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Smartkarma Press Releases

Smartkarma Announces Strategic Investment from SGX to Bolster Singapore’s Research and Financing Ecosystem

By | Smartkarma Press Releases

SGX is the first exchange globally to capitalise on Smartkarma’s groundbreaking solutions for corporates, analysts, and investors 

SINGAPORE, 9 JULY 2019: Smartkarma, the global investment research network, today announced it has received a strategic investment from Singapore Exchange (SGX). The investment marks the next step in ensuring a vibrant financial research ecosystem. It further underpins Singapore’s vision to serve as Asia’s centre for capital raising and enterprise financing.

Existing investors including Sequoia India and Wavemaker Partners also participated in this investment, which affirms their ongoing confidence in Smartkarma.

The strategic investment cements a joint journey of collaboration between SGX and Smartkarma. Aligning with the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) recent announcement of the Grant for Equity Markets (GEMS) to strengthen research coverage of Singapore enterprises, this is a resounding validation of what Smartkarma has been working on from day one: the reinvention of the global investment research market through technological innovation.

The deal comes at a point when Smartkarma is in the final stretch of launching Corporate Solutions globally. As Asia’s leading and most trusted multi-asset exchange, SGX was a pilot partner during the development of Corporate Solutions, a brand-new range of services for C-Suite and Investor Relations personnel of listed companies worldwide.

SGX will be the first exchange in the world to bring the power of this new global platform to all its listed and upcoming companies, as well as global bond issuers.

SGX-listed companies and bond issuers will be the first to plug into, and take advantage of, Smartkarma’s established global network of independent analysts and investors. They will get value from connecting directly to investors and analysts, and distributing pivotal updates and information to their networks quickly and efficiently.

SGX recognises the global need of corporates to connect to institutional investors and analysts. Exchanges the world over are trying to diversify their services and exploring ways to bring more value to their companies. There is a market gap there that has only widened following regulatory developments like Europe’s MiFID II legislation.

In this evolving market, Smartkarma empowers companies with its groundbreaking technology platform, establishing connections, offering unique data and analytics, and promoting high-quality independent research to improve investment decision-making. Corporate Solutions has been designed to put the issuer first, and will form a key part of the value SGX aims to bring its companies and clients.

“Shifting regulations and changes in the investment research industry are affecting all parts of the ecosystem. From the very beginning, we have been working hard to address the fundamental gaps we see around us,” says Raghav Kapoor, Co-Founder and CEO of Smartkarma.

“We are building a network that connects companies, analysts, and investors, starting from Singapore and spreading throughout the global markets. SGX shares our conviction that technological innovation is the key to navigating this new landscape, and Singapore-listed companies will be the first to experience the fruits of this labour,” he adds.

“Regulatory and market developments show that enlightened corporates can no longer rely on traditional banks and brokers to manage their listing, fundraising, and shareholder relationships,” says Jon Foster, Co-Founder and Chairman of Smartkarma. “With new technology and open networks, like Smartkarma and SGX, it is now easier than ever for corporates to eschew these closed, expensive old-boy networks and take control.”

“Research data and information are crucial to making informed investment decisions. With the advent of technology, we see tremendous potential in this innovative platform that is adding another dimension to fundamental investment research. As SGX continues to uphold the standard and availability of research coverage through initiatives such as partnering with the Monetary Authority of Singapore on GEMS, we are also investing in new models to serve investors and companies now and in the future,” says Chan Kum Kong, Head of Research and Retail, SGX.

We Are Reinventing Research Worldwide

Steadfast in our belief in the value of truly independent, unbiased research, and dedicated to fostering innovation in Singapore’s investment research ecosystem, Smartkarma will also be bringing our world-first Independent Research Accelerator, Boost Research, to Singapore. Boost Research has been operating successfully in London for the past year.

Additionally, Smartkarma will offer SGX’s institutional bond trading clients access to its platform, enabling them to access unique institutional research into corporate and sovereign bonds and fixed interest products, strengthening their bond trading activities.

— ENDS —

 

Media contact: 

Smartkarma

Michael Tegos

Tel: +65 6715 1480

Email: [email protected], [email protected]

See Smartkarma’s press kit here

 

About SGX

Singapore Exchange is Asia’s leading and trusted market infrastructure, operating equity, fixed income and derivatives markets to the highest regulatory standards. As Asia’s most international, multi-asset exchange, SGX provides listing, trading, clearing, settlement, depository and data services, with about 40% of listed companies and over 80% of listed bonds originating outside ofSingapore. SGX is the world’s most liquid international market for the benchmark equity indices of China, India, Japan and ASEAN and offers commodities and currency derivatives products. Headquartered in AAA-rated Singapore, SGX is globally recognised for its risk management and clearing capabilities. For more information, please visit www.sgx.com 

About Smartkarma

Smartkarma is a global investment research network, made up of independent Insight Providers who produce, curate, and publish unbiased intelligence for institutional investors. Smartkarma reinvents research by providing differentiated, independent analysis on companies, markets, and industries across the world. This includes areas under-reported by mainstream market coverage, including Event-Driven, IPOs & placements, and small/mid cap equities. Smartkarma’s online platform allows the buy-side to set their own real-time alerts, customise their reading lists, directly contact Insight Providers, and remain MiFID II-compliant as unbundling regulations change the investment research industry. For more information, visit www.smartkarma.com.

Smartkarma and Interactive Brokers Collaborate to Deliver Independent Insight to Professional Investors

By | Smartkarma Press Releases

The global investment research network joins forces with Interactive Brokers’ online trading platform 

NEW YORK, 11 APRIL 2019: Smartkarma, a global investment research network, today announced a worldwide technology integration with Interactive Brokers, a leading online trading platform. The two companies will work together to offer an expanded range of resources to professional investors, including unbiased, independent research on listed companies, direct access to independent analysts (Insight Providers), and unique insights into Asia.

Smartkarma has built an ecosystem of Insight Providers who write about more than 3,600 companies globally, with a strong focus on fast-growing Asian and emerging markets. This makes the relationship with Interactive Brokers particularly valuable as the trading service grows rapidly in Asia.

