|
|
Client Case Studies
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Delinquent Filer Notification
|
|
Client:
- 10b5-1 execution group at top five 144 broker
Challenge:
- Restricted securities cannot be sold under Rule 144 if company is delinquent
in filing annual or quarterly reports
- Client seeks to integrate company filing status into custom in-house
10b5-1 trading systems
Solution:
- The Washington Service designs and hosts web service that seamlessly
integrates into client’s existing 10b5-1 trading system
- Prior to executing any 144 trade, client’s system checks the filing
status of company via The Washington Service’s secure web service
Benefits:
- Saves time by eliminating need for trader to manually ascertain company
filing status
- Reduces legal exposure from potential execution of 144 trades in delinquent
companies
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Custom Insider Analysis
|
|
Client:
- Small cap portfolio manager of a $1.75 billion fund at an asset manager
with $1.1 trillion under management
Challenge:
- Screen recent insider trading activity for new investment candidates using
proprietary criteria based upon insider relation, historical activity, and market cap
- Use custom metrics to monitor insider selling levels of companies held
in the fund
Solution:
- The Washington Service works with manager to refine and improve their
original proprietary criteria
- The Washington Service designs and implements Weekly New Ideas Report
and Daily Insider Sales Report
Benefits:
- Concise custom reports that deliver only what is relevant to the manager
in a custom format designed for maximum utilization
- Greatly increased accuracy of reports as the information contained
is acquired using The Washington Service’s proprietary quality assurance processes
- Cost to outsource project to The Washington Service is lower than client’s
in-house cost
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Credit Agreement Watch
|
|
Client:
- Fixed income group with $400 billion in assets
Challenge:
- Monitor EDGAR filings of portfolio companies for disclosure of new
credit agreements or modifications to existing credit agreements
- Client’s dedicating of in-house staff to manually monitor EDGAR filings
was not cost-effective and was an unsustainable drain on internal resources
Solution:
- The Washington Service applies technology expertise in conjunction
with in-house EDGAR researchers to allow client to outsource the entire credit
agreement monitoring project
Benefits:
- Improved quality and speed in getting credit agreements to analysts
- Client’s staff and resources are now able to focus on higher value
activities in the investment decision process
- Cost to outsource project to The Washington Service is lower than client’s
in-house cost
|
|
|
| |
|
|
ETF Filing Monitor
|
|
Client:
- Compliance department at asset manager with $1.1 trillion under management
Challenge:
- Client manages mutual fund comprised of a group of exchange-traded
funds (ETFs)
- Per fund prospectus, managers can not include ETFs that charge marketing
and promotion (12b-1) fees
- Many ETFs waive the right to charge 12b-1 fees, but this is subject
to change at any time
Solution:
- The Washington Service research staff monitors filings of over 250
ETFs on daily basis for any changes in 12b-1 fee status
- Client immediately contacted if any change in 12b-1 status occurs
- Client receives monthly report on 12b-1 status for all ETFs
Benefits:
- Compliance department able to keep fund managers apprised of any ETFs
that should not be included in the fund
- Ensures that fund is managed per the terms of its prospectus
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Custom Web Application for Monitoring Corporate Insider Activity
|
|
Client:
- Insurer with $18.8 billion in assets underwriting D&O policies for publicly traded companies
Challenge:
- Provide a system for underwriters to evaluate insider activity and 10b5-1 related activity using price and volume graphs, as well as full insider history charts
- Client’s current internal legacy system uses outdated technology and is fed by a poor quality Insider Trading data source which lacks stock option vesting and expiration information
Solution:
- The Washington Service works closely with client to design and develop a completely custom web application solution to replace the legacy system
- New application leverages Washington Service’s best-in-industry Insider Trading data
- Client’s custom application is hosted in Washington Service dedicated datacenter with cloud backup & failover
- Client’s users are able to access the secure new application and support 24/7
- Rapid timeline implemented: six weeks total project time from signed agreement to live production site
Benefits:
- Solution delivered for lower cost than the existing application maintenance with more reliable and complete data
- Allowed the client to have input into the functions and design of the new system
- Multi-user application is available world-wide on a secure network
- Client able to easily transition to electronic records management; all data on the new system available in PDF
|
|
|
| |