News

23.01.2012 - KNEIP first to offer automated written notice dissemination

We are pleased to inform that KNEIP has become the first service provider to offer automated dissemination of UCITS IV written notices to accompanying Key Investor Information Documents (KIIDs) on behalf of clients. KNEIP’s system is sanctioned by Luxembourg-regulator CSSF and is capable of managing the dissemination and monitoring of regulatory documents to 30 European Economic Area countries.

In a cornerstone agreement, KNEIP was recently appointed by a leading European asset management company to translate, produce and disseminate nearly 1,000 KIIDs for its Swedish, Luxembourgish and Finnish domiciled funds. KNEIP has already been mandated for the production of over 60,000 KIIDs and the dissemination of over 125,000 KIIDs, with many more on the way. Written notices will be a regular part of every one of these funds’ lives.

Since July 2011, all funds must proceed with their cross-border registrations for distribution in host EU Member States via their home regulator; following the new UCITS IV simplified notification procedure. Throughout the rest of the fund’s lifecycle, asset managers must then file, publish and disseminate each new or revised KIID in all required languages, specifically:
•    Each existing KIID must be revised at least once a year to update past performance
•    Each revised KIID must be filed alongside a UCITS IV written notice to each host regulator in any country of distribution prior to any publication or distribution
•    KIIDs must be revised following any changes in the Objectives and Investment Policy

In terms of cost impact, UCITS IV written notices have a much greater impact than initial notifications. Given the global popularity of UCITS funds, finding a cost-efficient solution to this process becomes paramount when distributing funds in multiple distribution jurisdictions.

Yves Tambour, Product Specialist at KNEIP, comments: “While the new UCITS IV notification procedure has garnered much press and industry attention lately, a less-publicised reality looms just under the surface that will have a much bigger impact long-term on funds than initial fund notifications.

“We can’t stress enough the importance of focusing not only on initial fund registration, but in preparing for the entire fund lifecycle with a solution that brings long-term savings through economies of scale and reduced cost per share.”

19.01.2012 - Philippe Maupas appointed General Manager of La Cote Bleue

We're glad to announce the appointment of Philippe Maupas as General Manager of La Cote Bleue, a KNEIP subsidiary specializing in financial information (equities and funds), taking effect on February 1st, 2012.

Philippe Maupas has been appointed at La Cote Bleue to help drive growth in France and to develop the business on an international level. This appointment coincides with La Cote Bleue’s recent move from Palais Brongniart, where the company has held offices for the past 50 years, to Place Vendôme. The new offices include state-of-the-art video and radio studios to support KNEIP’s wide-ranging multi-media communications offering.

Lee Godfrey, Deputy CEO of KNEIP, said: “Philippe brings over 23 years of leadership, in-depth understanding of French and European financial media, and asset management experience, which will greatly benefit KNEIP and La Cote Bleue. His extensive expertise in fund administration, listings and distribution as well as communications management, will significantly help the firm reaffirm its position as leader in technology and multi-media solutions for the finance industry.”

Philippe has had a strong career in the finance sector, having worked in the economic and financial press for over 12 years. In 2001, he became CEO of Morningstar France until 2005 when he co-founded Quantalys in 2005, which he directed until the end of 2011.
Philippe Maupas, commented: “KNEIP and La Cote Bleue have been set up to provide innovative solutions to the finance industry and it gives me great pleasure to join the team. I am looking forward to working with them to grow the business on both a European and International level.”

03.01.2012 - Funds Europe personality of the year!

On December 1, 2011 Bob Kneip was invited to London to attend the well-known 7th Annual Funds Europe Awards Ceremony. His name had been submitted for one of their awards, the 'European Asset Servicing Personality of the year' award.

In the Personality of the year category, there are 3 awards given:

European Personality of the year
European CIO of the year
European Asset Servicing Personality of the year

We are pleased to announce that Bob has been elected European Asset Servicing Personality of the year 2011!

Also worthy noting is that several of our clients are also winners:

European asset management company of the year (assets > €20bn): Investec Asset Managemen
European asset management company of the year (assets < €20bn): Edmond de Rothschild Asset Managemen
European specialist investment firm of the year: Insight Investmen
European fund launch of the year: Allianz Global Investor
European marketing campaign of the year: BNP Paribas Investment Partners

Congratulations to Bob Kneip, and the other "KNEIP" winners.

14.12.2011 - New KIID research: Devil is in the detail

New research in a joint study from KNEIP, leading service provider to the global asset management industry, and Ebsylon, financial communication and plain language specialists, has shown that in a sample of KIIDs completed to date, while the contents are fairly good, improvements can be made in the form and presentation of the document.

The research explored the form and presentation of the KIID, section contents, and plain language, in a context of full compliance to the KIID Regulations. The study was based on a random sample of 100 KIIDs, which did not specifically include any of KNEIP’s clients, from 29 asset managers in four languages (English, French, German, Italian). While the content was found to be generally correct, with good attention given to the Risk and Reward Profile section, the vast majority of samples fell short of respecting the prescribed texts and presentation of information.