Through this synergy with Smartkarma, Interactive Brokers’ clients gain access to Smartkarma’s single-subscription platform. This empowers them with up-to-the-minute Insights, direct communication with Insight Providers, user-determined real-time alerts, and predictive algorithms that filter Insights based on user preferences.

Interactive Brokers operates the largest electronic trading platform in the US by number of daily average revenue trades. It provides its clients with trading, risk, and portfolio management tools, as well as research facilities and investment products, positioning them to achieve superior returns on investments. The company serves more than 600,000 accounts in over 200 countries, with more than US$140 billion in client equity.

Smartkarma’s innovative model enables asset managers, investors, and analysts to be part of a worldwide network, benefiting from it and adding value to it. This complements Interactive Brokers’ trade execution and clearing services for professional and individual traders. Traders and investors can also engage Insight Providers through Smartkarma’s Premium Services to gain additional value and inform their trading strategies.

Warren Yeh, Head of Smartkarma US, notes, “Working together with Interactive Brokers, we can offer a compelling solution for their clients looking for differentiated, independent Insight on Asian markets. Our expert, in-country Insight Providers and our service offerings, from published research to calls and bespoke projects and modelling, can all support Interactive Brokers’ client base and their research needs.”

Yochai Korn, Global Head of Market Data and Research at Interactive Brokers, adds, “We are delighted to work with Smartkarma and offer our clients the independent, minute-by-minute Insight and analysis available on the Smartkarma platform. Our focus on price, speed, diversity of global products, and providing advanced trading tools aligns strongly with Smartkarma’s innovative digital platform and direct access to Insight Providers, helping our clients to make informed trading decisions.”

 

—–ENDS—–

 

Media contact:

Michael Tegos

Tel: +65 6715 1480

Email: [email protected], [email protected]

 

About Smartkarma

Smartkarma is a global investment research network made up of independent Insight Providers who produce, curate, and publish unbiased intelligence for institutional investors. Smartkarma reinvents research by providing differentiated, independent analysis on companies, markets, and industries across the world. This includes areas under-reported by mainstream market coverage, including Event-Driven, IPOs & placements, and small/mid cap equities, with a special focus on fast-growing Asian and emerging markets. Smartkarma’s online platform allows the buy-side to set their own real-time alerts, customise their reading lists, directly contact Insight Providers, and remain MiFID II-compliant as unbundling regulations change the investment research industry. For more information, visit www.smartkarma.com.

About Interactive Brokers Group, Inc.

Interactive Brokers Group affiliates provide automated trade execution and custody of securities, commodities and foreign exchange around the clock on over 120 markets in numerous countries and currencies, from a single IBKR Integrated Investment Account to clients worldwide. We service individual investors, hedge funds, proprietary trading groups, financial advisors and introducing brokers. Our four decades of focus on technology and automation has enabled us to equip our clients with a uniquely sophisticated platform to manage their investment portfolios at the lowest cost according to Barron’s Best Online Brokers review, February 25, 2019. We strive to provide our clients with advantageous execution prices and trading, risk and portfolio management tools, research facilities and investment products, all at low or no cost, positioning them to achieve superior returns on investments.

Smartkarma partners with CorpXSasia, offering investors one-stop services for Corporate Access and independent insight for Asian markets

By | Smartkarma Press Releases

Partnership widens scope and business opportunities for insight providers on the Smartkarma platform in light of MiFID II market reform 

Singapore, London, UK 31 July 2018: Smartkarma, the largest global network for independent research on Asian markets, announces its partnership with CorpXSasia, the leading Corporate Access provider in Asia that arranges unconflicted and regulatory-compliant meetings between global institutional investors and listed corporates in Asia.

This partnership brings value to both companies’ clients by providing a more comprehensive, one-stop opportunity for both Corporate Access and valuable insights, particularly as these markets open up with the onset of MiFID II regulation. CorpXSasia’s client base of institutional investors seek to meet with corporations through Reverse Roadshows, Thematic Roadshows and NDR’s. Smartkarma can make sure these clients are better serviced in their need for critical and quality insights, whether prior to or during a Reverse Roadshow, or as part of the follow-up. Smartkarma’s cloud-based platform enables access to over 450 insight providers covering in excess of 2,400 companies across 15 Asia Pacific markets.

CorpXSasia will now be able to offer their clients direct access to insight providers as part of the Reverse or Thematic Roadshow packages they arrange for overseas investors visiting Asia. Investors on the Smartkarma platform will now have direct access to all the packages on offer from CorpXSasia.

Smartkarma believes that corporates are a key part of the research process; a goal of this collaboration is to allow insight providers on the platform to engage fully with corporates, encouraging them to develop further business opportunities. By joining forces with CorpXSasia, Smartkarma will open up new audiences and provide new revenue streams to their insight providers.

Arjen Kuenen, Founder & Managing Director of CorpXSasia, notes: “This new partnership enables CorpXSasia clients to interact directly with experts and analysts on the ground across Asia. They can now access unconflicted insights, adding unprecedented value to their Reverse Roadshow or Thematic Roadshow.”

Smartkarma co-founder Jon Foster adds, “CorpXSasia roadshows and their unrivalled network for Corporate Access across Asia align strongly with our independent research network offering. We are excited to offer expert, independent insight to their investor clients, helping them develop more effective trading strategies and understand the corporate environment in Asia.”

—END—

Smartkarma media contact:

Chanda Shingadia

Tel: +44(0)7951163615

Email: [email protected]

About Smartkarma

Smartkarma unlocks the value of independent insight, providing investors with high-quality, unique, expert opinion on timely themes and topics across companies, industries, and markets in Asia. Insight can be customized to individual investor needs and updated in real time as investment strategies change, helping investors consolidate relevant information and stay abreast of evolving, complex financial issues. In addition to large-cap bottom-up, coverage also includes frontier markets, small and mid-caps, and in-depth event driven/IPO analysis, helping Smartkarma’s global client base generate new trade ideas.

