Asset management—the discomfort zone
By Dr. Carsten Wittrock, Norman Karrer, Maria Katharina Heiden, Sarina Neumann
Asset management is considered highly attractive as the (regulatory) capital requirements are negligible. It is also currently one of the most profitable markets, especially in the financial services industry, with a high operating margin of 37 percent compared to only 34 percent in banking or 4 percent in insurance, for example.
The asset management market
The asset management industry is growing rapidly – by a stable 14 percent per year over the past half decade. Global megatrends are driving this upward trajectory, such as the expanding middle class, the shift from deposits to financial assets, increasing life expectancy and growing urbanisation.
However, the industry’s enviable profit levels are facing increased pressure. There is downward pressure on fees due to weak investment performance, greater transparency, for example through investment consultants and regulatory initiatives, and the ongoing success of passive investments. There is upward pressure on costs due to the need to keep up with new regulations, the process of digital transformation and the increasing demands of tomorrow’s clients.
Even though assets under management have seen sound growth over the past years, the asset management business can be highly volatile due to the strong correlation between revenues and client behaviour with the capital market. As shown in figure 1, the year 2017 saw extraordinary growth of both assets under management and net new money, but 2018 put in a very poor show by comparison. Total assets under management, based on Morningstar’s sample group of institutional and retail investment funds domiciled in Europe, fell by five percent in 2018 compared to the previous year, with net new money crashing by 105 percent.
zeb European Asset Management Study 2019
To gain a clearer understanding of what exactly is going on in the market, zeb, with the support of Morningstar, carried out a major survey of asset managers which provides unique insights into the current state of the industry and its future outlook. Part of the objective of our survey was to identify which players are the most successful in the market and what lies behind their success, which trends will impact different business models going forward, and what action asset managers should be taking as a result.
The basis for the analyses is a peer group of 46 of the largest asset managers with a strong footprint in European markets and with global AuM of more than EUR 29 trillion. Thus, the zeb European Asset Management Study 2019 covers one third of global AuM.
Summary of analysis results
The results of the zeb European Asset Management Study 2019 centre around three major categories:
1) COMPETITORS’ SITUATION
Historically stable profit margins since increasing revenue pressure and slow cost saving efforts were overcompensated by natural industry growth
Slowest growing and least profitable business observed for mid-sized providers, especially those that offer plain vanilla active management, i.e. these players are losing out to scale players of various shape and form as well as focused companies with a clear value proposition e.g. in the solution and speciality space, supporting the thesis of a “collapse of the middle” – a phenomenon also observed in other industries
2) PRODUCT Quality and asset flow
Large shares of high-margin retail business[1] and/or alternative products are no guarantee for higher overall profit margins – it is rather the specific design of the business and operating model that drives profitability
Industry-wide underperformance in key asset classes -– unexpectedly – has not had any negative impact on profit margins so far. However, the increasing regulatory-driven transparency will eventually guide the investors’ asset flows into (i) innovative, outperforming products, (ii) solution/outcome-oriented strategies, and obviously (iii) low-cost passive investments
Additionally, aggressive market entries of new players are expected in the near future. As it can already be observed in Asia, for example, Big Tech companies are expected to redirect asset flows, especially in the retail business and particularly if these new players launch more comprehensive offerings through their platforms making full use of their strong retail client access
3) PRICING ENVIRONMENT
Passive strategies are up to 90 percent cheaper for investors than their active equivalent, putting significant revenue pressure on (undifferentiated) active offerings
The decline of revenue margins is ongoing in retail and institutional business across all asset classes, not just because of “passive pressure”, but also due to increased transparency and unsatisfactory investment performance
Furthermore, the market sees increasing awareness and pressure for “fair pricing” by regulators and financial conduct bodies, currently especially enforced by the UK’s FCA
The zeb European Asset Management Study 2019 is based on an individual company level, enabling zeb to offer its clients company-specific KPI benchmarking. Out of the 46 analysed players, only 24 percent of asset managers are growing profitably while more than 10 percent have been continuously shrinking in recent years. The large bulk of around 65 percent of the analysed asset managers operate on an above average CIR level and below average growth level.
Recommendations and conclusions
Speculation about what the future holds is all well and good, but we firmly believe that strong recommendations and practical strategies are what asset managers need. Based on the analysis above we are now in a position to formulate five key recommendations (strategic positioning, distribution management, pricing, digitalisation of operations and data management) that will take asset managers into their discomfort zone – and, in so doing, ensure a successful, sustainable business in a highly competitive environment.