SimCorp A/S : strengthens APAC presence with strategic partnerships and...

Managing Director for SimCorp in APAC

SimCorp has strengthened its presence in Asia-Pacific through strategic partnerships aimed at accelerating growth in the region and the ramping up of regional delivery centers to provide around-the-clock service to Software as a Service (SaaS) clients.

According to Edward Bee, Managing Director for SimCorp in the APAC region, the investment management industry is currently experiencing significant internationalization. Many of the region's institutional investors are gradually increasing their allocations to foreign capital markets and diversifying across various asset classes.

"APAC is a highly fragmented growth market, and the level of maturity in the investment management industry varies significantly from one country to another. Additionally, each country has its unique regulatory environment and distinct characteristics," says Bee.

In order to cater to these diverse market environments and enhance its market presence and ability to provide investment management solutions in the region, SimCorp has forged strategic partnerships with carefully selected local partners in key markets.

Edward Bee
Managing Director for SimCorp in APAC

In Japan, SimCorp has now signed a partnership agreement with the Japanese IT services company NS Solutions Corporation. SimCorp will collaborate with NS Solutions Corporation to offer comprehensive support to clients in the investment management industry.

This support will include the introduction of SimCorp's solutions, followed by their seamless implementation and maintenance.

"We have a high level of confidence in NS Solutions Corporation as the ideal partner, given their strong reputation and trustworthiness within the market. They are exceptionally well-suited to facilitate the delivery of the SimCorp investment management platform and assist Japanese investment managers in future-proofing their operations," says Bee.

In 2022, SimCorp and an Australian investment management firm Challenger teamed up to create a new strategic joint venture called Artega Investment Administration[1]. Artega offers technology-driven services for investment management, including front, middle and back-office services to investment managers and asset owners in Australia and Asia.

Artega is powered by SimCorp's full technology and service stack, including Data Management, Client Communications as well as Investment Accounting Services.

"Artega has made a solid start, successfully onboarding our initial clients. Artega expands SimCorp's total market and makes us able to offer our solutions to investment managers that did not necessarily have the scale and size for the SimCorp platform. We are quite optimistic about the future for Artega," says Bee

As part of its strategy to evolve to a full-scale Software as a Service (SaaS) company, SimCorp has significantly ramped up its operations in APAC in recent years by opening offices in Manila, The Philippines, and Noida, India.

SimCorp's India office celebrated its 100th employee in September 2023. These offices enable SimCorp to deliver key value-add components of its SaaS service offers to its APAC client base, thereby enabling greater operating model flexibility for SaaS clients.

"By expanding our regional offices to enhance our ability to serve clients and being able to implement remotely and provide support across all our markets, we want to accelerate our growth in APAC. This development in combination with our new distribution partnership with NS Solutions Corporation in Japan, and the successful onboarding of clients for Artega represent significant milestones in our APAC growth strategy," Bee says.

Edward Bee recently celebrated his one-year anniversary at SimCorp. In this article, he takes stock of the development in the investment management industry across the APAC region, addressing how the shift to T+1 settlement cycle in the US impacts, how APAC are catching up on developed market in private market allocations and how ESG is evolving in the region.

SimCorp offers industry-leading, integrated investment management solutions.

Our platform and ecosystem, comprising partners, services, and third-party connectivity empowers us to provide 40% of the world's top 100 financial companies with the efficiency and flexibility needed to succeed.

With over 25 offices around the world, and more than 2,450 employees, we are a truly global, collaborative team that connects every continent and industry seamlessly.

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