FE fundinfo has acquired Netherlands-based Matterhorn Reporting Services, a specialist provider of Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) software reporting and managed services.

It said the acquisition will help asset managers and service providers meet increasingly complex requirements while reducing operational burdens and costs.

FE fundinfo also believes the regulatory landscape has become progressively complex due to changes in compliance obligations and growing demands for transparency.

According to FE fundinfo’s 2024 Asset Manager report, 41% see regulatory changes as a threat over the next three years.

The AIFMD requires asset managers to conduct an extensive data collection process to complete 41 complex questions within the 30-day reporting period.

This can leading to significant pressure to deliver within this timeframe.

Matterhorn Reporting Services has an “easy-to-use” template which simplifies intricate calculations, and its services enhance operational efficiency by feeding back information on errors or easily interpreting regulator feedback.

This, it claims, results in clients experiencing a 50% reduction in reporting times.

This acquisition means FE fundinfo’s clients will benefit from “improved efficiency, reduced operational costs and enhanced compliance accuracy”, consolidating all reporting needs in one place and having access to solutions beyond the Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) space.

FE fundinfo CEO Liam Healy said: “We are continuously exploring solutions that enhance the operational efficiency and increase value for our clients.

“Integrating Matterhorn’s innovative offerings is the latest step in continuing to be the go-to partner for the investment management community in regulatory reporting.

“Our clients, and the industry, require holistic, end-to-end reporting solutions that meet the evolving demands of the industry and help firms adapt to growing regulatory complexity. We look forward to helping them continue to meet this challenge.”

Matterhorn CEO Jeroen Cremer added: “At Matterhorn, we have always been committed to empowering asset managers with tools that simplify and improve regulatory reporting processes.

“By integrating our AIFMD reporting expertise with FE fundinfo’s comprehensive platform, we are confident we can help asset managers navigate the increasingly intricate regulatory landscape with confidence and ease.”

IF YOU already own a business or are thinking of starting one, you’ll understand how important it is to find and retain new customers.

Hurst Group provides all kinds of businesses access to the UK’s most trusted media, potentially connecting you with millions of potential clients or customers.

7

Whether you’re a small start-up looking to grow your business or an established brand with years of history, advertisers using Hurst Group can trust that they will get first-class service.

Hurst’s mission is to use its expertise to help businesses of all sizes effectively advertise through all forms of media.

Hurst Group’s three media divisions – Hurst Media Company, Hurst Media Agency and Hurst Media Labs – cover every corner of marketing, supplying advertising that builds trust with brands and their customers.

Hurst Media Company specialises in trusted media publishing and helps SMEs advertise to readers of national newspapers and lifestyle magazines (including those on their websites) through promotional content curated into features across 50+ themes including Homes & Gardens, Food & Drink, Health & Wellbeing, Financial & Legal, Mum & Baby and many more.

The client buys space within a themed feature before providing words and images about their products and services. Hurst then checks the content against the Advertising Standard Authority’s CAP code to ensure copy is compliant, sub-edits to make messaging clear and effective, and then designs the copy to the client’s exact approval.

Each advertorial is then set within a themed feature of the client’s choice, with the client able to choose which feature in which national newspaper, magazine or website they want to be in.

7

Hurst Media Agency specialises in trusted media planning and buying across all media channels, including print, digital, television, radio and outdoor. It is a full-service, multi-channel, direct response advertising agency.

The emphasis is always on the clients, who benefit from Hurst’s experience, track record and reliability.

Hurst Media Agency saves you time by doing the work for you, while also saving you money by using their unique market position and relationships with established media owners to buy at the best possible rates.

Hurst Media Labs specialises in trusted media design and marketing services, built to cater for all your branding and design needs. They deliver thousands of pages of content annually and craft attractive, engaging marketing for everything from magazines to billboards, events, websites and more.

Collaboration is the cornerstone of success, so Hurst Media Labs works closely with clients to establish a strong partnership built on trust and open communication.

They’ll become an extension of your teams, using their expertise and industry knowledge to create designs that drive results and are delivered in a timely fashion.

How Hurst helped Diamond Box reach its target audience

One case study from Hurst that is a testament to the brand’s devotion to driving results is Diamond Box.

Previously relying on saturated social media and pay-per-click advertising, this family-owned luxury jeweller saw declining results in the business.

Advertisement

Hurst Group provided Diamond Box with innovative content marketing and digital advertising solutions across major publishers including SunOnline.

Now Diamond Box enjoys a larger audience and has effectively targeted a mature and more affluent customer base.

In its Trustpilot review, the Diamond Box team said, “Hurst Media [is} now our trusted media partner. The whole team [has] excelled in their level of service and commitment to help us get the best deals for our advertising. [We’d] most certainly recommend, and we intend using them for a long time.”

How Hurst Group can help your business

Digital

7

Hurst Group handles all your digital needs, helping to amplify your business’ voice above that of your rivals.

Hurst offers comprehensive digital advertising solutions, including search ads, display ads, social media ads and video ads. 

Search, display or banner ads appear on websites and Apps, in standard sizes defined by the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB). 

Social media ads appear on platforms such as Facebook, X, TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn, in various formats and placements, and will often feature creative content to keep potential customers engaged.

You can also opt for video ads to feature on platforms like YouTube and Vimeo, which serve as both a format and a channel for reaching audiences.

Out of Home

7

Hoping to reach a wider audience? Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising could be the method for you.

Out-of-home advertising encompasses any advertising that people encounter outside their homes, which could include common forms of media like printed billboards.

These range from small 6-sheets at bus stops and shopping centres to larger scale 96-sheets at major road junctions and motorways.

Digital screens have become increasingly prominent, with 64% of OOH revenue coming from the UK’s 27,000 digital displays. 