Smartkarma saves investors and insight providers valuable time by providing new ways to create, engage with, and distribute insight with its innovative use of technology and direct access to experts through its responsive, intuitive, cloud-based platform. Its market changing business model also meets evolving regulatory requirements, such as MiFID II. For more information please visit https://www.smartkarma.com

About CorpXSasia

CorpXSasia Ltd. is the leading Corporate Access provider that arranges unconflicted and regulation compliant meetings between Institutional Investors and Listed Corporates in Asia. We organise complete and integrated Corporate Access itineraries. CorpXSasia represents the investor in booking the corporate meetings, essentially functioning as the client’s extended corporate network globally. What sets CorpXSasia apart is the provision of a bespoke, outsourced Corporate Access offering. CorpXSasia provides a last mile access that is free from contractual commitments on a ‘pay as you go’ structure, working off a unique model where the ‘initiating party pays’. This ensures that the annual cost of clients Corporate Access averages out.

CorpXSasia is a team of seasoned professionals from within the industry, having built up an extensive and unrivalled network of institutional investors and corporates in all the major financial centres globally. CorpXSasia provides a quality product through a high level of access, extensive network and experience, with the priority being based on the representation of the client. CorpXSasia is your efficient Corporate Access partner across time and language barriers. For more information please visit https://corpxsasia.com/

Smartkarma to Showcase New Workflow Integration at Symphony Innovate Asia in Hong Kong

By | Smartkarma Press Releases

Repost from Symphony Press News

HONG KONG, 7 June, 2018 – Symphony Communication Services, LLC announces that its growing community of over 320 firms is using Symphony as a full workflow platform, investing resources to build customized bots, automated workflows and integrations to extend Symphony’s secure enterprise collaboration capabilities. Today, over half of Symphony’s enterprise customers operate bots within their Symphony platform. Globally, more than 500 unique bots have been developed by customers using Symphony’s open APIs since the SDK launch. Furthermore, Symphony customers plan to migrate over 2,500 existing bots from other communication platforms to Symphony in the coming months.

Many of these customer- and partner-developed workflows will be demoed live at Symphony’s flagship conference, Symphony Innovate Asia 2018, held in Hong Kong on the 7th of June. Bots and automation reduce manual processing and resolve major workflow challenges currently faced by the financial services industry such as client onboarding, post-trade management and research distribution. These bots can integrate with third-party systems like news feeds, or internal research and data sources, while maintaining the same security and compliance inherent to the Symphony platform.

“Symphony enables and represents a community of innovators – including our customers and partners – together we are building the future of enterprise collaboration,” says David Gurlé, Symphony Founder and CEO. “We are thrilled that the majority of our enterprise customers have begun to embrace the possibilities that automation, bots and workflow provide and are using our open APIs to extend our collaboration platform. We believe that this is just the beginning of truly game-changing innovations coming to the financial services industry as it implements its digital agenda.”

“Concerto – a Natixis in-house bot – is equipping Symphony with a ‘one-stop-shop’ feature by re-engineering our front office force’s daily workflow. A tool that has a real business impact leads to enhanced internal efficiency and client engagement. We are now working on developing further this solution while plugging in automation, intelligence and more,” says Emmanuel Lefort, Head of Global Markets, APAC, Natixis.

“J.P. Morgan continues to expand bot workflow innovations on Symphony across the trade life-cycle. It is enabling new workflows that deliver an enhanced client experience, automation and efficiencies. The J.P. Morgan Markets Search Bot demonstrates the ability to access the latest pre-trade content through a one-click workflow from Symphony,” says Will Quan, Executive Director, CIB – Markets Execution, J.P. Morgan.

Symphony Innovate Asia 2018 Partner Showcase

The Symphony Partner Program fosters an ecosystem of over 50 innovative companies who share a common goal of developing workflow and content applications and integrations to extend Symphony. These partners offer complementary business applications to Symphony’s platform, many of which will be showcased at Symphony Innovate Asia 2018:

Smartkarma — Smartkarma is the world’s premier research network connecting institutional investors to a community of world-leading independent research providers and a wealth of investment research. Smartkarma’s focus areas of coverage are often under-covered by traditional research providers including emerging markets, small and mid-caps, and in-depth event-driven and IPO analysis. Headquartered in Singapore, Smartkarma is Asia’s largest provider of investment research with offices in Hong Kong, London, Frankfurt and New York.

BlueFire AI — BlueFire AI is an Intelligence Company for Capital Markets. Blue Fire AI curates & distills large information sets to create intelligence edge on 75k private / public companies from over 60 countries. These insights are used by Investment Banks, Assets Managers and Intermediaries for driving sales productivity, capturing asset performance or monetizing information. Blue Fire AI combines quantitative analytics on company fundamentals and security prices with machines powered by artificial intelligence that read and understand text (unstructured data) like capital markets experts.

IHS Markit — The Markit Trade Manager integration enables buy-side users to manage trade exceptions directly from a Symphony conversation with a counterparty. Real-time collaboration integrated with MarkitSERV workflow allows trading teams to affirm transactions more efficiently, reducing operational risk and increasing operational alpha.

ipushpull — ipushpull, winner of the Symphony Innovation Award, improves workflow efficiency by allowing secure live data sharing and collaboration between Symphony and desktop applications such as Excel, databases and internal systems. By sharing data instead of sharing files, data is live and interoperable cross application while eliminating file sharing, static data, cutting & pasting and manual processes.

LamBots*— Started by a former Symphony employee, LamBots is an application and bot development agency in Singapore that has helped several financial institutions turn their productivity enhancing ideas into working bots and applications on the Symphony Platform quickly and cost-effectively.

Nikkei — Nikkei Inc. is a media organization with newspaper publishing at its core. Established in 1876, The Nikkei has become world’s largest financial paper, which has nearly three million subscribers. Also, Nikkei welcomed The Financial Times into its group in 2015. Nikkei’s multi-platform media distribution also includes online, broadcast, magazines and financial data vending services. Nikkei 225, a stock market index for the Tokyo Stock Exchange, has been calculated by the Nikkei for decades.

