Asset Management

Global custody offers investors and their advisers a flexible and cost-effective solution for administering, reporting and analyzing their global investments We pride ourselves on the quality of our core custody services. Highly professional account officers, recognized in every survey for their pro-active skills, ensure that all information is collated and processed in a timely fashion. The efficiency of the core global custody services of safekeeping, trade settlement and corporate actions determines the accuracy and value of all subsequent reporting and analyses.

Our dedicated team of corporate action officers monitors and communicates all relevant information to the asset managers. A wide variety of information sources are used, including Reuters, Valorinform, Telekurs and Datastream. Advance notice is given for any action to be taken. If we do not receive a reply in time, Merchantile Trust will act in the client's best interests, based on the advice of our team of research analysts. Our proxy voting service covers 28 markets, including the provision of AGM and EGM details, often translated into English. We facilitate the voting process in accordance with the client's instructions.

Trades are settled on a contractual basis provided that instructions are received within the specified deadlines. A fully automated (straight-through processing) SWIFT reconciliation system linking us to sub-custodians makes it possible to continuously track the settlement status of each trade. Securities held in custody for clients are segregated from Mercantile Trust's balance sheet and deposited via our independent network of sub-custodians in markets around the world. Security and service quality are the key selection criteria when we appoint the sub-custodians. We possess extensive experience in filing tax reclaims for our international custody clients, drawing on our extensive knowledge of international double-taxation treaties and procedures.