GERMANY- Activest, investment group of HypoVereinsbank, has been appointed as head investment services provider (Master-KAG) for E.ON Energie’s spezialfonds.

E.ON’s funds are currently managed by several different investment firms, which each provide individual analysis, performance measurement, administration and advisory services for the fund being managed.

These firms will continue to manage the funds, but all other investment services will now be outsourced to Activest.

Explains a spokesman for Activest: “with so many different companies reporting on the different funds, the overall picture is lost. Now we will take over this role single-handedly, E.ON can receive one report showing exactly how the funds are structured, and will be able to judge the performance of each fund fairly. Asset allocation and portfolio risks will now be considerably more transparent.”

Activest manages and provides advice for funds totalling around e25.5bn, of which e9.5bn is accounted by those funds for which Activest acts as head investment services provider.

“We began assuming the role of head investment services provider in 1998, and have seen demand from firms steadily increase. Few investment companies in Germany can offer the entire service, and we expect further clients by the end of 2002,” says the spokesman.

Presently, Metzler Invest, Universal Investment, Deutsche Asset Management and Helaba Invest dominate the Master-KAG market in Germany.