QUICK — Since its founding in 1971, QUICK has developed an information infrastructure that supports Japan’s securities and financial markets. QUICK’s mission is to support the decision making of a wide range of customers, from securities firms and financial institutions to institutional investors, corporations and individual investors. QUICK delivers high-value-added global market information from a fair and impartial perspective. QUICK is headquartered in Tokyo, with offices in Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, London and Hong Kong.

Thomson Reuters — Thomson Reuters Eikon delivers unparalleled and easy access to trusted news, data, and analytics; instant connection to new and emerging markets, deep and varied pools of liquidity and professional networks. Eikon subscribers can now share its world leading content as part of their Symphony workflow to enhance collaboration, discover more opportunities and make crucial decisions with confidence.

About Symphony

Symphony transforms the way users communicate effectively and securely with a single workflow application. Forging a new path in the industry, Symphony is designed to help individuals, teams and organizations of all sizes improve productivity, while meeting complex data security and regulatory compliance needs. Symphony was founded in October 2014 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, with offices in New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Stockholm, Sophia-Antipolis and London.

Smartkarma launches Boost Research, the first grassroots accelerator to support investment analysts develop independent research businesses

By | Smartkarma Press Releases

Expert mentorship, financial support, data and office services as well as direct access to the global Smartkarma network available

London, UK 23 May 2018: Smartkarma, the leading investment research network for independent research providers, today announces the launch of Boost Research. Boost Research is the world’s first accelerator programme designed to support investment analysts who want to start independent research businesses and break the decades old sell-side research model. Boost Research aims to improve the overall supply of independent research to the market as well as increasing the variety of opinions in research to aid investment decisions and lead to better outcomes for end investors.

Just as Smartkarma has changed the nature of research production, consumption and distribution, with Boost Research it now wants to change the landscape of investment research provision, ensuring growth and improved diversity in the independent investment research space. Smartkarma wants to discover and support the entrepreneurial talent in the investment research industry, those with the drive to build a business, and offer the support and economies of scale available with their services to build a successful, sustainable business.

Recent changes in the provision of sell-side investment research, with MiFID II research unbundling and large-scale analyst lay-offs, offer opportunities to break the monopoly of the sell-side system. Many top-class analysts want to take advantage of market changes to set up on their own and the Boost Research programme de-risks the move to work independently and allows participants to grow their businesses quickly.

The Boost Research accelerator, like those in the VC industry, offers a range of subsidised office services, through to financial support, mentorship and access to regulatory cover, for entrepreneurs selected onto the programme, initially from the Smartkarma London office. Participants can also benefit from Smartkarma’s platform, providing data, publishing tools and distribution of research to their network of over 165 global buy-side institutions.

Key to the mission of Boost Research is solving the lack of differentiated voices in the investment marketplace. The Boost Research programme offers flexibility for all participants, with the ability to set their own work hours as they grow their business. Skilled providers who may otherwise be locked out of the market can join this programme and have a real opportunity to develop their business, increasing the supply of independent research to the market and offering more varied opinions to investors.

Mark Artherton, Head of Research for Boost Research, notes: “We are dedicated to growing the independent analyst landscape around the world to enhance the variety of opinion available to investors. At a time when sell-side analysts are facing an uncertain future, we are taking these skilled analysts and empowering them to build a sustainable business.”

John-Paul Smith, founder of independent research provider Ecstrat, with 34 years’ prior experience on the sell-side, adds: “At the start of my career as an independent analyst, setting up the business and focusing on things outside of the core research took up so much of my time and slowed the development of my business. Boost Research would have made my start much easier. I am now looking forward to being part of the Boost Research mentoring program and helping support the next generation of independent research providers.”

 

—END—

 

Notes on the release:

Applicants to the programme need:

  • 5+ years of front office financial services experience
  • Focus on either the EU IPO market or emerging markets, such as APAC, LATAM, Eastern Europe and CIS
  • An understanding of the use of technology in research applications and an interest in differentiated delivery mechanisms
  • A desire to break with the decades old sell side system

Boost Research Ltd. is an Appointed Representative of Messels Ltd., which is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority of the UK

Smartkarma media contact:

Chanda Shingadia

Tel: +44(0)7951163615

Email: [email protected]

About Smartkarma
Smartkarma unlocks the value of independent insight, providing investors with high-quality, unique, expert opinion on timely themes and topics across companies, industries, and markets in Asia. Insight can be customized to individual investor needs and updated in real time as investment strategies change, helping investors consolidate relevant information and stay abreast of evolving, complex financial issues. In addition to large-cap bottom-up, coverage also includes frontier markets, small and mid-caps and in-depth event driven/IPO analysis, helping Smartkarma’s global client base generate new trade ideas.

Smartkarma saves investors and insight providers valuable time by providing new ways to create, engage with, and distribute insight with its innovative use of technology and direct access to experts through its responsive, intuitive platform. Its market changing business model also meets evolving regulatory requirements, such as MiFID II. For more information please visit www.smartkarma.com

 

 

 

MiFID II schickt Analysten ins „Tal des Todes“ (German News)

By | Smartkarma Press Releases

Seit MiFID II in Kraft getreten ist, bewirkt die Regelung eine tiefgreifende Veränderung in der Asset Management-Branche. Die neue Verordnung sorgt zwar insgesamt für mehr Transparenz zugunsten der Privatanleger, gefährdet aber auch hunderte von Arbeitsplätzen für Analysten. Deren Dienstleistung darf nicht mehr gebündelt mit kommissionspflichtigen Leistungen angeboten werden, wenn die Zahlung direkt aus dem Mandat erfolgt und keine eindeutige Zuordnung der Kosten möglich ist.

Dieser Vorgabe begegnen die Vermögensverwalter, indem sie die Kosten für Research selbst übernehmen. Damit rücken neben Transparenz auch Effizienz und Qualitätsanspruch in den Vordergrund – nur hochdifferenziertes Research soll entsprechend den konkreten Bedürfnissen der Endkunden in die Anlageentscheidungen einfließen. Konsequenterweise sind viele Dienste der Investmentbanken und ihrer Brokerhäuser in den vergangenen Monaten abbestellt worden, wenn zuständige Portfoliomanager keinen konkreten Nutzen darin erkennen konnten.

