StatPro Group

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StatPro Group Plc is a provider of data services and portfolio analytics solutions for the global asset management industry. Set up in 1994 by Chief Executive Justin Wheatley, the company's investment products stem from specialisation in data and software solutions for risk management (SRM), fixed income analysis (SFI), performance measurement and attribution analysis (SPA), GIPS compliance (SC) and enterprise reporting (SER). StatPro Chairman Carl BaCon, appointed in 2000, was a co-founder of GIPS.

StatPro's client base includes approximately four hundred client contracts in twenty-five countries. The company has eleven offices internationally, having grown rapidly in recent years. Since 1999, recurring annualised revenue has increased from less than £1 million to £18.8 million in 2007.

International offices

StatPro has eleven offices worldwide.

  • StatPro Ltd. (UK)
  • StatPro France S.A.
  • StatPro Benelux S.A. (Luxembourg)
  • StatPro Italia Srl
    • StatPro Italia Udine
  • StatPro (Deutschland) GmbH (Germany)
  • StatPro Inc. (NY, USA)
  • StatPro Inc. (WA, USA)
  • StatPro Canada Inc. (Toronto)
  • StatPro Canada Inc. (Montreal)
  • StatPro South Africa (Pty) Ltd.
  • StatPro Australia Pty Ltd.

Products

StatPro offers a core product suite that includes award-winning analytics tool StatPro Performance & Attribution (SPA). Other core products are StatPro Fixed Income (SFI), StatPro Risk Management (SRM) and StatPro Composites (SC).

Data services

StatPro Data Services (SDS) was released post StatPro's acquisition of data vendor FRI Corporation, a leading provider of bond data and bond pricing services, as well as the instigating publisher of the Canadian Government Bond Register (see below). SDS as a product provides pricing, terms & conditions and reference data across all asset-types from all markets. It offers price confirmations, prices challenges and research on particular events.

Commenting on the acquisition of FRI, StatPro Chief Executive Justin Wheatley said, "The Acquisition significantly strengthens the Company’s position in the North American market and creates a number of cross-selling opportunities to our clients. FRI is one of the leading sources of bond data and the Acquisition will enable the Company to provide a total solution for our clients. The Acquisition continues our stated strategy to grow by acquiring new products and investing in such products for growth, rather than developing products from inception. Furthermore, we are delighted with the success of the Placing and we welcome our new institutional shareholders and thank our existing shareholders for their continued support."

Awards

Buy-Side Technology Awards 2007

November 2007 saw the recognition of product StatPro Performance Attribution (with SPA and SFI combined in the product suite) as the benchmark in performance attribution analytics software in the inaugural year of the Buy-Side Technology Awards (BSTAs).

The acknowledgement of SPA as a [...]-edge performance and attribution solution was on the basis of the calculation of returns for portfolios (benchmarks and composites); calculation of attribution effects for equity and fixed-income portfolios; and calculation of ex-post, absolute and relative risk, and commenting on the award, StatPro CEO Justin Wheatley said,

Queen's Award for Enterprise

In April 2006, StatPro announced that it had been awarded a Queen's Award for Enterprise in the International Trade category. This was recognising the company's sustained international growth during the previous six years, during which time revenue from overseas had increased seven times over. StatPro's Products received the prestigious accolade in acknowledgement of its efforts to meet the requirements of internationally standardised front office and middle office systems.

On receiving the award, CEO Justin Wheatley commented, "We are very pleased and honoured to receive this most prestigious award. It recognises the skill and commitment of our employees, which coupled with a focused strategy for growth in overseas markets, has enabled us to deliver excellent services to our clients globally."<ref name="QueensAward>

Spaulding Survey 2006

The Spaulding Group Survey 2006 placed StatPro's products in first place for three out of the four categories. StatPro Performance and Attribution (SPA) came top in both the Equity Performance Measurement and Portfolio-Level Performance Measurement categories. StatPro Composites (SC) came first in the Composite-Level Performance category, and StatPro Risk Management (SRM) reached the top five of the Risk Management section.

StatPro Research

As part of StatPro's ongoing research aims, experts within the company have published various industry-related texts.

Canadian Government Bond Register

Published in 2007, this Register was compiled in order to provide a valuable research and reference aid. It includes details and analysis of all debt issued by the Canadian federal and provincial governments and their agencies. Following the takeover of Canadian company FRI Corporation, provider of the only complete Canadian Bond database, this text was relaunched.

A Statistical Activity Cost Analysis

"A Statistical Activity Cost Analysis of the Relationship between Physical and Financial Aspects of Fixed Assets" was published during the World Congress on Engineering Asset Management 2006 that took place on the Gold Coast of Australia. The primary author was StatPro Fixed Income Research Director Dr Andrew Colin. To read this technical paper in full, click here

Fixed Income Attribution

Before this book was published in 2005, there was very little information available on this complex and mathematical topic. A comprehensive, theoretical and practical text written by Dr Andrew Colin, it discusses a wide range of issues surrounding attribution, the practical limitations of its calculation and the various systems designed to aid the calculation. It includes useful examples and advice for industry practitioners.

Portfolio Analysis

"Portfolio Analysis: Advanced topics in performance measurement, risk and attribution" brings together a comprehensive list of experts from the Performance Measurement, Risk and Attribution fields. Contributors from StatPro are Carl Bacon, Dr Andrew Colin and Laurence Wormald.

For more information, and a full list of contributors, see the book's page.

Practical Portfolio Performance Measurement and Attribution

Written by Chairman Carl Bacon and published in 2004, the book is an accessible, practical guide and introduction to performance measurement, rather than an academic dissertation. As such it has been found an appropriate reference tool for industry practitioners and users alike.

Social Contribution

The Durbanville Schools Foundation

With an office based in South Africa, StatPro decided to become a patron of The Durbanville Schools Foundation. The Patrons Project was established in September 2004, aiming to secure a steady, long-term source of funding for the Foundation's projects. In the announcement of patronage, immediate priorities were stated to include:

  • Refurbishing of existing facilities
  • Funding additional governing body teaching posts
  • Creating recreational facilities
  • Funding of bursaries for talented children to go to High School

StatPro South Africa Managing Director Andrew Peddar commented, "The Durbanville Schools Foundation Patrons Project represents a worthy cause that StatPro South Africa is proud to commit its support to. We look forward to working with the Foundation in their mission to promote a higher quality of education and schooling in the greater Durbanville area."

UK Studentship Scheme

In the UK, StatPro launched a Studentship Scheme in conjunction with the Centre for Computational Finance and Economic Agents (CCFEA), University of Essex in 2006. The partnership was established with the aim of encouraging relationships between the academic establishment and the relevant industry leader.

The StatPro Studentship comprises a £4 000 bursary towards the attainment of an MSc in Computational Finance, as well as an internship in StatPro's head office based in London.