamlessly into our overall strategy of global growth and continued commitment to delivering the highest quality research and execution services in Turkey’s capital markets.”

Through their exclusive partnership with IS Investment, Auerbach Grayson will have more access to the management of Turkish companies than other U.S.-based brokers, while providing its institutional clients with extensive research, execution and settlement of Turkish securities. The partnership also allows IS Investment to expand its institutional equity business by servicing Auerbach Grayson’s clients, more than 500 of the world’s largest institutional investors, comprising 2,500 international portfolio managers and analysts.

“As one of the most active foreign brokers on the Istanbul Stock Exchange since 1996, our relationship with IS Investment will provide our U.S. based institutional clients with greater and broader access to one of the world’s fastest growing economies,” said David Grayson, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Auerbach Grayson. “Partnering with IS Investment- the largest broker and most prolific provider of research in Turkey, positions Auerbach Grayson as a leading international broker providing the most in-depth coverage for investors seeking to increase exposure in the country.”

Founded in 1996 by Isbank, IS Investment offers investors products and services pertaining to domestic and international capital markets. Representing a large and commanding presence in the Turkish investment market IS Investment ranks first in the Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE) Stock Market and Turkish Derivatives Exchange (TurkDEX). IS Investment represents more than 20% of the market with USD 7.5 billion in assets under management and has the largest equity sales, trading and research teams in Turkey, enabling IS Investment to take part in numerous IPOS and M&A deals. IS Investments has AAA credit rating and stable outlook by Fitch Ratings.

"Our partnership with Auerbach Grayson gives us a prominent platform in the United States to build relationships with some of the largest institutional investors,” said IS Investment CEO Ilhami Koc. “We have been contemplating entering the U.S. market for several years and this arrangement fits seamlessly into our overall strategy of global growth and continued commitment to delivering the highest quality research and execution services in Turkey’s capital markets.”

Auerbach Grayson annually hosts the largest dedicated Turkish corporate conference in the United States and will continue with its seventh year in New York City in October 2011. The firm provides U.S. institutions with access to nearly 130 countries through exclusive partnerships with the leading domestic brokers and banks in each market.

About Auerbach Grayson (www.agco.com)

Founded in 1993 in New York City, Auerbach Grayson offers a full range of global in-depth research, trade execution and settlement services in equities, derivatives and fixed-income instruments to U.S. institutional clients through its network of local broking partners in 128 countries. The firm also provides and implements hedging and arbitrage strategies. Auerbach Grayson is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Securities investor Protection Corporation (SIPC).

About IS Investment (www.isinvestment.com)

IS Investment was established in 1996 by İşbank and offers investors products and services pertaining to domestic and international capital markets. Beyond traditional brokerage activities, IS Investment provides Investment Banking, M&A Advisory, Asset Management, Brokerage and Research services to domestic and foreign investors. IS Investment is the investment banking institution, which has handled the highest number of public offerings in Turkey and also is the leading investment bank as per the M&A league rankings. As a result of its widespread distribution network and with its 385 employees through 9 branches in the country IS Investment enjoys a prominent position in Turkish Capital Markets since its foundation. IS Investment has an FSA regulated brokerage house in UK, has representative offices in Dubai and Almaty, Kazakhstan.