Einsparungen in Milliardenhöhe

Schon zuvor hatte die Unternehmensberatung McKinsey & Co. davor gewarnt, dass Banken rund 1,2 Milliarden Dollar an Ausgaben in diesem Bereich streichen werden. Man hat errechnet, dass die zehn größten Banken der Sell-Side (Investment Banking) rund 4 Milliarden Dollar jährlich für das Publizieren ihrer Analysen ausgeben. Diese Summe werde nun um etwa 30 Prozent schrumpfen – mit schwerwiegenden Folgen für die Jobs der Analysten. Auf Anbieterseite, so die Unternehmensberatung Oliver Wyman, könnten sich die Einbußen sogar bis auf zwei Milliarden Dollar aufsummieren. Es drängt sich der Gedanke auf, dass MiFID II für einige Bereiche der Industrie ein „Tal des Todes“ geschaffen hat, aus dem besonders der Berufsstand der Analysten nur schwer wieder heraus finden wird.

Beispielsweise erwartet auch Christian Bacher, Vorstand der Baader Bank, dass unabhängige Research-Analysten bei Vermögensverwaltern an Bedeutung gewinnen werden. In einem Interview betonte er: „Sie müssen aber flexibler sein als in der Vergangenheit und vor allem bedarfsorientierter produzieren. Sie müssen versuchen, das eigene Research zu positionieren und zu vermarkten.“ Bacher schreibt den Analysten ins neue Anforderungsbuch: „Man muss in der Lage sein, ein proprietäres, diskretionäres Research zu erstellen. Mit der Kommentierung, wie die Zahlen eines Unternehmens relativ zu Konsens und Historie ausgefallen sind, wird man in Zukunft keinen Blumentopf mehr gewinnen.“

Eigenverantwortung und Mehrwert schaffen – und das zu angemessenen Preisen

Hohe Qualität, Flexibilität, unabhängiges Denken, Nischen besetzen, Mehrwert schaffen – und das zu angemessenen Preisen. Das scheinen die Bausteine der neuen Zauberformel für Analysten zu sein. Nach einer Untersuchung von Integrity Research Associates sind größere und mittelgroße Asset Manager durchaus bereit in externe Analysen zu investieren, dies aber nur punktuell und für spezielle Bereiche wie Small- und Midcaps, einzelne Branchen oder Länder. Der Grund: Mit echtem Spezialwissen der Analysten erhöhen sie ihre eigene Möglichkeit, Alpha für ihre Kunden zu generieren.  Genau darin liegt auch die Chance für Analysten, aus dem Tal des Todes wieder herauszukommen.

Dichtes Netzwerk unabhängiger Spezialisten

Für die Analysten in der EU bietet es sich an, nach dem Muster des asiatischen und angelsächsischen Marktes ein dichtes Netzwerk unabhängiger Anbieter zu entwickeln. In Asien und hat sich schon länger eine Alternative außerhalb der hier bisher praktizierten Bündelung etabliert. Ursprünglich angetrieben von den Forderungen der Hedge-Fonds nach differenzierten Analysen zur Alpha-Generierung setzen dort ansässige traditionelle Vermögensverwalter längst auf die Vorzüge von banken- und emittenten-unabhängigem externen Research. Dieser Trend ist dank der Digitalisierung und Entwicklung cloudbasierter Plattformen für den Informationsaustausch zu einem neuen, tragfähigen Geschäftsmodell auch für einzelne, in ihrem Gebiet renommierte Analysten geworden.

Die vor vier Jahren gegründete Smartkarma hat dabei eine führende Rolle eingenommen. Sie bringt Investoren und Anbieter von unabhängigem Research in einem kollaborativen Ökosystem zusammen, das compliance-konform Zugriff auf hochdifferenziertes Research im Rahmen eines fairen Pricing-Modells bietet. Asset Manager müssen daher Analyse-Expertise nicht über Festanstellungen gewährleisten, sondern greifen fallbasiert auf echtes Expertenwissen zu. Außerdem erhalten sie Research, das nicht von Interessenkonflikten belastet ist. Vor allem aktiven Managern kann die digitale Organisation einer Research-Plattform entscheidende Kostenvorteile bringen.

Neue Modelle setzen Investmentbanken unter Druck

Trotz aller negativen Folgen durch MiFID II für einzelne Bereich in der Finanzindustrie gibt es auch einen positiven Paradigmen-Wechsel beim Einsatz von Research: Research wird nicht mehr verkauft, sondern bedarfsgebunden gekauft. Die negativen Folgen spüren vornehmlich die Investmentbanken, denn nach einer letztjährigen Umfrage des CFA-Instituts ist die Mehrheit der Vermögensverwalter dabei, sell-side Research durch eigene oder externe Alternativen zu ersetzen.

Das neue Regelwerk fördert aber auch eine allgemeine Verbesserung der Qualitätsstandards und damit eine Verbesserung der Investmententscheidungen, die dann hoffentlich bei den Privatanlegern wieder eine breitere Akzeptanz der Investmentindustrie bewirkt. Investmenthäuser sollten wieder mehr darauf achten, dass sie Raum lassen für neue unabhängige Quellen. Denn Transparenz und ein breiter Zugang zu Research sind die zentrale Voraussetzung dafür, dass Investoren informierte Anlageentscheidungen treffen können. Alles andere ginge zulasten der Anleger.

Weitere Informationen: Smartkarma Medienservice Kontinentaleuropa

Koetting Financial Communications GmbH
Carmen Weber
Tel.: 069 / 25710607
Email: [email protected]

Über Tim Bruenjes

Tim Bruenjes leitet bei Smartkarma in der Funktion Head of Continental Europe Operations die kontinentaleuropäischen Aktivitäten mit Sitz in Frankfurt. Er verfügt über mehr als 18 Jahre Erfahrung in der Finanzindustrie. Zuvor war er als Head of APAC Equity & Derivatives Trading bei PIMCO tätig. Davor arbeitete er in verantwortlicher Position unter anderem bei der Deutschen Asset Management Asia, sowie bei DWS Investments. Bruenjes hat einen Abschluss als ‚Global Executive MBA‘ der IE Business School in Madrid und ist regelmäßig als Redner auf Konferenzen der Finanzindustrie präsent.

