KBC Group, headquartered in Brussels, has implemented INFOmatch, the market data cost & contract management system, to manage its market data expenditure. KBC uses INFOmatch in Brussels, London and Luxembourg, with scheduled extensions to other sites.

KBC Group, one of the largest European bank – insurance combinations, with a top three position in both of its home markets, Belgium and CEE, has implemented INFOmatch, the leading market data management system. KBC deploys INFOmatch’s ASP version, having the system and its database run on Screen INFOmatch’s server farm, with client connections initially to KBC’s headquarters in Brussels, as well as to KBC Group entities in London and Luxembourg. In a second stage, additional KBC Group entities, amongst others including sites in Central and Eastern Europe will connect to the system.

KBC’s decision for INFOmatch came after a thorough review process, initiated by KBC’s Market Data Competence Centre (MDCC) headed by Mr. Ludo Steenhaut. He states: “The goal of the review was to analyse the available systems in the market in order to be able to select the one which would best support KBC in achieving its goals towards global market data management. It is our aim to create transparency in order to control the annual market data spent”.

The database configuration was broken down into two stages. The first stage, which was finalised December last year, concentrated on uploading market data profiles from on-floor and off-floor users located in Brussels, London and Luxembourg. During the second stage, the rest of the group’s market data user community will be administered. This includes KBC Group entities in Central and Eastern Europe and in the major financial centers across the globe (London, New York, Tokyo, ….). Eventually, the database will hold profiles from several thousands market data users.

To manage its market data inventory, KBC has chosen to deploy a structured model. The foundation is the MDCC with a central component and its local administrators, providing support services to the group entities using market data. To achieve its goals, the MDCC is supported by tools such as INFOmatch. “With INFOmatch we are able to detect money saving opportunities, for instance by tracking unused services and exchange fee overlaps. It will also support us with compliancy reporting back to vendors and exchanges and with the optimization of our agreements with market data services vendors. Additionally, the tool also facilitates group level market data services governance and the management of corresponding budgets”, says Mr. Steenhaut.

“We are honoured to welcome KBC as a new INFOmatch customer”, says John Lathouwers from Screen INFOmatch. “It is great to experience that KBC has decided for our system and our organization. In the last couple of months we have been working closely with KBC’s MDCC. Our co-operation has resulted in a successful implementation of INFOmatch, in a young yet professional and ambitious market data organization. We look forward to contribute to the next stages of KBC’s plan to implement market data management globally”.