But it’s not only limited to bus stops and big screens at shopping complexes.

Additionally, OOH includes ads on buses, trains, trams, and taxis, both inside and outside.

One key benefit of OOH is that it provides large canvases for creative visuals that stand out in a cluttered media landscape.

It offers mass reach, effectively targeting a broad audience with no demographic limitations, as well as building significant brand awareness.

Print

7

Advertisement

If you prefer traditional forms of advertising, Hurst offers clients access to all forms of print advertising, including display and classified ads in newspapers and magazines. 

Print media is a highly credible source, meaning that many consumers are more likely to pay attention to ads because they’re coming from a reputable source – essentially providing a “halo effect” for the products or services being advertised.

Display ads appear in the main editorial sections, while classified ads are grouped under specific headings, for example, Motors, Travel, and Property. 

Advertorials and special features are designed to resemble editorial content but are clearly marked as commercial under UK guidelines.

With print advertising, you’ll benefit from longevity, as print products are often kept and shared. 

This method ensures engagement with a loyal readership; you’ll also find that as print media is widely available without needing a device, it offers you the chance to give readers a long-form format for detailed information.

Radio

7

We’ve all heard a catchy tune or jingle on the radio and have immediately been able to identify the product or service.

Radio advertising is a cost-effective way to reach a broad audience; it allows for creativity, without expensive visuals, that your customers will remember.

Forms of radio ads include jingles, which leverage the link between music and memory, and spots, which are advertiser-produced commercial messages ideal for brand awareness and a call-to-action response.

Radio’s key benefits include its extensive reach, with millions tuning in to listen to their favourite stations daily, and its ability to create emotional connections with loyal listeners. 

With radio advertising, you can precisely target your designated audience and ensure frequent message repetition, with a low-cost, immediate production.

TV

7

With an influx of TV platforms available including satellite, streaming and other television channels, TV advertising is becoming a more affordable way for businesses to advertise.

Forms of TV ads include commercials, which appear during breaks and last 15 to 60 seconds, while sponsorship involves sponsorship credits around specific programs, creating a clear brand association. 

You could also opt for product placement, which features a brand’s products within a program, while infomercials are longer-format ads that normally resemble review content.

Undoubtedly, the key benefits of TV advertising include its extensive reach which engages audiences with sound and visuals. Frequent ad breaks reinforce messages and offer precise targeting and ease of access. 

Learn more about how Hurst Group can build you a trusted advertising campaign at hurstmediacompany.co.uk  

Scottish Widows is the latest insurer to launch its income protection product on Iress’s The Exchange platform.

The new IP product is in addition to Scottish Widows’ existing product offerings on the portal.

The Exchange is a widely-used online sourcing platform for financial advisers in the UK, particularly in the life insurance market.

It allows brokers to compare and source various insurance products, including life insurance, critical illness cover, and income protection, from multiple providers.

Scottish Widows’ protection director, Rose St Louis, said: “Our goal is to help people to be better prepared financially if they were not able to work.

“Our new IP product is the next step on our mission to help people build their financial resilience and make it easier for advisers to serve more of their customers’ needs with a streamlined process and slicker experience through tech partners like Iress.”

Iress’s global head of product for sourcing, Jacqui Durbin, added: “As long-standing partners of Scottish Widows, we’re delighted to support its launch into the Income Protection space through our extensive distribution network on The Exchange.

“It also supports our commitment to offering the broadest range of products to brokers and advisers.”

THE popular Coca-Cola Christmas truck will return this year for another festive tour.

The iconic red vehicle will travel around towns and cities across Great Britain in the run up to Christmas.

1

The 2024 tour promises to be ‘bigger and better than ever’ and will be set in a magical winter wonderland.

Visitors will be able to take part in festive games and a lucky dip which will give them the chance to win exclusive Coca-Cola merchandise.

A food truck will serve up seasonal food and ice-cold Coca-Cola Zero Sugar drinks.

Meanwhile, a canopy of twinkling lights will help you to capture the perfect winter selfie in front of the iconic red truck.

The exact schedule for the tour has not yet been published but announcements will be made on the @CocaColaGBI Instagram account and @CocaCola_GB X page.

Where did the truck stop last year?

Last year the red vehicle made stops across the UK in many large cities including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool and Manchester.

It also made stops on the following dates:

• Crown Steet, Glasgow, November 23
• Silverburn Shopping Centre, Glasgow, November 24
• Fort Kinnaird Shopping Centre, Edinburgh, November 25
• Metro Centre, Gateshead, November 26
• Leeds White Rose Shopping Centre, November 30
• Liverpool One, December 1
• Trafford Centre, Manchester, December 2
• Meadowhall Shopping Centre, December 3

Large crowds flocked to see the vehicle, with some waiting for more than an hour to take selfies with the festive favourite.

Among those joining long queues were many parents with excited children.

The destinations could change this year so keep an eye out for announcements in the coming weeks.

What if I miss it?

This year fans of the fizzy drink who won’t be able to see the truck in person don’t need to worry about missing out.

From November Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Coca-Cola Original Taste customers will be able to scan a QR code on the pack for the chance to win one of hundreds of festive gifts.

Among the top prizes are pre-loaded £200 ‘Festive Feast’ gift cards.

Coca-Cola has also partnered with charity FareShare again this year.

It will donate a meal on behalf of every person that visits the Christmas Truck Tour.

Florence Wheatley, marketing manager for Coca-Cola Great Britain, said: “Coca-Cola has and remains synonymous with Christmas, with many people eagerly awaiting the Coca-Cola Christmas Truck Tour and Holidays Are Coming advert to create a little festive magic.  

“This year, we’re delighted to continue our relationship with FareShare to support its mission to reduce hunger and surplus food waste.”

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories