Van Eyk Research issues mid-year report card

Van Eyk Research has issued itself a glowing mid-year report card, celebrating what it regards as a strong performance.

In a media release issued this morning the group said it saw growth in its core businesses with an increase in both revenue and profit for the year to June 30, 2010. However, further performance figures were not included.

In the statement, chief executive Mark Thomas said the group had received "a number" of new dealer group subscriptions to its iRate research portal, while also noting growth in asset consulting services to dealer groups.

Thomas pointed to the group's recent expansion into the New Zealand financial planning market, which included the introduction of coverage for 49 fund strategies and the creation of a strategic asset allocation model for that country.

In addition, Thomas said, van Eyk's Blueprint series saw an increase in assets under management, in particular in the defensive diversified fixed interest and gold bullion strategies. He also pointed to the launch of two new absolute equity funds during the year, which he said were designed to "cater for less predictable investment conditions post the [global financial crisis]".

Thomas highlighted the introduction of New Zealand businessman George Kerr to the research house, who he described as a "cornerstone investor … brought in to accelerate growth via access to capital and strategic planning".

Another recent entrant to the business was Jeff Hall, formerly a division director for Macquarie Bank's Coin software and now general manager at van Eyk, responsible for the group's distribution, asset consulting, IT, product and marketing functions.

Meanwhile former national salesman Michael Angwin has been internally promoted to the role of head of distribution. Analysts David Gleeson and Briana Lam have also taken on more senior roles, while Francis Lim has joined van Eyk's strategic research unit.