Über Smartkarma

Smartkarma ist ein Netzwerk für globales Investment Research. Es bietet Investoren und unabhängigen Analysten ein gemeinsames Forum, das Investoren und Anbieter von unabhängigem Research in einem kollaborativen Ökosystem zusammenbringt. Die innovative und cloudbasierte Plattform stellt den Wert von unabhängigen Analysen für Investoren in den Vordergrund. Sie bietet institutionellen Anlegern einzigartige, und qualitativ hochwertige Informationen in Echtzeit. Dabei erstrecken sich die Angebote auf viele Bereiche wie Unternehmens-, Sektoren- und Marktanalysen. Seit seiner Gründung 2016 ist Smartkarma enorm gewachsen:

  • Mehr als 400 Analysten und Insight Provider decken rund 2,700 Unternehmen in 15 Märkten des asiatisch-pazifischen Raums ab.
  • Weltweit mehr als 165 institutionelle Investoren sind bereits Kunden von Smartkarma. Allein die 10 größten von ihnen haben mehr als 13,5 Billionen US-Dollar an Assets under Management.
  • Seit Dezember 2016 ist die Société Generale Partner von Smartkarma. Die Investmentbank stellt seitdem ihren institutionellen Kunden rund um den Globus den Zugang zu der innovativen Research-Plattform zur Verfügung.

Weitere Informationen finden Sie unter www.smartkarma.com

Smartkarma opens Frankfurt office to support the build-out of its Research Network across continental Europe

By | Smartkarma Press Releases

The Frankfurt operations, led by Tim Bruenjes, is developing a pan-European network of Independent Providers whilst also supporting institutional investors across Continental Europe with Asian and Emerging Market investment research

Smartkarma, Asia’s largest provider of independent investment research, today announced the opening of its Frankfurt office, headed by Tim Bruenjes. After recently completing its Series B funding round, led by top-tier venture firm Sequoia Capital, Smartkarma looks to fast-track its growth across Continental Europe offering the MiFID II compliant research network of over 400 independent research providers.

Smartkarma brings together independent insight providers alongside investors and portfolio managers in a unique, global research network. Asset managers can engage directly, in real time, on the Smartkarma platform with access to a full range of research services, from published insight, through to analyst calls, corporate access, financial models and bespoke projects with expert Insight Providers. The flexible, cloud-based model engages independent research providers to publish research as it happens in the markets and incentivises the entire network to collaborate on the generation of ideas. This presents the buy-side with an innovative channel for obtaining investment ideas and themes, that are discussed, debated and questioned by the community of unconflicted research providers.

Smartkarma’s predictive search engine matches research in real time with investor mandates, helping clients consolidate relevant information and stay abreast of evolving, complex financial issues. With transparent, subscription-based pricing the platform’s design also ensures compliance needs are also fulfilled. Clients have complete confidence that they can operate in a safe and compliant environment, with access to all the information, data and functionality necessary to be in full control. More than 165 buy-side clients have already subscribed to the research network, with $13.5 trillion in assets under managed by the top 10 clients alone.

On average, 30 insights are published per day with the breadth of coverage exceeding 2,700 companies across 15 Asia Pacific markets. Smartkarma analysts often focus in underrepresented areas, including IPO/M&A analysis and event-driven special situations, as well as small and mid-cap company research. Insight Providers range from large established independent research firms to research boutiques and independent analysts, alongside academics, data scientists and strategists.

Jon Foster, Co-founder and Chairman of Smartkarma comments, “The demand for unconflicted, unbundled research is rapidly rising following the implementation of MiFID II. Our innovative research platform provides the buy-side with transparent pricing and instant access to Insight Providers, creating on-demand and real-time coverage and feedback, which is invaluable to investors sitting in European time zones.”

Head of Continental Europe for Smartkarma, Tim Bruenjes, brings 18 years of buy-side experience in global financial markets and notes, “As European investors hunt for alpha and respond to the evolving regulatory landscape, many are looking for opportunities outside the domestic market and see the emerging markets of Asia as an excellent fit for their investment strategies. Smartkarma offers European funds investing into Asia and those looking for differentiated coverage outside of European markets, an unparalleled, compliant and cost-effective research solution for idea generation.”

The Frankfurt office opening follows the recent announcement that Smartkarma is expanding their Insight Provider network to focus on European investment research. Predominantly in-country, Smartkarma is currently requesting independent research providers to apply via their website www.smartkarma.com.

 

– End –

 

Smartkarma media contact:

Chanda Shingadia

Tel: +44(0)7951163615

Email: [email protected]

About Tim Bruenjes

Tim Bruenjes is the Head of Continental Europe Operations for Smartkarma and has over 18 years of financial industry experience. Prior roles include running multi-asset trading desks across Asia as Head of APAC Equity & Derivatives Trading at PIMCO and before that at Deutsche Asset Management Asia as well as senior trading positions at DWS Investments in Germany. Tim holds a Global Executive MBA from IE Business School, Madrid and is a frequent speaker at a variety of financial industry conferences.

About Smartkarma

Smartkarma unlocks the value of independent insight, providing investors with high-quality, unique, expert opinion on timely themes and topics across companies, industries, and markets in Asia. Insight can be customized to individual investor needs and updated in real time as investment strategies change, helping investors consolidate relevant information and stay abreast of evolving, complex financial issues. In addition to large-cap bottom-up, coverage also includes frontier markets, small and mid-caps and in-depth event driven/IPO analysis, helping Smartkarma’s global client base generate new trade ideas.

