Cofunds on verge of completing new terms with fund houses

Cofunds is close to completing new pricing agreements with the fund houses yet to sign up to its revised terms.

On the back of Threadneedle agreeing terms this week, Cofunds marketing and proposition director Alastair Conway says the platform is on the verge of striking deals with the remaining ten large groups.

Agreements have already been inked with 20 of its top 30 fund houses, says Conway, and deals with the final ten are imminent.

"We have made substantial progress in this process and are in the final stages of completing new terms with these ten groups," says Conway.

"By next year, agreements with all 30 will be complete and we will be able to concentrate on the RDR."

Cofunds agreed a new pricing structure with its smaller groups in January, which saw all 60 agree to a flat rate increase of five basis points. With its larger groups, however, new terms are calculated on an individual basis which takes into account a variety of different factors, meaning negotiations take longer.

"Out of the 30 groups, no pricing structure is the same," says Conway.

Conway also says Cofunds' new panel of research funds and model portfolios - due to launch early next year with funds selected by OBSR - marks a new direction for the platform.

He says the link-up with OBSR to create the model portfolio funds are of "complete independence".

"Our research shows 90% of our advisers want help in making decision for investors and they therefore need tools to help risk profile clients and allocate assets."