BOSTON - Hourly connect charges will drop 70% or more for searching selected business research databases on the I/PLUS online service, officials with The Investext Group said.
The charge to search the Investext, Pipeline and MarkIntel databases in combination on I/PLUS Direct will be reduced to $30 per hour from $99. Hourly connect time charges will be eliminated for separately searching the MarkIntel database.
"We've made these changes in response to customer requests," said David Irving, vice president of The Investext Group. For information, call (800) 662-7878.
Identifying ERISA pitfalls
WILMINGTON, Del. - Many plans sponsors violate provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, according to consultants with The Consulting Group, an advisory division of Smith Barney Shearson, Wilmington.
The consultants developed a software program they say can identify violations in six different areas for plan sponsors that use the software.
The software, called Fiduciary Evaluation, asks 27 key questions about the tax-qualified plans. The program analyzes the answers and identifies problem areas, citing pertinent code, regulation or case law.
Fiduciary Evaluation focuses on investment policy, fidelity bonding, investment manager selection, investment monitoring procedures, investment diversification and plan participant access to key plan documents.
For more information and a demonstration, contact John DelVecchio at (302) 888-4115.
Multex-Bloomberg link
NEW YORK - Multex Publisher, an online research document distribution service, can be accessed on the Bloomberg terminal, officials with Multex Systems Inc. said.
Multex Publisher is a comprehensive online database of more than 12,000 Wall Street research reports. The monthly subscription for accessing Multex on Bloomberg terminals is $30. For information, call (201) 714-3981.
Multicurrency software installed
BOSTON - John Hancock Advisors Inc. installed the multicurrency portfolio accounting and performance measurement system Global EPVS Portfolio Management System in its offices, according to officials with Computer Aided Decisions Inc., maker of the accounting system.
John Hancock Advisers is an investment management subsidiary of John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Co. John Hancock Advisers manages the John Hancock Freedom Global Income Fund and the Maritime Life Pacific Basin International Equity Fund. For information, contact Steve Conner at (617) 227-2288.
Laserjet paper help
GLEN HEAD, N.Y. - Hilton Systems Inc. is offering new sheet feeders for Hewlett-Packard Laserjet 4, the 4+ and 4Si/IIISi printers that permit the use of different types and sizes of paper without frequent paper tray changes.
For information, contact Bret Rachlin (404) 815-8400.
Research pact
BOSTON - Mabon Securities Corp. and Prudential Securities have agreed to provide their research reports exclusively to First Call RESEARCH DIRECT for electronic delivery to institutional clients, according to officials with First Call Corp., Boston.
First Call, Boston, distributes real-time research and earning estimates.
"Our clients are becoming more interested in real-time insight and real-time information, said Laura Conigliaro, associate director of equity research at Prudential Securities.
RESEARCH DIRECT now has 11 confirmed contributors that are brokerages, a company spokesman said.
More information may be obtained by contacting Carolyn Mattimore at (617) 345-2242.
Company acquisitions
JERSEY CITY, N.J. - ADP Information and Processing Services Division will acquire the stock of Investment Software Systems of Littleton, Mass. Terms were not disclosed. ISS is a software development firm specializing in the development and integration of real-time news processing systems for financial services firms. Its NewsANALYST product processes and manages news from sources in real time and provides full text filtering.
Stratus Computer Inc.'s subsidy TCAM Systems Group has signed a letter of agreement to acquire FEMCON Associates Inc., Westford, Mass.
FEMCON and TCAM develop and market software applications and services to automate stock exchanges and securities trading firms worldwide.
Together, FEMCON and TCAM serve 50 investment banks, broker dealers and market making firms.
Flater & Co., Boston, a consulting firm to the financial services industry, was acquired by EDS Investment Services Consulting Services.
Bob Flater, Flater & Co. president, and a team of consultants will join the EDS Investment Services Consulting Practice, Boston, to provide information technology planning, risk management and other services to brokerage firms.
