A survey released today by RBC Dexia and Accenture reveals that more than three quarters (77%) of fund managers believe over the next 3 years the industry will see an increase in outsourcing ranging from fund accounting and custody to back-office technology and risk management.
While respondents said cost was an important consideration, they also stressed outsourcing is undertaken to deliver operational effectiveness reflected by the primary drivers cited in the research: cost reduction (95%), operational flexibility (84%) and service quality (78%).
Our research indicates that certain outsourcing strategies could lead to cost savings of up to 20-25% for some managers, says Rob Wright, global head of product and client segments for RBC Dexia. This trend will appeal to many funds, which are looking to increase operational efficiency and are urgently looking to grow their businesses by launching new and innovative products faster or by expanding into new geographies.
The report also found that fund managers expect their companys return on equity to remain below pre-crisis levels, and a significant number are increasing their focus on cost reduction and product innovation initiatives.
More than half (59%) of respondents forecast a return on equity of 15% or less this year, and 14% of those respondents expect return on equity to be less than 10%. Prior to the 2008 financial crisis average returns for the funds managed by survey participants was 20%.
Turmoil in the global financial markets has deeply affected the profitability of the investment management industry, Wright says. Falling market prices and a general move away from high margin products to highly liquid, low-fee products have driven down revenues. Our research suggests that fund managers are looking to solutions that allow them to concentrate on their core competencies and provide access to the latest technology necessary to securing front office performance.
The survey, which involved face-to-face and online interviews with approximately100 fund managers at 80 companies in the United Kingdom, North America, Europe, Australia and the Middle East, also identified a rising trend in outsourcing among asset managers which is seen to help lower costs, improve service quality and support more advanced products to achieve growth.
The backdrop of low-equity returns and pressure on fees and revenues have made efficient operations a priority for fund managers, says Pascal Denis, a senior executive in Accentures Financial Services group and managing director of the companys operations in Luxembourg. At the same time, their clients are demanding new financial products which have greater clarity of risks, and they would also like to see risks mitigated. This means that products are complex, but in a different way than before the credit crisis.