Qualitative, forward-looking fund analysis identifies high standards of management and performance consistency
Fortis Private Banking today announced it has signed an agreement to supply clients with market-leading qualitative fund research from Standard & Poor's Fund Services, the largest provider of fund research, analysis and ratings in Europe. This is the latest in a series of initiatives by Fortis that has seen it partner with external, specialist providers to harness the best products for its clients. It follows an agreement struck in September 2006 by Fortis Private Banking to provide clients with award-winning equity research on more than 500 global large-cap stocks from Standard & Poor's Equity Research.
Under the new agreement, Fortis Private Banking clients will also gain access to detailed research on more than 2,200 mutual funds currently monitored by Standard & Poor's Fund Services across the equity, fixed income and alternative asset classes.
Pim Mol, member of the Global Management Board of Fortis Private Banking comments : "Fortis Private Banking has expanded its 'best brains' concept, so we can concentrate even more on what we are best at: asset allocation, portfolio construction and product development, thereby bringing greater value to our clients. At the same time we have enlarged our offering in funds. Clients have a much broader choice as we now have a truly global scope, covering all regions and all market segments. We hope that by providing access to independent, qualitative-based research, clients and their advisors will be able to make more informed decisions about fund selection beyond what is achievable by reviewing historical risk and return figures alone. Thanks to our stringent selection process our clients know that they can choose from the best performing funds."
Aidan O'Mahony, Head of Standard & Poor's Fund Services, said: "Past performance and a well-known fund name cannot be relied upon to form the basis for fund selection. The research carried out by Standard & Poor's Fund Services is used as a selection tool by many of the world's leading institutional and private client advisers and there are powerful reasons why: only the top 20% of funds within each sector are eligible for consideration, so investors and their advisers have the confidence that they are selecting quality funds that best meet their requirements."
Press Office contacts:
Fortis Press Office
Brussels +32 (0) 2 565 35 84
Utrecht +31 (0)30 226 32 19
Matthew McAdam, S&P Communications, Tel. +44 (0) 207 176 3605
About Fortis
Fortis is an international financial services provider engaged in banking and insurance. We offer our personal, business and institutional customers a comprehensive package of products and services through our own channels, in collaboration with intermediaries and through other distribution partners. With a market capitalisation of EUR 44.6 billion (31/03/2007), Fortis ranks among the twenty largest financial institutions in Europe. Our sound solvency position, our presence in 50 countries and our dedicated, professional workforce of 60,000 enable us to combine global strength with local flexibility and provide our clients with optimum support. More information is available on www.fortis.com
About Standard & Poor's
Standard & Poor's, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE:MHP), is the world's foremost provider of financial market intelligence, including independent credit ratings, indices, risk evaluation, investment research and data. With approximately 7,500 employees, including wholly owned affiliates, located in 21 countries. Standard & Poor's is an essential part of the world's financial infrastructure and has played a leading role for more than 140 years in providing investors with the independent benchmarks they need to feel more confident about their investment and financial decisions. For more information, visit http://www.standardandpoors.com.
