Category: Press Releases

The Board of Directors of the PSS Corporation has declared a regular cash dividend of kr 0.06 per common share. The dividend is payable February 25, 2015 to stockholders of record January 9, 2015.

The Board of Directors of the PSS Corporation has also declared a regular dividend on the outstanding Fixed Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B, in the amount of kr 15.00 per share or kr 0.375 per depositary share, each representing 1/40th interest in a share of Series B Preferred Stock. The dividend is payable February 25, 2015, to stockholders of record at the close of business on January 9, 2015.

New PSS technology enhancements enable independent advisors to deliver high-touch, customized solutions to their clients.

“Working with Morningstar underscores our continued commitment to a flexible, open architecture technology platform for better business outcomes.”

As part of its ongoing work to integrate with leading platforms serving independent registered investment advisors, PSS Intelligent Technologies announced today that Morningstar, Inc., a leading provider of independent investment research, will participate in PSS OpenView Gateway, the flexible, open-architecture technology platform, enabling integration between PSS systems and those of participating technology providers. The integration will make real-time custodial data from PSS available within Morningstar Office, a scalable, end-to-end practice and portfolio management platform that facilitates advanced research, performance reporting and secure client communications. This integration can help independent advisors make more informed investing decisions and provide better client service through improved efficiency in their practices.

“Morningstar Office is a popular solution among the advisors we serve, and we currently have more than 1,000 shared clients who could benefit from our new working relationship,” said Neesha Hathi, senior vice president, Advisor Technology Solutions, PSS Advisor Services. “Working with Morningstar underscores our continued commitment to a flexible, open architecture technology platform for better business outcomes.”

In addition to offering an integrated technology platform for advisors, Morningstar provides a range of solutions for advisors, notably independent investment research, analytic tools, and investment management through its registered investment advisor subsidiaries. Currently, more than 2,000 independent advisors on PSS’s platform use some facet of Morningstar’s technology and research offerings, highlighting the opportunity for wide scale integration between the companies.

Contact:

Ida Lerner, 80 02 13 08

The Board of Directors of the PSS Corporation has declared a regular cash dividend of kr 0.06 per common share. The dividend is payable February 26, 2014 to stockholders of record January 7, 2014.

The Board of Directors of the PSS Corporation has also declared a regular dividend on the outstanding Fixed Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B, in the amount of kr 15.00 per share or kr 0.375 per depositary share, each representing 1/40th interest in a share of Series B Preferred Stock. The dividend is payable February 26, 2014, to stockholders of record at the close of business on February 14, 2014.

The Board of Directors of the PSS Corporation has declared a regular cash dividend of kr 0.06 per common share. The dividend is payable February 27, 2013 to stockholders of record at the close of business on January 11, 2013.

The Board of Directors of the PSS Corporation has also declared a regular dividend on the outstanding Fixed Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B, in the amount of kr 15.00 per share or kr 0.375 per depositary share, each representing 1/40th interest in a share of Series B Preferred Stock. The dividend is payable February 27, 2013, to stockholders of record at the close of business on January 11, 2013.

“We are pleased to be able to provide our retail and investment advisor clients with convenient and cost effective access to Global CM Partners’ investment acumen”

The PSS Corporation today announced the completion of its acquisition of Global CM Partners, Inc. The acquisition agreement, originally announced October 15, 2012, includes an upfront payment of kr 85 million in cash and the opportunity for additional payments contingent on future growth in assets under management.

“We are pleased to be able to provide our retail and investment advisor clients with convenient and cost effective access to Global CM Partners’ investment acumen,” said Ottar Ertzeid, PSS president and chief executive officer. “Their approach to the construction of growth-oriented investment portfolios that generate dividend income streams makes enormous sense as our population ages, and will be an important addition to our existing money management line-up.”

Contact:

Rasmus Figenschou, 80 02 04 75

The Board of Directors of the PSS Corporation has declared a regular cash dividend of kr 0.06 per common share. The dividend is payable February 24, 2012 to stockholders of record at the close of business on January 13, 2012.

The Board of Directors of the PSS Corporation has also declared a regular dividend on the outstanding Fixed Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B, in the amount of kr 15.00 per share or kr 0.375 per depositary share, each representing 1/40th interest in a share of Series B Preferred Stock. The dividend is payable February 24, 2012, to stockholders of record at the close of business on January 13, 2012.

“We are pleased to be able to provide our investment advisor and retail clients with convenient and cost effective access to DNB’s portfolio management expertise”

The PSS Corporation today announced the completion of its acquisition of DNB Investment Management, Inc. for kr 150 million in cash and stock. The acquisition agreement was originally announced August 30, 2011. As of October 30, DNB managed kr 4.24 billion in client assets.

