Benchmark Capital, owner of several financial and Financial Planning firms, is taking a 49% stake in the Yorkshire-based investment research and fund ratings group RSMR.

Sussex-based Benchmark owns a growing number of financial business including Chartered Financial Planners Aspect8.

The deal, subject to regulatory approval, will see an injection of capital into RSMR to help drive expansion of RSMR’s services.

Benchmark says the “strategic investment” will provide RSMR with access to Benchmark’s technology and discretionary platform.

In turn RSMR will give Benchmark Capital stronger research muscle.

Benchmark owns a number of firms including adviser tech firm Creative Technologies, wrap platform and investment manager Fusion Wealth, Aspect8, IFA platform Best Practice IFA Group and Evolution Wealth, which offers integrated investment solutions to wealth managers and Financial Planners.

Ken Rayner, RSMR’s joint managing director, said: “Geoff Mills (fellow joint MD) and I are delighted to be working with Ian Cooke and his team and together we plan to go from strength to strength.

“At the end of another year of growth for RSMR this is a great development, which allows for further expansion of our influence in the advisory sector.”

The team at RSMR will remain unchanged.

Ian Cooke, chief executive at Benchmark Capital, said: “We’ve been working with RSMR for several years and there is a strong cultural fit between the two firms.

“RSMR has proved itself to be a leading force in the ratings sector and their rigorous and detailed approach to research is now available to all our advisers, backed by RSMR’s experienced and respected research team.”