LUXEMBOURG and LONDON, Sept. 22,
2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BlackRock, J.P. Morgan Asset
Management, Pictet Asset Management, and Robeco were the major
category winners, while UBS Asset Managers and Candriam Investors
Group are among the Fastest Risers of the 2021 Broadridge
Distribution Achievement Awards. The awards were presented at the
ALFI Global Distribution Conference taking place virtually on 21
and 22 September 2021.
The environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and socially
responsible investing (SRI) award saw Robeco named as leading group
for the fourth year running, while Natixis, thanks in part to a
number of its subsidiaries being particularly active in this space,
was named as the Fastest Riser in this category.
Founded five years ago to recognise excellence in fund
distribution, the Broadridge Distribution Achievement Awards
celebrate the hard work and resourcefulness of marketing, sales,
and client service teams in the European fund distribution market.
The diversity of this year's winners reflects the talent and
enterprise of asset manager teams working across the industry.
"The nominees and winners of this year's awards have all
exhibited the focus and agility necessary to rise to the top in a
fiercely competitive marketplace, while differentiating their value
proposition to provide a meaningful, best-in-class service to their
clients," said Lynn Pattinson,
Senior Editor, Broadridge Global Insights.
"Over the past three decades, Luxembourg has played a crucial role in
opening up markets for international fund distribution and
facilitating access to investments globally. The past twelve months
have been nothing short of extraordinary: an entire year's worth of
decisions were influenced by the pandemic in one form or another.
Today, we honour the asset managers who have contributed towards
raising the standards of asset management in a post-pandemic
world," said Camille Thommes,
Director General of The Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry
(ALFI).
The awards are based on responses from over 800 of Europe's leading third-party fund selectors
from Broadridge's Fund Buyer Focus interviews conducted in the
12-month period to June 2021.The interviews seek to pinpoint the
changing demands of Europe's key
fund distribution influencers, and to identify the fund providers
that are delivering best-in-class standards. These fund selectors
represent around €3trn of third-party client assets in Europe and provide a representative voice of
investors in the ten markets they serve.
Award categories and winners:
Sales Services Award
Overall Winner: J.P. Morgan Asset Management
Fastest Riser: Candriam
As investors increasingly come to accept a wider definition of
value, the sales–client relationship continues to evolve with
today's fund selectors seeking a more nuanced relationship that
spans deep technical expertise, responsiveness, and a clear
understanding of individual business and client needs. J.P. Morgan
Asset Management remained the leader in this category once again
this year — continuing to set the standard when it comes to
delivering the optimal service offering.
At the same time, Candriam Investors Group's win in the Fastest
Riser Award category highlights the skill and ability of smaller
managers to provide the outstanding, tailor-made service that
clients value.
Innovation & Adaptation to Market Change Award
Overall Winner: Pictet Asset Management
Fastest Riser: UBS Asset Management
The world has never moved more quickly than it has in the last
18 months. That is why we have introduced the Innovation &
Adaptation to Market Change Award. This new category recognises the
outstanding achievement of organisations that have risen to new
challenges and pioneered innovative solutions to an evolving
marketplace. It's no surprise that a firm with Pictet Asset
Management's track record of forward-thinking secured the top prize
in this category.
The inventive work of UBS Asset Managers was also rewarded with
the Fastest Riser Award in this category.
ESG/SRI Award
Overall Winner: Robeco
Fastest Riser: Natixis Investment
Managers
The ESG/SRI space has grown exponentially over recent years, as
a new breed of investors prioritise funds that will generate
positive global impact. In the wake of growing concerns over
so-called 'green-washing', managers and products face increased
scrutiny, and must work harder than ever to exhibit their social
credentials. Robeco demonstrated its authenticity, and the
continuing role that its legacy as an early pioneer of ESG and
thematic investing plays in its current strategy, as the firm held
on to the top award for a record fourth consecutive year.
