FCA finds weak price competition in some areas of the asset management sector

18 November 2016

The Financial Conduct Authority has published the interim findings of its asset management market study, which suggests that there is weak price competition in a number of areas of the asset management industry.

The FCA found that:

• there is limited price competition for actively managed funds, meaning that investors often pay high charges. On average, these costs are not justified by higher returns
• there is stronger competition on price for passively managed funds, though the FCA did find some examples of poor value for money in this segment
• fund objectives are not always clear, and performance is not always reported against an appropriate benchmark
• despite a large number of firms operating in the market the asset management sector as a whole has enjoyed sustained, high profits over a number of years with significant price clustering
• investment consultants undertake valuable due diligence for pension funds but are not effective at identifying outperforming fund managers. There are also conflicts of interest in the investment consulting business model which require further scrutiny

The FCA has proposed a significant package of remedies that seek to make competition work better in this market, and protect those least able to engage actively with their asset manager. These include:

• a strengthened duty on asset managers to act in the best interests of investors, including reforms to hold asset managers to account for how they deliver value for money
• introducing an all-in fee so that investors in funds can easily see what is being taken from the fund
• a number of measures aimed at helping retail investors identify which fund is right for them, such as requiring asset managers to be clear about the objectives of the fund, clarifying and strengthening the use of benchmarks and providing tools for investors to identify persistent underperformance
• making it easier for retail investors to move into better value share classes
• requiring clearer communication of fund charges and their impact at the point of sale and in ongoing communication to retail investors
• requiring increased transparency and standardisation of costs and charges information for institutional investors
• exploring the potential benefits of greater pooling of pension scheme assets; and
• requiring greater and clearer disclosure of fiduciary management fees and performance.

The FCA is also consulting on whether to make a market investigation reference to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on the investment consultancy market and has recommended that HM Treasury considers bringing the provision of institutional investment advice within the FCA’s regulatory perimeter.

In addition, the FCA will undertake further competition work on the retail distribution of funds, particularly in relation to the impact financial advisers and platforms have on value for money.

The FCA is now seeking views about its interim findings and welcomes views from all stakeholders on the emerging thinking on potential remedies.

Full report

© FCA - Financial Conduct Authority