Smartkarma saves investors and insight providers valuable time by providing new ways to create, engage with, and distribute insight with its innovative use of technology and direct access to experts through its responsive, intuitive platform. Its market-changing business model also meets evolving regulatory requirements, such as MiFID II. For more information please visit www.smartkarma.com

SGX collaborates with FinTech firm Smartkarma to roll-out C-Suite Pilot Program

By | Smartkarma Press Releases

The C-Suite Pilot Program will develop an innovative research solution to bring listed companies, analysts and investors on to a single platform

SINGAPORE, March 12, 2018: Singapore Exchange (SGX) and FinTech firm Smartkarma today announced a partnership to roll out the C-Suite Pilot Program, a cloud-based platform that will enable SGX-listed companies to streamline their communication and data reporting to the institutional analyst and investor communities.

Listed companies will be able to communicate seamlessly with analysts and investors, monitor sentiment, compare industry performance, and benchmark instantly against peers which will enhance investors’ understanding of and accessibility to these companies.

This is the first collaboration between Smartkarma and an exchange that will, for the first time, bring analysts, investors and listed companies into one unique network. Smartkarma and SGX are inviting C-level executives and investor relations professionals of SGX-listed companies to join the C-Suite Pilot Program to provide their input and feedback, with the objective of gaining a better understanding of local requirements and use cases specific to this market.

Chew Sutat, Head of Equities and Fixed Income, SGX, said, “The global investment research landscape is fast evolving with the emergence of self-directed and independent research, as well as new regulations resulting in a reduction in investment coverage by financial institutions. We welcome this initiative by Smartkarma to build a solution that raises the profile of our listed companies amongst investors and analysts.”

Among the SGX-listed companies which have signed up for the Pilot Program, Goh Toh Sim, Executive Director and Acting CEO, EC World Asset Management Pte Ltd, Manager of EC World REIT, said “We are interested to participate in the Pilot Program to learn how digital solutions can help improve investor dialogue, data transparency and quality of analysis. This fits into our efforts to improve governance and contact with the investment research community.”

Raghav Kapoor, Smartkarma CEO, said, “We are thrilled to partner with the SGX as we equip corporates with an innovative platform to engage with the fast-growing independent research community, helping improve their perception with current and potential investors. This is coming at a time when banks and brokers are downsizing research desks due to regulation and cost constraints, resulting in a decline in the depth and breadth of coverage of certain stocks, assets and sectors. C-Suite addresses this need in the market, strengthening information flows in a MiFID II compliant way.”

This latest initiative continues SGX’s efforts in raising awareness of listed companies and making research information more accessible to investors. SGX has in recent years begun distributing thematic sector research reports and CEO profile interview articles on SGX-listed companies and held a series of research forums. To access SGX’s markets research content, visit sgx.com/research.

To request an invite for the C-Suite Pilot Program, visit: https://csuite.smartkarma.com/. For more information about the Pilot Program, please contact Smartkarma.

C-Suite website: https://csuite.smartkarma.com/

About Singapore Exchange (SGX)

Singapore Exchange is Asia’s leading and trusted market infrastructure, operating equity, fixed income and derivatives markets to the highest regulatory standards. As Asia’s most international, multi-asset exchange, SGX provides listing, trading, clearing, settlement, depository and data services, with about 40% of listed companies and 75% of listed bonds originating outside of Singapore.

SGX is the world’s most liquid offshore market for the benchmark equity indices of China, India, Japan and ASEAN and offers commodities and currency derivatives products. Headquartered in AAA-rated Singapore, SGX is globally recognised for its risk management and clearing capabilities. For more information, please visit www.sgx.com.

About Smartkarma

Smartkarma unlocks the value of independent insight, providing investors with high-quality, unique, insight on timely themes and topics across companies, industries, and markets via it innovative, collaborative cloud-based platform. Smartkarma’s ecosystem has showcased considerable growth since its launch in 2016:

  • Over 400 Insight Providers covering in excess of 2,400 companies across 15 Asia Pacific markets.
  • Over 165 global institutional asset managers as subscribers. The top 10 clients alone have over $13.5 trillion under management.
  • In December 2016, global investment bank, Societe Generale, partnered with Smartkarma to provide its global institutional clientbase with access to this new research solution

For more information please visit www.smartkarma.com

Media Contact

Singapore Exchange

Ho Lily

Marketing & Communications

E: [email protected]

T: +65 6713 6786

Smartkarma (For all enquiries on C-Suite Pilot Program)

Ryan Ramsay

E: [email protected]

T: +65 911 729 48

C-Suite website: https://csuite.smartkarma.com/

Smartkarma Launches Premium Services, Offering a Full Suite of Independent, MiFID II Compliant Research Services to the Buy-Side

By | Smartkarma Press Releases

Smartkarma’s community of independent Insight Providers now offer value-added services globally including analyst calls, corporate access, financial models & bespoke projects.

SINGAPORE, LONDON, 21 February 2018 – Smartkarma, Asia’s largest provider of independent investment research, today announced the global launch of Premium Services, a suite of value-added services, allowing asset managers to deepen their engagement with independent research providers. Smartkarma’s innovative platform-based solution has up-ended the traditional research model by providing access to a large network of independent, transparent, analysts and insight providers. With the launch of Premium Services, this now extends into other services beyond content, including analyst calls, corporate access, financial modelling and bespoke research, all accessed in a fully compliant manner.

Smartkarma’s Premium Services launch follows the recent announcements of its expansion across Europe and the US, as well as its recent Series B funding announcement. Quinlan and Associates have forecast a growth in independent and boutique insight providers, due not only to regulatory obligations, but also the move towards a more dynamic and collaborative solution for the currently fractured investment research market. Smartkarma’s ecosystem has shown strong growth since its launch in 2016, with the top 10 clients alone having over $13.5 trillion under management.

Smartkarma’s Premium Services provides clients with a holistic solution, outside of the traditional bank research model, which has shown significant strain under the MIFID II regulatory rules. In contrast to the current cumbersome processes to establish interaction with analysts and analyst firms, ensuring compliance is an easy, transparent process with Premium Services. Once compliant, clients can easily work with all Insight Providers across the network, without any fear of inducement, a key requirement for MiFID II.

