Will asset management tech consolidation stifle innovation?

Jonathan Hammond, managing consultant and institutional technology practice lead at Knadel, assesses how consolidation in the software market raises questions for the asset management industry.

Over the past year, we have observed a noticeable increase in acquisitions of asset management software companies and products. FactSet purchased BISAM, Vermillion and Cymba Technologies; Markit acquired CoreOne Technologies and Bloomberg completed its acquisition of Barclays Point, to name but a few. This is not a new phenomenon, but even to the casual observer it is clear that change is afoot and there is no sign that the trend is abating just yet. For some asset management companies such consolidation presents opportunities; opportunities to enhance their architectures, influenc...