Mario Mantrisi, Head of product Management and Innovation and Member of the Executive Board at KNEIP, commented: “Broadly, we were impressed with the positive strides the industry has made ahead of July 2012. What the research highlights is that asset managers have made excellent progress with the content of the KIID, while the form needs work.”
“While these findings may at first view seem somewhat pedantic, regulations are quite clear in their specifications and leave little room for interpretation of prescribed statements or formatting of various elements. The result is that fund managers distributing KIIDs cannot be assured that the KIIDs would pass the scrutiny of regulators, if checked. This risk is increased by exposure to potential complaints from investors, and the possibility of liability.”
A few examples of issues revealed by the research show:

-    There were inconsistencies (e.g. “The fund invests mainly in shares (...)” written in the Objectives and Investment Policy, whereas in the Risk and Reward Profile narrative is found: “The Fund may invest a substantial part of its assets in sovereign and corporate bonds”).
-    If a benchmark is mentioned in the Objectives and Investment Policy, it must be shown on the Past Performance chart. If a benchmark is shown on the Past Performance chart, it must be mentioned in the Objectives and Investment Policy. There were inconsistencies in both directions.
-    56% misrepresented the Past Performance bar chart (e.g. past performance figures were not rounded to one decimal place or performance figures were displayed for incomplete years).
-    Some KIIDs omitted the narrative explanation of the synthetic indicator or its main limitations (the category 1 does not mean a risk-free investment).
-    54% misrepresented elements of the charges table, such as showing switch charges or not mentioning the narrative explanation of entry/exit charges.
-    54% misrepresented the KIID disclaimer of authorisation details.

Emmanuel Bégat, Managing Partner of Ebsylon commented: “An overwhelming majority of KIIDs use jargon or technical terms, whereas regulations are clear about the need to avoid them. Ultimately what this research highlights is that the devil is in the detail when it comes to developing 100% compliant KIIDs. With all the resources and efforts being put into creating KIIDs, we feel that it’s worth going the extra mile to get them right.”
Bob KNEIP, CEO of KNEIP added: “As we head towards the end of the grandfathering period, we believe that our clients will require additional support when it comes to the production and distribution of fully compliant KIIDs.
“We have invested heavily in the technology, infrastructure, and expertise for our KIID business gearing up to 2012 and beyond. We are using the findings of this research to further improve our offering and deliver the best solution possible for asset managers in what we see as an important step-change for the industry.”

07.11.2011 - François Viennot rejoint notre Conseil d'Administration

Expert reconnu sur la place financière française, François Viennot rejoint le conseil d'administration de KNEIP S.A.S.
Monsieur Viennot apporte une expérience de plus de 30 ans de métier titres dans les plus importantes institutions financières de la place, afin d’aider KNEIP à consolider sa présence en France.
Bob Kneip, CEO du groupe KNEIP affirme : « Notre ambition est d’assister nos clients là où ils ont le plus besoin de nous, à savoir sur leurs marchés de distribution, auprès des domiciles de leurs fonds et auprès de leurs centres de prise de décisions. En 2009, nous avons acquis la Cote Bleue et avons établi nos bureaux dans le Palais Brongniart. Depuis lors, nous avons sans cesse travaillé à l’amélioration des services à nos clients français ainsi qu’au développement de l'industrie financière. Nous nous réjouissons de la vision et du savoir que François Viennot nous apporte. »
Monsieur Viennot continuera à apporter son support au marché français par son implication dans les groupes de travail de la place de Paris. « Comme tout centre financier, la France a ses propres particularités et sa propre culture. Je suis ravi de rejoindre le groupe KNEIP et l’aider à développer son expertise européenne sur le marché français. »

12.09.2011 - KNEIP partners with CETREL to offer Regulatory Filing and Fund Distribution Support

KNEIP and CETRELSecurities today announced the launch of the first international notification and written notice platform to manage, disseminate and track fund documents.

Previous to UCITS IV, fund registration in some countries could take up to two months to process. While UCITS IV speeds up the entry of UCITS funds into cross-border markets, it has also introduced a need for enhanced regulatory filing and distribution support. This new platform bridges the gap between asset managers and home/host regulators by providing end-to-end management of fund registration and notifications, document dissemination, and distribution support.

The KNEIP-CETRELSecurities platform brings fresh competition to the regulatory filing space, with cost savings of up to 40% compared to current market prices. It also reduces time to market, matching the new notification process requirements of UCITS IV. In addition, this new service will be integrated in a wider documentation solution, enabling asset managers to efficiently disseminate fund documentation to distributors and professional intermediaries as well as UCITS IV compliant public website.