In recent years, smaller players have dominated this category
while the large global houses, particularly from the US, have
lagged. Natixis Investment Managers' stellar work in the ESG and
socially responsible investment field carried the group to the
Fastest Riser Award for this category.
Brand Award
Overall Winner: BlackRock
Fastest Riser: Morgan Stanley Investment
Management
One of the key challenges shared by all firms, big and small, is
that of rallying the multi-faceted components of a company's brand
to convey a clear and cohesive mission. The nominees and winners in
this year's awards displayed these characteristics. BlackRock held
onto its spot at the top this year, as the firm's supermarket-style
offering, augmented by its newer ESG products, helped it maintain
its clear lead with European selectors.
Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley Investment Management's work promoted
their expertise across public and private markets worldwide, in
single-sector, multi-asset and custom solutions.
For Further Information:
Lynn Pattinson
Senior Editor, Global Insights
Broadridge
+44 (0) 7747 760263
Lynn.Pattinson@Broadridge.com
Anna Ferreri
Head of Communications
ALFI
Tel: +352 22 30 26
48
anna.ferreri@alfi.lu
Notes to editors:
Broadridge Distribution Achievement Awards
The Broadridge Distribution Achievement Awards are based on
Broadridge's authoritative Fund Buyer Focus fund selector survey
and the interview results collected during the period between 1
July 2020–30 June 2021. This regular survey, which has been running
for more than a decade, is based on in-depth telephone interviews,
in local language, with over 800 fund selectors from 10 European
countries every year. These fund selectors account for €3trn of
third-party assets — or an estimated 70% of accessible
third-party assets in Europe. The
focus of the interviews is to provide feedback to asset managers on
which fund groups these selectors prefer to work with overall and
to identify which firms offer superior support in the categories of
marketing, sales and account management, product quality, brand,
and pricing.
Fund selectors are asked to nominate their three preferred
suppliers in each category on an unprompted basis. The top supplier
is awarded three points; the second, two points; and the third, one
point. This data is then aggregated to produce a ranking of named
fund groups that can be compared from one time period to another.
The awards are based on the latest rankings available – the period
is the 12 months to June 2021.
Fastest Risers are calculated from a comparison between
June 2021 data and the previous 12
months to June 2020.
The Association of the Luxembourg Fund
Industry (ALFI) represents the face and voice
of the Luxembourg asset management
and investment fund community, championing mainstream, private
assets and sustainable investing. ALFI seeks to promote
Luxembourg's fund sector
internationally, and to cultivate for the benefit of its members a
collaborative, dynamic and innovative ecosystem underpinned by the
most robust regulatory framework. ALFI's ambition is to empower
investors to meet their life goals.
Created in 1988, the Association today represents over 1,500
Luxembourg domiciled investment
funds, asset management companies and a wide range of business that
serve the sector. These include depositary banks, fund
administrators, transfer agents, distributors, legal firms,
consultants, tax advisory firms, auditors and accountants,
specialised IT and communication companies. Luxembourg is the largest fund domicile in
Europe and a worldwide leader in
cross-border distribution of funds. Luxembourg domiciled investment funds are
distributed in more than 70 countries around the world.
For more information about ALFI, please visit www.alfi.lu.
About Broadridge
Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE: BR), a global Fintech
leader with $5 billion in revenues,
provides the critical infrastructure that powers investing,
corporate governance and communications to enable better financial
lives. We deliver technology-driven solutions that drive business
transformation for banks, broker-dealers, asset and wealth managers
and public companies. Broadridge's infrastructure serves as a
global communications hub enabling corporate governance by linking
thousands of public companies and mutual funds to tens of millions
of individual and institutional investors around the world. Our
technology and operations platforms underpin the daily trading of
more than U.S. $9 trillion of equities, fixed income and other
securities globally. A certified Great Place to Work®,
Broadridge is a part of the S&P 500® Index,
employing over 13,000 associates in 21 countries.
For more information about us please visit broadridge.com.