The upcoming AIFM Directive could well push the cross-border funds industry further towards large-scale operations

Adding 400 new staff in Luxembourg during its integration of the Fortis/BGL operation together with the Fastnet joint venture between BGL and Caceis, means BNP Paribas Securities Services (BNP2S) has been vindicated in its move to modern, out-of-town premises.

Alfi's Charles Muller discusses Luxembourg's growing Islamic investments industry and moves promoting Ucits products to Asia

Andrea Maffezzoni, Unicredit

Having put much needed improvements on the back burner due to cost cutting measures during the financial crisis, private banks are once again looking to invest in front office systems and support networks for their advisers to improve levels of client communication. Elisa Trovato reports.

Private banks are embracing new technology to cater for clients’ increased demand for transparency on their investments. However some players could struggle to meet the costs of the necessary upgrades, writes Elisa Trovato

The financial crisis and the effects of major frauds in the wealth management industry have highlighted the role which the once humble custody bank will play in the future development of the industry.

The notion of dusty, back office boffins, seldom let out into the asset management spotlight, is certainly changing from the 1990s, when John Serhant, formerly boss of State Street, described custody as a “necessary evil”, which nobody cared about. A major trend setter in this sphere is Citigroup, whose global head of securities and fund services, Neeraj Sahai, has strong plans for restructuring the asset management industr

European banks looking to drive down costs are embracing greater levels of automation and standardisation in fund processing, writes Elisa Trovato, but the goal of a single access point remains some way off

The application of appropriate technological solutions in the period following a merger or acquisition can go a long way towards the overall success of the venture, reports Rekha Menon

Demand for cross-border funds is booming in Asia, reports Rekha Menon, but the market can be a difficult one for Western fund houses to establish themselves in

Malta has a growing financial services industry, and wealth managers are increasingly attracted by the cost advantages that relocating to the Mediterranean island brings. Yuri Bender reports

The financial crisis has resulted in the wealth management industry viewing compliance in a very different way, reports Rekha Menon

The wealth management industry has been hit hard by the downturn but technology can be used to counter some of the effects, from using greater levels of automation to drive down costs to using online services to target the mass affluent sector, writes Rekha Menon

The Ucits directive has given European investment funds an increasingly global reach, which in turn has increased the responsibilities of transfer agents. But adapting in order to provide these new services brings a number of challenges, writes Rekha Menon

The European fund industry remains highly fragmented and complex but several initiatives are underway that should manage to improve cross-border processing, writes Rekha Menon

Client relationship management systems were once seen as too expensive for private banks. But the idea that advisors can also become salespeople has led to growing interest in the way CRM technology can manage and attract clients for financial institutions, writes Rekha Menon

Returning to the US as the new president of NTGI after a successful few years in London, Steve Potter believes there is enormous potential for the firm’s wealth management business. Nat Mankelow reports

BNP Paribas Securities Services has been expanding geographically as the business moves to servicing the global buy-side. Peter Guest reports