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SunGard's Asset Arena 360 Survey Identifies Factors Shaping the Growth of Institutional Boutique Asset Managers(M2 PressWIRE Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) London - The SunGard Asset Arena 360 Boutique Asset Manager survey recently examined the prospects for institutional boutique asset managers, the obstacles that lay ahead, as well as strategies for growth in an increasingly challenging cost-pressured industry. Download the full report now: http://www.sungard.com/assetarena360/boutiqueassetmanagement. "Asset managers are faced with the challenge of trying to achieve scale and staying focused on their area of expertise. This has been particularly true as institutional investors continue to consider investments with specialized investment managers that can offer exposure to specific growth strategies. This has increasingly led to a two-tiered marketplace, with large multi-service asset managers controlling the lion's share of activity, and the remainder going to niche players, including independent boutiques," said Adam Sussman, director of research, TABB Group. "But, smaller managers need to meet the same due diligence criteria as larger firms before they win a significant mandate." Key survey findings include: - Advantages: Being owner-operated ranks among the top drivers of success within the boutique fund industry, but nearly half of respondents (49%) attribute the rise in boutiques in part to a reaction against large funds. Some 70% of the SunGard survey respondents believe that an "hourglass" or "Big Squeeze" phenomenon--in which middle-market players are increasingly marginalized--will likely continue to re-shape the marketplace. Larger players enjoy economies of scale, while smaller asset managers are profitable on fewer assets than larger firms as they offer more unique products and can therefore charge higher fees, said 60% of respondents. 9 out of 10 respondents are looking to technology to help their business meet growth challenges and satisfy increased demands. - Obstacles For those looking to set up shop, cost of operations, regulation, the burden of due diligence and compliance, the ability to show institutional grade control systems and IT investment are the top five barriers to entry. Boutiques have a clear view of the factors that could make or break their enterprises in the next year, and have identified investor confidence, investment returns, rising costs, risk transparency and the Eurozone crisis as the top five factors on their watch lists. "Owner-managers need real-time information at their fingertips concerning their clients, portfolios, trades in progress, risks and compliance issues, with a single point of truth and a full audit trail," said Paul Compton, SunGard's head of strategy for asset management. "To win new business and service 'continuous due diligence' demands, they need to be able to demonstrate the integrity of their processes to potential investors. And to be competitive they have to stay lean. That's the power of Asset Arena 360, a single integrated platform for all these functions, hosted and managed by SunGard to help keep the internal costs of owning and operating technology to a minimum." About SunGard's Asset Arena 360 SunGard's Asset Arena 360 delivers core investment technology across front and middle office functions to boutique asset managers. Available both on a Software-as-a-Service or installed basis, Asset Arena 360 helps boutique asset managers improve portfolio insight and operational efficiency and deliver customized and clear client investment reports. From portfolio management, compliance, risk management, trade execution and performance attribution to client servicing, Asset Arena 360 helps boutique asset managers grow client assets. www.sungard.com/assetarena360 About SunGard SunGard is one of the world's leading software and technology services companies. SunGard has more than 17,000 employees and serves approximately 25,000 customers in more than 70 countries. SunGard provides software and processing solutions for financial services, education and the public sector. SunGard also provides disaster recovery services, managed IT services, information availability consulting services and business continuity management software. With annual revenue of about $4.5 billion, SunGard is the largest privately held software and services company and is ranked 480 on the Fortune 500. For more information, please visit www.sungard.com. Trademark Information: SunGard, the SunGard logo, Asset Arena and Asset Arena 360 are trademarks or registered trademarks of SunGard Data Systems Inc. or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and other countries. All other trade names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. SunGard 2012. All rights reserved. ((M2 Communications disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to [email protected])). (c) 2012 M2 COMMUNICATIONS |