Bob Kneip, CEO of KNEIP said: ‘’We are excited to be a part of building a new era in the European fund industry through more open, cost effective, business-efficient services. Creating this platform will help asset managers gain efficiency in registering and distributing their funds. And this enables them to concentrate on their core business.’’

As part of an ongoing initiative to create a more open architecture, Luxembourg regulator CSSF recently approved the KNEIP-CETRELSecurities platform for regulatory documents and filing of prudential statistical reports.

Renaud Oury, Executive Vice President at CETRELSecurities, added: “CETRELSecurities is a designated CSSF transmission channel. With the 25 years of experience of CETREL, along with our reputation in technology security, we are able to facilitate the European fund industry to be more efficient, offering asset managers a secure platform that supports their cross-border fund distribution needs with a high degree of confidence.”

08.08.2011 - KNEIP Industry Survey

Fund distribution through private banks, direct sales and proprietary channels (such as distribution agreements with banks) is set to increase significantly during the next 12 months, according to the latest research from KNEIP, a leading solutions provider to the asset management industry.

KNEIP surveyed 47 European asset managers, administrators and promoters and found that:

· 42.9% of respondents planned to use private banks more, up by 14% from 2010

· 34.3% of respondents expected to focus more on direct sales, an increase of 14%

· 31.4% planned to use proprietary channels, special in-house agreements within banks, which has had a significant 26% increase in the last 12 months.

The survey also found that 94% of respondents cited that UCITS IV would have the most impact on the fund management industry in the next 12 months, up from 83% from last year.

Bob Kneip, Chief Executive Officer of KNEIP commented:

“The implementation of new regulation such as UCITS IV is pushing asset managers to forge closer relationships with investors as indicated by the increased focus on direct sales. The rise in private bank distribution channels suggests that some asset managers are increasingly targeting high net worth individuals as the recovery from the financial crisis stabilises.”

“With UCITS IV officially in place this month, preparation and implementation is clearly the top priority for asset managers. While a grace period exists until January 2012, asset managers are reappraising their distribution models, exploring solutions to help them navigate through a complex regulatory environment.”

New geographies opening up

Global investors are increasingly looking to invest in South America and Australia, according to the KNEIP survey. While Europe remains the main market for investor demand, with 74.3% selecting this geography as a focus, it has decreased by 9% from last year.

Mr. Kneip continued: “Developing markets, such as Brazil and Chile, offer a relatively untapped source of emerging wealth, with GDPs increasing by about 10% in the last year. Australia also represents a huge market opportunity as a hub for product exportation to Asia. This coupled with local regulatory changes which have opened up these markets for non-domestic funds in recent years, make these huge growth opportunities for asset managers moving forward.”

METHODOLOGY:

KNEIP surveyed a range of European asset management industry participants to understand key trends, challenges and opportunities in the European fund industry. The survey was conducted during a 4-week period in April 2011 and asked 47 European asset managers, administrators and promoters.

26.07.2011 - Europe’s fund platforms combine to create new industry body - the “Fund Platform Group”

Today marks the official launch of the newly created Fund Platform Group (“FPG”), a new industry body that brings together a range of leading fund distribution platforms in an effort to build relationships and promote understanding between all stakeholders in the global fund distribution platform business.

The group’s founding Charter Members are all financial institutions acting as fund distribution platforms for third-party funds and include: RBC-DEXIA Investor Services, Fund Channel, Moventum, MFEX, Attrax, Swisscanto London, and Société Générale Securities Services.

FPG Associate Member, KNEIP, first brought the founding Charter Members together in 2010 to discuss establishing FPG and will act as a facilitator and supporter of the group’s efforts moving forward.

The FPG’s mission is to establish high professional standards and facilitate the efficient and secure distribution of investment funds to end investors. It aims to achieve this by:

- Improving the efficiency of transaction handling, by working to establish new standards of fund data, corporate events, securities & cash processing, and distribution agreements.

- Creating a single market voice to educate, promote and actively participate in the shaping of industry regulation.

- Developing and promoting industry best practices through the establishment and recommendation of service norms for industry-wide implementation.

Edouard Bokuetenge, Director of Distribution Support at RBC-DEXIA Investor Services and Chairman of the FPG, states: "Fund platforms are pivotal to the evolution of the global distribution landscape, regardless of the type or location of a fund. This association acts as a catalyst for the global development of the fund industry. At a time when new legislations are facilitating cross-border distribution but also bringing greater complexity, we believe that the creation of a strong and independent Global Fund Platform association is critical. We are very pleased to meet this need."

31.05.2011 - New European fund notification and regulatory reporting platform announced

With the new legislation introduced by UCITS IV which includes new fund registration and notification procedures, Europe is further opening its doors to facilitate cross-border fund distribution. To support the new legislation, CETREL Securities—globally recognised reference in secured transaction communication—and KNEIP—expert in fund data and document management and dissemination—have joined forces to offer a new platform for the management of fund registration and notification.

This solution, effective in June 2011, will bring to asset managers and promoters a streamlined regulator-to-regulator procedure as well as greater visibility into the notification process. KNEIP and CETREL Securities—officially recognised transmission channel by the Luxembourg Bank Authority—are working closely with regulators to test the processes and procedures in the home-host regulator environment.

Bob Kneip, CEO of KNEIP comments: “We are delighted to be working with CETREL Securities to offer the funds community an alternative communications and cost-conscious platform for funds notification in Luxembourg. Capitalising upon our international asset management client base, it is our intention to open this service to the European fund community at large.”

Renaud Oury, Executive Vice-President at CETREL Securities, added: “This is a culmination of our reporting project that was started back in 2007 when we established the SOFiE SORT communication gateway through to the Luxembourg Bank Authority. Working with KNEIP has presented us with the opportunity to build a solution around the needs of the asset managers, promoters, as well as administrators, auditors, and legal advisors.”

18.05.2011 - KNEIP Opens Office in Hong Kong

We are pleased to announce that KNEIP, a leading service provider to the investment fund industry, announces expansion into the Asian market, with the opening of a regional office in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong office, headed by Mr. Derek Ho, will allow KNEIP to better serve global clients distributing their funds in Asia.

Building on its traditional free market economic policy, and with Net retail fund sales to Hong Kong Investors in 2010 was US$ 6.24 Billion Hong Kong continues to mature as a major financial centre. By establishing a local presence in Hong Kong, KNEIP will gain valuable market knowledge that will enable better service to their Asian client base. The office will support KNEIP's data, reporting, and media solutions, and provide localised publication control for all funds in Asian media.

Mr. Derek Ho, Country Manager for Hong Kong, is a reputable local fund expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He is joined by Letizia Lukas, who has six years of experience at the KNEIP headquarters in Luxembourg. Letizia will manage local operations and develop new and existing relationships with the Asian media.

Commenting on the role of the regional office, KNEIP's Country Manager for Hong Kong, Mr Derek Ho, said, "KNEIP will provide expertise in data, media, translation and reporting solutions to the asset management industry of Hong Kong. In addition, we will implement a local media publication control process to better serve the Asian markets by leveraging the advantages of the absence of time and language differences compared to other offices in Europe. Our next step is to launch our data and reporting solutions adapted to local needs in Taiwan, Singapore and Korea from our regional base in Hong Kong."

Mr Ho elaborated, "We chose Hong Kong as our first Asian presence because of the city's strong fund distribution. Moreover, an increasing number of Mainland Chinese fund management companies are entering the Hong Kong market and using the city as a platform to attract investors in the region and worldwide. This provides KNEIP with a golden opportunity to get closer to those companies in Hong Kong, paving the way to serve asset managers in the local and Mainland markets."

Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong, Mr. Andrew Davis, said, "Hong Kong people are well-served with information. The free flow of information is key to attracting publications-related businesses to establish their regional operations in Hong Kong, underlining the city's importance as a financial, trading and communications centre."

"The opening of KNEIP's office in Hong Kong will enrich our investment fund industry. We wish the company every success in its business in our city," Mr. Davis added.

Starting a business in Hong Kong, for companies large and small, has been further facilitated with the launch of the Government's electronic incorporation service in March 2011. The time required for company incorporation and business registration has now been significantly reduced from four to one working day.

18.05.2011 - KNEIP grows closer to clients with office in Hong Kong

We proudly announce that KNEIP, a leading service provider to the investment fund industry, announces expansion into the Asian market, with the opening of an office in Hong Kong. In accordance with the office opening, KNEIP Asia Limited was incorporated in March 2011, following the approval of the Ministry of Finance and the CSSF (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier). The Hong Kong office, headed by Derek Ho, will allow KNEIP to better serve global clients distributing their funds in Asia.

Building on its traditional free market economic policy, and with USD 6.3 billion Net fund sales in 2010, Hong Kong continues to mature as a major financial centre.[1] By establishing a local presence in Hong Kong, KNEIP will gain valuable market knowledge that will enable to better serve their Asian client base. The office will support KNEIP’s data, media, and reporting solutions and provide localised publication control for all funds in Asian media.

Derek Ho, Country Manager for Hong Kong is a reputable local fund expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He is joined by Letizia Lukas, who has six years of experience at the KNEIP headquarters in Luxembourg. Letizia will manage local operations and develop new and existing relationships with the Asian media.

Derek Ho, Country Manager for Hong Kong, commented: "Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan are among the most vibrant markets in Asia for cross-border fund distribution. In considering potential locations for our initial Asian presence, we chose Hong Kong for its strong leadership in the fund distribution industry. We are seeing an increasing number of local players launching new fund products to cater to the increasing popularity of Renminbi-denominated funds. More Chinese fund management companies are entering the Hong Kong market and are using Hong Kong as a platform to attract investors in the region or worldwide, capitalising on their China investment expertise. KNEIP is ready to be at the forefront of these trends to serve asset managers in the local market."

Bob Kneip, CEO of KNEIP, said: “Opening a local office in Hong Kong is in line with our 2011 growth strategy and with our ambition to be closer to our clients. This development will help to enhance our ability to better serve our Asian client base.”

KNEIP is headquartered in Luxembourg and has offices in Brussels, Frankfurt, Paris, Hong Kong, Lausanne and London.

10.05.2011 - KNEIP invests in FBF

We are pleased to announce that KNEIP, a leading service provider for the asset management industry, has acquired a strategic stake in Fund Buyer Focus Ltd. (FBF), the newly-formed collaboration between MackayWilliams, LLP, the leading fund market analysts, and Metrinomics GmbH, one of Germany's top market research companies.

FBF is the new brand name for the former Fund Market Focus business operated solely by Metrinomics over the last decade. In January this year, MackayWilliams acquired a controlling interest in the business with a view to developing new types of fund market research and new business partnerships.

FBF specialises in the continuous monthly interviewing of major investment fund distributors across 20 European countries on their perceptions of investment management groups and the structure of their selection processes. Analysis of this continual polling, drawn from a field of over 5,000 established professionals, provides third-party retail fund promoters with detailed grass-root perspectives on marketplace attitudes, business drivers and the factors that can translate into real competitive advantage.

Bob Kneip, CEO of KNEIP, states: "More and more, we're being asked to consult on optimising investor and distributor communication, compliance, data, and reports to help our clients understand where they should be. FBF brings a new dimension to our business, fulfilling KNEIP's objective to help our clients communicate with their investors. The insight that they produce helps us better understand our clients and the markets they operate in."

Asset managers today are focused on efficiency, transparency and building trust among their stakeholders and getting the right information to their investors and distributors is critical. This goes beyond essential core data and documents such as NAVs, corporate actions, KIIDs, and factsheets. It means accessing insightful market intelligence such as broader sales data understanding and underlying market trends. It is here that the valuable information that FBF produces can be a powerful tool in helping them make sound choices about how to best reach their stakeholders and serve their distribution network."

Rodney Williams of FBF adds "Our companies have a common goal: to help asset managers better communicate with their investors, either directly or through their distribution channels. Our business model can help them maximise their opportunities by understanding their peers and the market segments they operate in better than anything else currently available."

FBF's service will remain the same in the near term, with new standard and bespoke services planned which will give unique insights into fund market dynamics, from both the supply and the demand side.

08.04.2011 - J.P. Morgan Asset Management sets the standard for FPP

We are pleased to announce that J.P. Morgan Asset Management has made its fund range available in the Fund Processing Passport (FPP) standard for use by distributors and investors, in line with EFAMA’s recommendations. The FPP is a short and harmonized document summarising all the key operational information needed for fund transaction processing.

The decision to adopt the Fund Processing Passport standard for fund information was driven by the positive impact that standardisation, transparency, and efficiency will have both internally and externally. The availability of this data in an easy to consume format will also improve the speed and accuracy with which responses to enquiries relating to fund information can be handled.

J.P. Morgan Asset Management chose to provide their FPP data via www.fundpassport.com, a website designed by KNEIP, a leading independent service provider to the global asset management industry, and where they will publish over 1000 FPPs. This platform, along with several others, is tied into EFAMA’s European-wide FPP hub, which allows for complete access to all FPPs.

Caron Seymour, Vice President, Performance and Client Reporting team at J.P. Morgan Asset management said: “KNEIP was a very logical choice for our FPP implementation, as they have managed our funds data for over 10 years, distributing performance and static information to over 60 destinations.”

Jamie Broderick, Head of Europe and Latin America at J.P. Morgan Asset Management and an EFAMA Board member commented: “J.P. Morgan Asset Management is committed to improving efficiencies in the market which then benefit our distributors and investors. The FPP standard is a solid step in that direction, and we’re pleased to support it.”

04.04.2011 - DNCA Finance selects KNEIP for its KIID implementation

We are pleased to announce that DNCA Finance, a leading asset management company, has selected KNEIP to manage the production and dissemination of their Key Investor Information Documents (KIIDs), in preparation for the introduction of UCITS IV, which comes into effect in July.

KNEIP, a leading independent service provider to the global asset management industry, will manage the generation, translation and dissemination of KIIDs for DNCA’s entire range of funds that they administer. KNEIP’s KIID production solution is powered by its new Co-React engine, part of the industry standard-setting fund reporting software suite.

For the past three years, KNEIP has provided DNCA Finance with online and offline fund data publication as well as data management, including the Fund Processing Passport.

Jean-Philippe BIDAULT, Deputy CEO at DNCA Finance states: “We have tested and approved KNEIP’s technical commitment concerning the management of databases, through the implementation of FPP. KNEIP is also assisting DNCA Finance with the international dissemination of our financial data. We’re now happy to extend our cooperation and entrust KNEIP with our KIID production and dissemination.”

