FundRock, a European third-party UCITS Management Company (ManCo) and Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM), has been appointed by impact investor WHEB Asset Management LLP (WHEB) to provide distribution services through FundRock Distribution (FRD).
This news follows the recent launch of FundRock’s new CSSF-regulated business in Luxembourg, to provide fund distribution solutions to non-EU asset managers. In an extension of FundRock’s existing role as ManCo for WHEB’s Irish ICAV and ACD for WHEB’s Sustainability OEIC, WHEB has appointed FundRock Distribution SA to provide and support its European distribution needs.
Following the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, it is now considered a third party jurisdiction (similar to the United States and Asia). FundRock Distribution’s services support asset managers to market and distribute their funds to investors across Europe in many different ways. For example by leveraging FundRock’s existing partnerships with all key fund distribution platforms, WHEB will benefit from streamlined and cost-effective market access and proximity to European investors.
WHEB joins FundRock’s strong client base from countries including Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States. To meet the growing market demand, FundRock Distribution is building a centre of excellence, recruiting its own institutional and wholesale team of experts throughout 2021.
This announcement further demonstrates the growing momentum of the FundRock business, following its acquisition by Apex Group Ltd in early 2021. In recent months, FundRock has surpassed the milestone of EUR100 billion AUM, and has announced the launch of its French private equity and real estate AIFM which will assist international and domestic professional investors in accessing French investment vehicles.
Arnaud Gérard, CFA, Managing Director, FundRock Distribution SA, says: “This appointment to provide distribution services to WHEB supplements our role as ManCo, and demonstrates FundRock’s strategic placement to represent asset managers across their portfolio facilitating them in tackling the complexity and regulatory requirements of cross-border fund distribution and supporting their effort to raise assets. We are very pleased to be the trusted partner of WHEB, a front runner in sustainable and impact investing, now enabling a wider investors base to access their strategies.”
George Latham, Managing Partner of WHEB Asset Management, adds: “We’re delighted to expand our partnership with FundRock following a thorough review of the providers currently available in the market. We aim to embed our environmental, social and governance values throughout our business and our broader supply chain, and conducted extensive due diligence prior to appointing FundRock to provide distribution services for the WHEB Sustainable Impact Fund. With FundRock’s support, we will continue building our business in the European markets and bringing our investment strategy to new investors.”
