Credit: ALFI

On 21 and 22 September 2021, the Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry (ALFI) held its annual Global Distribution Conference, as a virtual event.

Hosted in partnership with the US National Investment Company Service Association (Nicsa) and the Hong Kong Investment Funds Association (HKIFA), the ALFI Global Distribution Conference brings together major fund distributors and asset managers from around the globe. 

One of the highlights of this year's conference was the presentation of the 2021 Broadridge Distribution Achievement Awards. BlackRock, J.P. Morgan Asset Management, Pictet Asset Management and Robeco were the major category winners, while UBS Asset Managers and Candriam Investors Group were among the Fastest Risers at this year's awards.

Founded five years ago to recognise excellence in fund distribution, the Broadridge Distribution Achievement Awards celebrate the hard work and resourcefulness of marketing, sales and client service teams in the European fund distribution market. The diversity of this year’s winners reflected the talent and enterprise of asset manager teams working across the industry.

“The nominees and winners of this year’s awards have all exhibited the focus and agility necessary to rise to the top in a fiercely competitive marketplace, while differentiating their value proposition to provide a meaningful, best-in-class service to their clients”, commented Lynn Pattinson, Senior Editor at Broadridge Global Insights.

“Over the past three decades, Luxembourg has played a crucial role in opening up markets for international fund distribution and facilitating access to investments globally", added Camille Thommes, Director General of ALFI. "The past twelve months have been nothing short of extraordinary: an entire year’s worth of decisions were influenced by the pandemic in one form or another. Today, we honour the asset managers who have contributed towards raising the standards of asset management in a post-pandemic world".

The awards are based on responses from over 800 of Europe’s leading third-party fund selectors from Broadridge’s Fund Buyer Focus interviews conducted in the twelve-month period prior to June 2021. The interviews are aimed at pinpointing the changing demands of Europe’s key fund distribution influencers and identifying the fund providers that are delivering best-in-class standards. These fund selectors represent around €3 trillion of third-party client assets in Europe and provide a representative voice of investors in the ten markets they serve.

Award categories and winners:

Sales Services Award
Overall Winner: J.P. Morgan Asset Management
Fastest Riser: Candriam

Innovation & Adaptation to Market Change Award
Overall Winner: Pictet Asset Management
Fastest Riser: UBS Asset Management

Environmental, social & governance (ESG) / Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) Award
Overall Winner: Robeco (winner for fourth year running)
Fastest Riser: Natixis Investment Managers

Brand Award
Overall Winner: BlackRock
Fastest Riser: Morgan Stanley Investment Management