25.03.2011 - KNEIP obtains CSSF approval for presence in Hong Kong

To enable KNEIP to better serve our global clients who are distributing their funds in Asia as well as the local fund industry, we are pleased to announce that KNEIP Asia Limited was incorporated in March 2011, following the approval of the Ministry of Finance and the CSSF (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier). The KNEIP office will be headed by Derek Ho, a local fund expert with 15 years of experience in the industry. He will be joined by Letizia Lukas, who has worked at KNEIP in Luxembourg for 6 years. Letizia will be running the local operations and handling the Asian media relationship.

Derek Ho, Country Manager for Hong Kong, commented: "Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan are among the most vibrant markets in Asia for cross-border funds distribution. In deciding where we would set up our initial Asian presence, we chose Hong Kong for its strong fund distribution infrastructure to support for our client's business. In addition, local players are launching new fund products to cater to the increasing popularity of Renminbi-denominated funds. More Chinese fund management companies are entering the Hong Kong market and are using Hong Kong as a platform to attract investors in the region or worldwide, capitalizing on their China investment expertise. KNEIP is ready to be at the forefront of these trends to serve asset managers in the local market."

09.02.2011 - ING Chooses KNEIP for KIID

We are pleased to announce that ING Investment Management (ING IM) has selected KNEIP, a leading service provider to the fund management industry, as their partner for the production of the ‘Key Investor Information Document’ (KIID) for each of its funds, in line with a new European directive.

ING IM’s product assortment in Europe includes more than 240 funds, representing over 870 share classes. Under the European Union UCITS IV directive that comes into effect in July, KIIDs must be created to represent each of these share classes.

KNEIP, a leader in fund data and reporting solutions for over 17 years, will manage the data collection, document layout, translation, production and dissemination of ING IM’s KIIDs. The recent acquisition of Belgium-based Co-Link has further enabled KNEIP to integrate its new Co-React software into their KIID solution.

KNEIP already provides listings, corporate actions, Masterfile with FPP, and fund reporting services to ING Investment Management.

Maaike van Meer, Head of Legal & Compliance at ING Investment Management, said: “We have trusted KNEIP with our fund listings and corporate actions, our annual and semi-annual reports, and translations for several years. We have full trust that they have the processes, technology and people to successfully handle KIID production as well.”

Bob Kneip, CEO of KNEIP said: “We are looking forward to developing and further strengthening our relationship with ING Investment Management. Our main objective is to develop a structure centred around efficient delivery to ING Investment Management, as we take on the responsibility of providing timely and accurate information to their end investors.”

03.02.2011 - KNEIP opens an office in Frankfurt

We are proud to announce that KNEIP expanded its network with the opening of an office in Frankfurt, appointing Dr. Jürgen Fass to head it up.

Germany is increasingly important to the fund management industry. With €1.1bn net assets, the market is currently the third biggest in Europe, after Luxembourg and France. By establishing a physical presence in the region, KNEIP will gain a more in-depth understanding of the issues affecting the market the market and consequently provide a more tailored and insightful service.

Commenting on the opening of the German office, Bob Kneip, CEO of KNEIP, said:

"The opening of a local office in Frankfurt is in-line with our 2011 growth strategy and with our ambition to be closer to our clients. This development will help to enhance our market intelligence and better service our German client base."

Dr. Jürgen Fass, Relationship Manager at KNEIP, commented:

"I look forward to leading the operations in Germany. Over the last two years, the German fund management industry has opened up and we've seen a greater appetite towards outsourcing by key participants, which follows the general trend towards cross-border distribution. In addition, with the move to UCITS IV in July this year, German asset managers will need to become swiftly aligned with the new requirements. As a provider of high quality services, KNEIP has the potential to provide significant support to the German fund management market as this important stage of its development."

02.02.2011 - KIID Overview by Mario Mantrisi

In this interview conducted in french, Mario Mantrisi of KNEIP delivers an engaging overview of the KIID.

View the interview here.

31.08.2010 - KNEIP acquires CO-LINK

We are pleased to announce that KNEIP has acquired Co-Link, specialist in fund reporting technology and services for investment funds. In recent years, KNEIP has invested heavily in its fund reporting services and solutions, and Co-Link brings a new dimension to KNEIP’s existing fund reporting and translation services.

Click here to read the full article.

26.08.2010 - KNEIP acquires PATRIMOINE TV

We are pleased to announce that KNEIP acquired Patrimoine TV, the premier online video producer dedicated to the financial industry. This acquisition comes shortly after the repurchase of KNEIP’s shares from 3i, and supports KNEIP’s ongoing growth strategy in developing video and web TV services for the financial industry.
The addition of Patrimoine TV will enable KNEIP to bring a new dimension to their existing video production capabilities and provide a web TV platform for their clients.