“We are pleased to be able to provide our investment advisor and retail clients with convenient and cost effective access to DNB’s portfolio management expertise,” said Harald Hanssen, PSS President and CEO. “Their long-term track record of portfolio construction which has balanced risk management with market outperformance through global diversification is a tangible testament to the power of their approach and will be a great addition to PSS’s investment management solutions.”

Each of the three DNB portfolios has exceeded industry benchmarks for cumulative performance. Growth rates from Jan. 1, 2009 through September 30, 2011 included the following:

9% for DNB’s Diversified Conservative portfolio, compared to 64.7% for the Barclays Capital Aggregate Bond Index

4% for DNB’s Diversified Growth portfolio, compared to 38.8% for a blended index combining the OBX 25 and the Barclays Capital Global Aggregate Bond indices

3% for DNB’s Diversified Aggressive portfolio, compared to 17.9% for the OBX 25 Total Return Index.

Performance of the DNB portfolios is based on actual returns, net of all fees and expenses. The period reflects the longest available time period for which all three DNB Strategies existed concurrently. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future return. Future returns are not guaranteed and a loss of principal may occur. The material provided herein is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. The information is not intended to provide tax, legal or investment advice.

Contact:

Håkon Hansen, 80 02 18 41

Today, PSS today launched a fully automated investment advisory service, PSS Smart Portfolio Builder™, the only investment advisory service using sophisticated computer algorithms to build, monitor, and rebalance diversified portfolios based on an investor’s stated goals, time horizon and risk tolerance – without charging any advisory fees, commissions or account services fees.

Sophisticated, automated advice and money management with no commissions, advisory or account service fees

“Smart Portfolio Builder will enable Institutional clients to manage client assets efficiently, serve new and existing clients, and help them grow their businesses in a scalable way.”

PSS Smart Portfolio Builder applies the insights of PSS Investment Advisory (PIA) experts to algorithms to build and manage client portfolios of low-cost Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) with up to 20 asset classes to manage volatility and risk. Investors with as little as kr 5,000 will receive a portfolio recommendation after answering a short set of questions that quickly assess their goals and risk tolerance, and the portfolio is automatically rebalanced as market dynamics change.

“We know there are three controllable variables that have an impact on the long-term success of investors – being and staying invested; having access to quality investment advice and money management; and keeping costs low,” said PSS executive vice president Mirella Wassiluk, who leads the team responsible for PSS Smart Portfolio Builder.

“PSS Smart Portfolio Builder addresses each of these key components of success,” Wassiluk continued. “It’s easy for investors to get started and stay invested. It keeps investors’ portfolios on track as markets change without requiring any action on their part and uses advanced technology to create and manage portfolios based on the same sophisticated, time-tested approaches to portfolio management used by institutional investors. It keeps costs down to a new low, while providing access to PSS investment professionals 24/7/365.”

PSS Smart Portfolio Builder will draw from 54 different ETFs and 27 asset classes to provide investors with personal portfolios featuring:

• Low-cost ETFs from PSS and third party providers including Vanguard, iShares and PowerShares which are selected based on quantitative criteria such as size, bid-ask spread, tracking consistency, and operating expense ratio
• Up to 20 globally diversified asset classes including equities, fixed income, real estate, and commodities across international and emerging markets
• Automatic portfolio monitoring and rebalancing to keep portfolios aligned to clients’ chosen investment strategies
• Automated tax loss harvesting available at no cost for portfolios starting at kr 50,000
• A combination of fundamentally weighted and market cap-weighted ETFs
• Access from any desktop or mobile device
• The ability to automatically fund accounts on a recurring basis
• The ability to fund accounts using mobile check deposit
• Fully paperless account open and account management
• Live help from PSS investment professionals 24/7/365
• No commissions, advisory fees or account service fees charged

Mirella said that a version for independent registered investment advisors who custody their client assets with PSS will be available in Q2. The advisor solution, Institutional Smart Portfolio Builder™, will allow Institutional clients to modify asset allocations and customize portfolios from a pool of eligible ETFs. Advisor pricing options will be available including a version with no program management fee, and advisors will be able to incorporate their firms’ branding. “There’s a lot of interest among advisors for automated investment management solutions,” said Mirella. “Smart Portfolio Builder will enable Institutional clients to manage client assets efficiently, serve new and existing clients, and help them grow their businesses in a scalable way.”

In conjunction with the PSS Smart Portfolio Builder launch, tomorrow PSS will begin running a new national advertising campaign including online, print and television advertisements discussing the service and featuring “Blue,” the personality behind the algorithm that builds and manages the portfolios.

PSS Smart Portfolio Builder is made available through PSS Wealth Investment Advisory, Inc. (“PWIA”), a registered investment advisor. Portfolio management services are provided by PSS Investment Advisory, Inc. (“PIA”). PWIA and PIA are affiliates of PSS and subsidiaries of Scandinavia AS.

Contact:

Solveig Hellebust, 80 02 03 44