UK - BNP Paribas Securities Services has re-branded its securities services as an integrated business that includes the Cogent business which it acquired last September.

BNP Paribas Securities Services says the rebranding is the first step in a strategic marketing programme to promote its International Investor Services (IIS). Cogent was part of the IIS business line before BNP Paribas acquired it.

Since BNP Paribas has integrated the two businesses, combining the funds services and custodian banking activities of BNP Paribas Securities Services with the investment operations outsourcing business of Cogent.

Tony Solway, previously managing director of Cogent and now head of BNP Paribas Securities Services in the UK, said: “Cogent’s clients have an increasingly international outlook and we are already benefiting from the enhanced range of services that BNP Paribas Securities Services offers. In this context it makes perfect sense to operate under the broader brand.”

BNP Paribas Securities Services held over Euro 1.8 trillion assets under custody in December 2002.