SEI Expands Middle-office Services with Enhanced Pricing and Valuation Capabilities

OAKS, Pa., Jan. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- SEI (Nasdaq: SEIC) today announced that it has extended its array of middle-office services by enhancing its asset pricing and valuation validation solution for investment managers. The solution, which leverages the independent valuation and pricing models of industry-leading third-party pricing providers, is designed to provide managers with more accurate and independent pricing verification. The solution is the latest in a series of developments by SEI to help managers address the challenges they are facing in valuing their investments due to rapid changes in liquidity and volatility in global securities markets, while meeting the growing investor demands for conflict-free transparency in a climate of increasing global regulatory and investor scrutiny.

SEI's enhanced offering provides managers with multi-source, independent asset pricing and valuation validation for all asset classes from more than 10 of the most respected global providers in the industry. As part of the offering, SEI has created a seamless reporting process where pricing reports are now made available through the company's online Manager Dashboard tool. Among the reporting data that managers receive are valuation variance reports detailing price comparisons, model inputs and assumptions.  The multi-level, independent process ensures greater accuracy and transparency, and also provides managers with an additional measure of validity among, what most experts agree, has become a more skeptical investor base, not to mention an area of increased scrutiny by regulators.

"The increased demand for a robust and reliable valuation process, as well as a heightened focus on valuation governance by regulators, has added significant challenges to managers," said Jean Ebbott, Solutions Director, SEI's Investment Manager Services division. "To effectively address these challenges, we are providing our clients with deeper access to independent pricing and valuation models from best-in-class partners to help them manage risk, increase comfort among their investors, and ensure consistent and credible pricing. Leveraging SEI's market presence, clients can gain efficiencies from our vendor selection process and wide range of relationships.  As with all our middle-office solutions our goal is to give managers the best tools that allow them to focus more on their portfolio management and investors, rather than on their operations."

About SEI's Investment Manager Services Division

SEI's Investment Manager Services division provides comprehensive operational outsourcing solutions to global investment managers focused on mutual funds, hedge and private equity funds, exchange traded funds, collective trusts, and separately managed, as well as institutional and private client, accounts. The division applies operating services, technologies, and business and regulatory knowledge to each client's business objectives.  Its resources enable clients to meet the demands of the marketplace and sharpen business strategies by focusing on their core competencies. The division has been recognized by HFMWeek as "Most Innovative Fund Administrator (Over $30bn AUA)" and "Best Funds of Hedge Funds Administrator (Over $30bn AUA)." For more information, visit http://www.seic.com/enUS/im/303.htm.

About SEI

SEI (Nasdaq: SEIC) is a leading global provider of outsourced asset management, investment processing and investment operations solutions. The company's innovative solutions help corporations, financial institutions, financial advisors, and affluent families create and manage wealth. As of September 30, 2010, through its subsidiaries and partnerships in which the company has a significant interest, SEI administers $402 billion in mutual fund and pooled assets and manages $164 billion in assets. SEI serves clients, conducts or is registered to conduct business and/or operations, from numerous offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.seic.com.

SOURCE SEI