Click here to read the full article.

19.07.2010 - Wave of M&A expected

Industry participants plan expansion into Europe, Asia and South America in the next 12 months.

The European asset management industry is expecting a new wave of international company M&A activity during the next 12 months as participants prepare to expand into Europe, Asia and South America. These were among the conclusions of a recent survey of European asset managers and administrators conducted by KNEIP, a leading service provider to the asset management industry.

Growing investor demand

According to the research, 90% of respondents believe that there will be an increase in international company M&A activity in the asset management industry over the coming year. The survey also found that 45% of respondents have firm cross-border expansion plans in place, while 42% are already considering international expansion into Europe, Asia and Latin America in response to an expected increase in investor interest from those regions.

Bob Kneip, Chief Executive Officer of KNEIP commented: “Having been through one of the worst financial crises in recent history, it is encouraging to see that the European asset management industry is looking ahead more confidently to the next 12 months. Asset managers are expected to grow by acquisition and many companies already have firm plans for expansion.

KNEIP’s corporate actions data confirms this trend. While in the first 2 quarters of 2009 KNEIP recorded five company mergers and acquisitions, during the same period in 2010 this figure has already increased almost four-fold to 19.

Bob Kneip continued: “The anticipated M&A activity can largely be attributed to growing demand for UCITS products around the world, which have become associated with excellence and strong supervision. It is the only truly globally distributed investment fund product, with demand from Asia now particularly strong.

“Latin America has also accepted UCITS as providing a stable, high quality, well regulated investment product with significant investor protection. Pension funds in countries such as Peru and Chile have started using UCITS structures in the last few years. Chile is also the second largest consumer of UCITS funds from outside Europe, topped only by Singapore and followed by Hong Kong and Peru.”.

Click here to read the full article.

25.06.2010 - KNEIP purchases 3i shares

We are pleased to announce that KNEIP has repurchased all shares held by 3i, an international investor in growth capital, buyouts and infrastructure, following strong growth for the group during the last three years.

Luxembourg-based KNEIP provides a range of domestic and cross-border services to many of the world’s largest fund management companies, providing its services to funds which have combined assets under management in excess of €1.8 trillion. 3i first invested for a significant minority stake in KNEIP during May 2007 to help increase the company’s service offering and expand its geographical reach.

Via a collaborative partnership over the last three years and with 3i’s support, KNEIP has successfully launched new offices in both London and Paris, attracting customers across both regions. In addition, KNEIP has made three international acquisitions. In 2009 KNEIP purchased La Cote Bleue in Paris, a press agency and major supplier of fund listings to the French media. Also in 2009, KNEIP acquired the assets of web development company Akiraweb to strengthen its capabilities in technological development and research, as well as Luxemburg-based fund publication specialist Lombard Fund Services which provided multi-lingual translation services and helped to enhance KNEIP’s existing customer service.

Read the full Press Release here

09.04.2010 - KNEIP sponsors ALFI London Seminar

We are pleased to announce that this year KNEIP will be sponsor of the London Seminar. Taking place on May,11 at IET Savoy Place, London WC2R 0BL, the event will be opened with a keynote address by H.E Luc Frieden, Luxembourg’s Minister of Finance.
If you would like to attend one of the Workshops, you can sign up (for free) from the ALFI site here.
speak with us at the seminar, you can contact Paul Poletti-Gadd at paul.polettigadd@kneip.com or by phone at (+44)7799130117 and Louis Wright at louis.wright@kneip.com or by phone at +352 621 272 523.

Tuesday 11th May 2010, 8.30am
No.2 Savoy Place (IET)
London WC2R 0BL
(www.savoyplace.co.uk)

30.03.2010 - KNEIP sponsors ALFI US Roadshow

Taking place from April 12 to the 15 in San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Greenwich and New York, KNEIP is pleased to be a sponsor of the ALFI US Roadshow.

The financial services industry today is in a state of unprecedented change and this is certainly true in the world of asset management across all asset classes. In light of this, we are pleased to participate to the ALFI US Roadshow, which will discuss the opportunities which exist today in Luxembourg with particular focus on those asset managers specialized in alternatives.

Luxembourg sits at the heart of the European Union and is the second largest centre for investment funds after the US. In addition to the more traditional mainstream funds, it is also the leading European centre for hedge, real estate and private equity funds. As such, Luxembourg is perfectly positioned to meet the needs of asset managers as they continue to explore the opportunities presented by the global markets.

If you would like to attend one of the Roadshow events, you can sign up (for free) from the ALFI site here.

speak with us at or around one of these locations during the roadshow, you can contact Louis Wright at louis.wright@kneip.com or by phone at +352 621 272 523.

13.11.2009 - KNEIP opens an office in Paris

We are proud to announce that KNEIP expands its network with the opening of a Paris office, appointing Christian Mavides to head-up the office.

