LONDON and NEW YORK, July 7, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- GlobeOp Financial Services (GFS(sm) or GlobeOp(r)), a provider of fund administration and related support services for hedge funds, fund of funds, and high net worth family wealth offices, today announced an agreement with Markit Group Limited (Markit), a leading industry source for independent mark-to-market pricing, asset and OTC derivatives valuations, that will significantly enhance GlobeOp's portfolio valuation services and enable further automation of its operational processes. Through the agreement, GlobeOp will provide its clients with services that use Markit credit default swap (CDS) data and reference entity data (RED), products used in the fast growing global credit derivatives market.
"This alliance with Markit demonstrates GlobeOp's ongoing commitment to provide outstanding OTC processing and valuation services to the hedge fund industry," said Hans Hufschmid, GFS chairman and chief executive officer. "Markit RED is the market standard in CDS processing, and access to Markit's credit data enhances GlobeOp's capability to provide accurate and timely independent valuation services to our clients."
Kevin Gould, executive vice president of Markit, commented: "The increased participation of hedge funds in the credit markets, the volatility in the asset class in recent months, and the growing complexity of instruments traded have served to demonstrate the overwhelming need for accurate valuations. An alliance with GlobeOp will allow our data to hit more institutions and further enhance our market reputation."
Markit RED is a unique reference entity database that provides the industry standard reference entity names, reference obligations and codes used throughout the credit default swap markets.
About Markit
Markit is the leading industry source for asset valuation data and services supporting independent price verification and risk management in global financial and energy markets. Founded in 2001, the company is an independent enterprise with which the world's leading financial institutions and energy traders work strategically to create price transparency. Today, Markit enjoys the sponsorship of 13 financial institutions who manage assets in excess of $10 trillion, and data contribution relationships with over 50 dealing firms. Markit has designed, launched and acquired over 20 financial data services which are now used by over 300 institutions globally. Areas of product expertise and service include an independent valuation perspective on OTC derivatives (credit, equity, FX, rates, energy, power, metals and structured products), corporate bonds, syndicated loans, dividend forecasting and index and ETF management. For more information about Markit, see www.markit.com.
About GlobeOp
GlobeOp Financial Services specializes in middle- and back-office support services and fund administration for hedge funds, funds of hedge funds, asset managers and high net worth family wealth managers. GFS provides independent services essential to the successful operation of private investment entities with activities ranging across a wide spectrum of traded instruments. The firm's GlobeOp Risk subsidiary provides independent risk reporting and quantification to investors, creditors and managers. Company expertise is drawn from the senior levels of international banking and fund management and encompasses a wide range of relevant experience. More information about GFS can be found at www.globeop.com.
Statements made in connection with this news release that are not historical fact, such as forward-looking statements concerning future performance and growth, involve risk and uncertainties and are subject to various factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Although GFS believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Important factors, such as competition, loss of clients or a reduction in business received from clients, failure to retain key management and employees, success of new services, reputational harm, disruption of crucial computer and communications systems, regulation, pending, threatened or future legal proceedings, general economic conditions and other factors, including those impacting the hedge fund industry generally, such as changes in the market environment, decreased growth rates and industry consolidation, could cause actual results to differ materially from GFS' expectations. Any forward-looking statements represent the best judgment of GFS as of the date of this release. GFS disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
GlobeOp, GFS, www.globeop.com, and GlobeOp's "G" logo are trade and service marks of GlobeOp Financial Services and are used throughout the world. The GlobeOp service mark is registered in the United States and the European Union; the GFS trade and service mark is registered in the European Union; GlobeOp's "G" logo is registered in the European Union. In addition, all other content, trademarks, service marks, trade names, logos, and icons are proprietary to GlobeOp Financial Services, SA or its affiliates, licensors or agents. Nothing contained in this news release or on GlobeOp's Web site should be construed as granting, by implication, estoppel, or otherwise, any license or right to use any trade or service mark displayed in this news release or on GlobeOp's Web site without the written permission of GlobeOp Financial Services. Use of the trade and/or service marks displayed in this news release or on GlobeOp's Web site, or any other content found in this news release or found on GlobeOp's Web site, except as provided herein, is strictly prohibited. All other products or company names herein may be trade and/or service marks of their respective owners.