The Universal-Investment group, based in Frankfurt / Main and Luxembourg, is acquiring the Frankfurt-based IT service provider for financial companies, labs, from its former owner, Lupus alpha Asset Management AG. labs will continue to operate as an independent company under the “UI labs” brand.

For Universal-Investment, the acquisition of the IT data specialist – which focuses on front-office and data solutions for financial companies – is yet another step towards becoming the leading European fund-service platform for all asset classes. In doing so, the company will round off its 360-degree portfolio for institutional investors, asset managers and fund initiators.

labs, which was formed in 2009, is amongst the industry’s leading software and IT consultancies. The company integrates heterogeneous data ecosystems, creates data-management solutions compliant with regulatory requirements, and visualises the data. It offers its customers the entire process from a single source – from the initial analysis through to implementation; in doing so, labs specialises in areas such as front-office solutions based on Software-as-a-Service models, data warehousing and analytics, PRIIPs (Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products) or the German Investment Tax Reform Act (“Investmentsteuerreform”). labs develops software products for asset managers, investment companies, custodians, insurance companies, wealth managers and family offices. In doing so, its team concentrates on the areas of front-office solutions, data management and reporting.

Universal-Investment CEO, Bernd Vorbeck, explains: “Digitalisation, in particular, is an important competitive factor in the financial sector. For Universal-Investment’s business model as an infrastructure platform for the fund industry, it is without doubt the decisive one. Especially, providing and optimising data services is a central issue for developing intelligent, innovative asset management solutions, streamlining processes and boosting efficiency. We’re therefore delighted that labs will become part of our growth strategy.”

Ralf Lochmüller, founding partner and CEO of Lupus alpha, confirms: “We successfully developed labs from an IT startup to an established supplier; we are convinced it will optimally leverage its continued growth potential at Universal-Investment in future.”