The opening of KNEIP’s French office is part of KNEIP’s strategy to provide on-the-ground support to clients in France where the fund management industry is experiencing particularly strong growth. The opening builds upon KNEIP’s recent acquisition of La Cote Bleue, located in the heart of Paris at the Palais Brongniart—the original Bourse. Christian Mavides, who was previously Financial Advertising Director at BFM radio in charge of finance and bank-insurance sectors, will focus on building KNEIP’s French-based client base, and supporting existing client relations.

Bob Kneip, CEO of KNEIP, said:

“France is Europe’s oldest and largest financial market for domestic funds. With recent developments in the European market, including UCITS IV, some French fund managers have relocated central functions to Paris to achieve economies of scale. Given these factors, it is crucial that KNEIP has a geographic presence from which it can develop relationships within this vibrant national industry. Christian, who has extensive relationships within the local market, will be a great attribute at this stage of our development.”

Headquartered in Luxembourg, KNEIP provides a range of key services to the asset management industry. These include fund listings, corporate actions, static data and document management through MasterFile, fund reporting and fact sheets, specialised translation and proofreading, and targeted video production and distribution. Its client base includes some of the world’s largest asset managers, representing assets under management of more than €5.8 trillion. In addition to the new Paris office, KNEIP has offices in London, Switzerland and Luxemburg, with plans to open additional premises in Germany in early 2010.

Christian Mavides, Sales Manager for France at KNEIP, commented:

“As a provider of high quality services to asset managers, KNEIP has the potential to provide considerable assistance to the French fund management market. I look forward to bringing to bear my contacts and knowledge of the financial community to help grow KNEIP’s business.”

This local presence will serve largest European domestic Fund Market.

12.01.2010 - Luxembourg... a great place for business opportunities...

"Don’t believe all the stories you hear about Luxembourg. Here you will discover a financial center that offers great business opportunities and fast and flexible responses to changing market situations, against a background of political and social stability."

Look at this video and discover the reality about Luxembourg

13.11.2009 - KNEIP invests in Web 2.0

We are pleased to announce that KNEIP acquired the assets & employees of Akiraweb, a Luxembourg-based web 2.0 development agency. This transaction has led to the creation of “KNEIP Lab”, which will be responsible for developing more efficient web-based customer access to KNEIP’s services, as well as for streamlining the business’ internal processes.

Over the past 18 months, Akiraweb has worked closely with KNEIP to make its fund data services, including Fund Processing Passport, and MasterFile—part of KNEIP’s online client portal FundLook.

Yizhi Sun, owner of Akiraweb, stated: “KNEIP Lab allows us to combine cutting-edge technology and interactive user experiences, with the stringent quality and security standards of the financial sector. We look forward to building on these synergies in the future.

Bob Kneip, CEO and founder of KNEIP, added: “Everything that we do at KNEIP is centred on caring for our clients. Our investment in technology and innovation is ultimately an investment in our clients, bringing them more transparency, interactivity, control, and mobility – the hallmarks of what web 2.0 stands for.”

Embracing Web 2.0 brings greater efficiency to KNEIP's web-based services.

05.10.2009 - KNEIP hosts fund industry leader roundtable

These are the main findings of a fund manager survey recently conducted by us in the run up to the EFAMA Investment Management Forum in Brussels. Below are the results and conclusions of this roundtable that we would like to share with you.

The survey interviewed CEOs of European fund management houses with a combined total of AUM of €1.8 trillion. According to the findings, 83 per cent of respondents think that it will be more than five years before an efficient cross-border fund distribution market can become a reality, with 67 per cent citing disparity in regulation and tax legislation as key obstacles.

“While it is unrealistic to expect to have all answers right away, the discussion about the nuts and bolts of the implementation of UCITS IV is still in its infancy. For instance, facilitating fund registration across the European markets will present a significant reporting challenge. There is still much work to be done around standardisation of information and documentation on a pan-European basis if distributors are to understand what they are selling, and investors what they are buying.”

According to KNEIP, the European Commission, the European member states and the European asset management industry should take the following steps towards ensuring a fully functioning cross-border distribution market:

The European Commission should implement standardised, more transparent and easy-to-understand reporting across markets
Member states should address the higher-level issues of unifying taxation legislation with respect to management company domiciliation
Market players should establish centralised information platforms that cater to the end investor and optimise management of cross-border funds
Asset managers should streamline their fund ranges and increase efficiency of their operations by focusing on their core business

Bob Kneip concludes: “Now is the time to think about how UCITS IV will work in practice. For truly efficient European fund distribution to work, an even playfield with fixed goal posts in every member state needs to be established. Even if a fully functioning cross-border distribution market is not yet in sight, we believe in both the potential of UCITS IV to streamline the fund industry, and in our ability to rally together as an industry to do the right thing for investors.”

To read the full article, visit the Press Area of our website.