ING

The fund market of the alternative assets industry has grown significantly over recent years with more investors committing capital to alternative asset classes. As a result, ING's Investment Industry Finance (IIF) team found it increasingly challenging to source fund and investor information.

In order to collect information on fund managers’ track records, key contact details, investors’ profiles and capital commitments, the IIF team spent a lot of time going through multiple sources as part of its due diligence process.

In a highly competitive industry where establishing contact in a timely manner with the right person is essential, the IIF team needed quick access to a reliable source of information to speed up its market research and due diligence process with:

• Up-to-date fundraising information as fund managers typically look for potential partners to support them throughout the life cycle of their funds. Therefore, the IIF team needed to identify and reach out to these managers as early as possible.
• Quick access to key information for due diligence purposes with a comprehensive database covering both the manager and investors who have committed to the funds.
• Transparent information on regional market trends to develop ING's fund financing activity in new private markets such as Asia.

With Preqin, the IIF team found a private market data provider with a comprehensive coverage of all asset classes. By sourcing managers that are looking to raise a fund in the next 12 months or currently raising capital, the team benefits from a clear competitive advantage thanks to direct access to key information.

When it comes to IIF’s business development efforts, the IIF team uses Preqin as a central database to validate information collected from different sources. By using Preqin Pro for their initial fund screening process, the IIF team has access to a manager’s previous funds, performance data, key contact details and investor commitments.

Preqin’s fund performance data and market benchmarks are also helpful to compare a fund manager against its competitors and to compare funds of the same vintage, asset class, strategy and geographic focus.

This information allows the team to draw the context around specific funds and be well-prepared when engaging with fund managers.

The IIF team also uses Preqin’s research reports such as the Investor Outlook, Quarterly Updates and regional-focused reports. For example, these reports have helped support the team’s expansion into Asia – with the recent establishment of their Singapore team – by providing a thorough analysis of market trends, views and concerns in a diverse and fragmented region.

For the IIF team, having a platform with up-to-date market information on alternative asset funds allows them to be responsive and proactive in a relationship-driven market.

Preqin’s coverage of both fund managers and investors active in private markets gives the team access to relevant information for their credit risk analysis and business development efforts.

This information coupled with Preqin’s research on IIF’s key regional markets means the team has access to a combination of data and insights.

This allows them to focus on developing and growing ING's commitment to the fund financing market globally, while building long-term relationships with leading sponsors and asset managers.

Over the past 3 years, ING's loan portfolio in this sector has grown significantly.

• A central port of call for data on funds, managers and investors across all asset classes
  
• Access to reliable and standardized information on regional private markets
  
• Insights into new private markets that support ING's IIF growth objectives
  
• A reach that matches IIF's global footprint
  
• A platform that nurtures long-lasting relationships and explores business opportunities
  

ING’s Investment Industry Finance (IIF) team is responsible for the origination and execution of lending transactions across multiple jurisdictions.

The team provides and arranges fund financing facilities to listed and unlisted funds managed by institutional asset management firms and leading financial sponsors.

With the firm's headquarters in Amsterdam, the IIF team operates in key financial hubs of the fund management industry including New York, London, Luxembourg and Singapore.

This team of 22 professionals spans its global activities across private and listed equity, debt, real estate and infrastructure funds.