Premium Services allow the buy side the flexibility to engage with Insight Providers when and how they need, with simple and transparent pricing and a tiered subscription model, priced from $2,000 US per month. Clients can access Insight Providers whose work they appreciate and value, to get more in-depth knowledge on a specific topic, or to sense check a newly formulated trading idea. The addition of bespoke work also gives investors and portfolio managers the opportunity to request specific financial models or other research that will not be visible to others on the Smartkarma platform.

For Insight Providers, Premium Services enables monetisation of services that complement their written insight available on the Smartkarma platform, further strengthening their expert credibility. Over 400 Insight Providers covering in excess of 2,400 companies across 15 Asia Pacific markets publish regularly to the platform, covering areas that are underrepresented by traditional bank research including IPO/M&A analysis, event-driven special situations, and small and mid-cap company research.

Smartkarma Insight Provider and Chief Economist at Asianomics, Dr Jim Walker says, “Premium Services provides independent analysts like me, with an effective platform to reach a global community of buy-side clients interested in all of our services.”

Jon Foster, Co-founder of Smartkarma notes, “The finance industry is seeing unprecedented change and traditional bank-led models for research coverage and analyst interaction is no longer enough. The market wants more access to independent research that is compliant and actionable. Premium Services delivers this in a new and innovative way, allowing asset managers to dive deeper into the written ideas on Smartkarma and their next investment.”

Premium Services is now live across the Smartkarma platform and the service will also be available to European focused Insight Providers joining the platform this year.

 

Smartkarma: Media Contact:  [email protected]

Chanda Shingadia: + 44 (0)7951 163615

 

About Smartkarma

Smartkarma unlocks the value of independent insight, providing investors with high-quality, unique, expert opinion on timely themes and topics across companies, industries, and markets in Asia via it innovative, collaborative cloud-based platform. Insight can be customized to individual investor needs and updated in real time as investment strategies change, helping investors consolidate relevant information and stay abreast of evolving, complex financial issues. In addition to large-cap bottom-up, coverage also includes frontier markets, small and mid-caps and in-depth event driven/IPO analysis, helping Smartkarma’s global client base generate new trade ideas.

Smartkarma saves investors and insight providers valuable time by providing new ways to create, engage with, and distribute insight with its innovative use of technology and direct access to experts through its responsive, intuitive platform. Its market changing business model also meets evolving regulatory requirements, such as MiFID II. For more information please visit www.smartkarma.com

Smartkarma expands to North America with its innovative research platform for unconflicted and independent research in Asian equities

By | Smartkarma Press Releases

New US operations & NYC office to support US fund managers looking to the Asian markets.

SINGAPORE, LONDON, NEW YORK, January 29, 2018 – Smartkarma, Asia’s largest provider of independent investment research, today announced the opening of its New York City office, headed by 30-year industry veteran Warren Yeh. Smartkarma is well positioned to expand into American markets after recently completing its Series B funding round, led by Sequoia Capital. With a base in New York, Smartkarma aims to bring unprecedented on-the-ground reach and insight into Asian markets for US-based asset managers. Smartkarma has expanded from its headquarters in Singapore to five locations around the world, servicing a global client base comprising of some of the world’s largest asset managers.

By bringing together the best independent insight providers and asset managers in one collaborative ecosystem, Smartkarma is reinventing the way research is created and consumed, with timely insights delivered in an intuitive and engaging way. Smartkarma has demonstrated rapid growth since its launch in April 2016, with its top ten clients alone accounting for US$13.5 trillion of assets under management.

Raghav Kapoor, Co-founder and CEO of Smartkarma comments, “The demand for differentiated and unconflicted research is rapidly rising and US markets are no exception. Our Insight Providers, based in-country, provide US funds with local insight in areas underrepresented in traditional investment bank research, including IPO/M&A analysis, event-driven special situations as well as small and mid-cap company research.”

Smartkarma’s cloud-based platform brings together:

  • Over 400 Insight Providers covering in excess of 2,400 companies across 15 Asia Pacific markets.
  • Instant access to analysts, creating on-demand and real-time coverage which is invaluable to investors sitting in a distant time zone.
  • A unique Spotify-esque business model that enables asset managers to pay a single subscription for unlimited, personalised access to insight across all providers.

By adopting a model such as Smartkarma’s, with transparent subscription pricing. US managers are responding proactively to evolving regulatory changes such as MiFID II in Europe, which came into effect on 3rd January 2018 and has had a global impact. This aligns interests as many managers are starting to pay for research services out of their own P&L.

Leading Smartkarma in the US, Warren Yeh brings 30 years of buy-side experience in Asian and the US financial markets. Yeh notes, “As US investors hunt for alpha, many are looking for opportunities outside the domestic market of the US and see the emerging markets of Asia as still cheap, relative to historical levels and other asset classes. Smartkarma is an excellent fit for US funds investing into Asia, providing a level of transparency and independent insight that has not been available until now.”

Smartkarma media contact:

Chanda Shingadia

Tel: +44(0)7951163615

Email: [email protected]

About Warren Yeh

Warren Yeh is the Head of US Operations for Smartkarma and has over 30 years of industry experience. Prior roles include setting up and developing the New York office for Vickers Ballas’ – Singapore’s largest brokerage firm – as well as Managing Partner of Adapa Partners, LLC a long/short Asian equity hedge fund which he co-founded in 2000. Yeh has also managed the Japanese and Asian equity investments for the USAA International Fund and had various roles in the equity investment research space.

About Smartkarma

Smartkarma unlocks the value of independent insight, providing investors with high-quality, unique, expert opinion on timely themes and topics across companies, industries, and markets in Asia. Insight can be customized to individual investor needs and updated in real time as investment strategies change, helping investors consolidate relevant information and stay abreast of evolving, complex financial issues. In addition to large-cap bottom-up, coverage also includes frontier markets, small and mid-caps and in-depth event driven/IPO analysis, helping Smartkarma’s global client base generate new trade ideas.

Smartkarma saves investors and insight providers valuable time by providing new ways to create, engage with, and distribute insight with its innovative use of technology and direct access to experts through its responsive, intuitive platform. Its market changing business model also meets evolving regulatory requirements, such as MiFID II. For more information please visit www.smartkarma.com