Contineo hires Celine Dong as Head of Strategic Partnerships

11 October 2016 (Hong Kong):Contineo, the industry-backed messaging network for equity-linked structured products, today announced the appointment of Celine Dong to drive business growth.

CEO Mark Munoz said Ms Dong’s global experience and relationships would greatly assist Contineo as the firm expanded into new products.

“Celine brings us international expertise in strategic development as well as the structured products space,” he said. “She has excellent networks across Asia and will be instrumental to the next phase of Contineo’s growth story.”

Ms Dong was most recently Head of Asia Pacific Business for the London Metal Exchange, driving UK-China business dealings and relationships. Prior to that she was a senior investment consultant at Towers Watson in the structured products area. She has also worked for Nomura in M&A. She holds an MSc International Accounting & Finance from Cass Business School in London and a BA (Hons) Economics from Cambridge.

“Contineo represents a fundamental change for the industry and has been very successful to date,” she said. “The company is gearing up to expand and that’s an exciting time to be joining to help really drive that growth.”

For interviews with Mark Munoz:
Kristin Westlake, The Continuum Partners kwestlake@thecontinuumpartners.com +61 416 219 358

ABOUT CONTINEO

Contineo is the first industry supported, open messaging network for private banks and wealth management firms to access issuers of structured products. Together we are a community with a shared vision and purpose.

We believe that technology should be intuitive, easy to access, and available to all participants. This means creating an open messaging standard in concert with the buy-side and sell-side, and enabling access to all parties, including other certified technology vendors.

This mission is shared by our current subscribers, who recognise the importance of an open, efficient and transparent network.


Contineo wins Best Dealer Platform Asia Pacific

20 September, 2016 (Hong Kong):Contineo, the industry-backed messaging network for structured products, last night won Best Dealer Platform Asia Pacific for the second year running at the annual Structured Retail Products Awards in Hong Kong.

The award was based on votes from over 700 private, retail and investment banks across the region as well as peer reviews and revenue data. CEO Mark Munoz said the award cemented the position Contineo has carved in the market since first winning the award in 2015 not long after the firm’s launch.

“It’s very gratifying to see the team’s hard work rewarded in this way,” he said. “We’ve exceeded our own targets over the 15 months we’ve been live, and it’s nice to have the industry recognize what we’ve achieved.”

Contineo counts as clients the most top tier banks in Asia with a majority of flow in structured products, and recently added data analytics to its suite of services. Munoz said the support of the industry has been pivotal in Contineo’s growth to date.

“Contineo has always been an industry-wide initiative,” he said. “From our inception the business and open architecture technology has been designed to work with all industry participants, including other technology providers. A big thank-you from our team to everyone who voted for us and recognized the value we have brought to the market.”

For interviews with Mark Munoz:
Kristin Westlake, The Continuum Partners kwestlake@thecontinuumpartners.com +61 416 219 358

ABOUT CONTINEO

Contineo is the first industry supported, open messaging network for private banks and wealth management firms to access issuers of structured products. Together we are a community with a shared vision and purpose.

We believe that technology should be intuitive, easy to access, and available to all participants. This means creating an open messaging standard in concert with the buy-side and sell-side, and enabling access to all parties, including other certified technology vendors.

This mission is shared by our current subscribers, who recognise the importance of an open, efficient and transparent network.


Contineo wins Asia Multi-Issuer Platform of the Year

31 August, 2016 (Hong Kong):Contineo, the industry-backed messaging network for equity-linked structured products, last night won the Asia Multi-Issuer Platform of the Year at the annual Structured Products Asia Awards in Hong Kong.

CEO Mark Munoz said the award was particularly exciting this year due to the high level of client engagement activity in the wealth management technology space.

“It’s testament that the time was right to bring a solution that benefits all participants in the market and lead an open industry initiative. Competition drives innovation, and we welcome this recognition of our role in innovating for structured products in Asia.”

Contineo has enjoyed consistent growth over the past 14 months and currently works with fourteen counterparties on its network. It services over 40% of Asia’s top private banks, and has doubled its staff this year.

“It’s a very challenging time in our market, which means firms are seeking ways to lower costs and become more efficient,” Munoz said. “This is where Contineo excels. We’ve seen consistent growth on our network as more firms need better pricing transparency and want more compliant transaction and reporting tools. The market was ready to embrace this idea and our efforts to inform and empower our clients are recognized in winning this award.”

Contineo is a communications hub for products including Equity Linked Notes; Knock-Out Equity Linked Notes; Accumulator; Decumulator; Fixed Coupon Notes; DRAN and OTC Options.

For interviews with Mark Munoz:
Kristin Westlake, The Continuum Partners | kwestlake@thecontinuumpartners.com |+61 416 219 358

ABOUT CONTINEO

Contineo is the first industry supported open messaging network and community to access issuers of structured products.
From best price discovery to order fulfilment, our Subscribers benefit from comprehensive global market access and unique data analytics.
Contineo is proud to count the worlds leading private and investment banks as Subscribers. To learn more and see a demo please contact info@contineo.com.hk


New Data Service brings transparency to Structured Products for the first time

Contineo launches data products to inform financial service providers and market participants about the structured product market31 January, 2016 (Hong Kong)

Contineo, the network serving the wealth management industry, launched I/O, a suite of data products illuminating the market for equity-linked structured products. This is the first time such a large amount of data has been collated and analyzed to provide subscribers on the network insight into their business and performance, and provide other market participants with insight into this previously opaque market.

The service is useful to private banks, investment banks, and other financial institutions such as asset managers and hedge funds as well as media outlets, financial technology providers and the general structured product industry. Subscribers can utilize the service to assist relationship managers with more product insight and create efficiencies on the trading desk, or for the investment banks, to improve pricing and increase market depth.

“The launch of I/O represents a sizeable milestone in the evolution of the structured products space, said Contineo CEO Mark Munoz. “The data analytics and insights have never been available before and we think the applications will be really varied as market participants seek to understand this previously opaque part of the financial products landscape.”

I/O is a standalone set of products that includes proprietary analysis for Contineo subscribers, and anonymized market data. Proprietary analyses include executive dashboards at individual bank and whole-of-market level, which inform subscribers about internal performance at individual, team and firm level, as well as performance relative to other firms. The system also generates specific reports on request.
“Data confidentiality is essential for us,” Munoz highlighted. “We designed I/O so each bank’s data is protected, segregated, securely stored and remains private, and the market view is entirely anonymised.”

I/O also offers a data feed for service integration and document generation, bringing efficiencies to these processes for the first time. This offering allows for banks’ operations teams to work with the data sets directly to suit their specific internal needs. Both proprietary and market overview data can be delivered directly into user’s internal systems.

“I/O is an important step for Contineo,” said Munoz. “Having built the network and seen the growth in our volume, our next step was delivering the analytics this industry so desperately needs.”

For interviews with Mark Munoz:
Kristin Westlake, The Continuum Partners kwestlake@thecontinuumpartners.com

+61 416 219 358

ABOUT CONTINEO
Contineo is the first industry supported open messaging network and community to access issuers of structured products. From best price discovery to order fulfilment, our subscribers benefit from unique data analytics through a comprehensive global network.
Contineo is proud to count the world’s leading private and investment banks as subscribers. To learn more and see a demo please visit www.contineo.link or contact info@contineo.com.hk.


Contineo Wins Best New Product/Platform – Asian Private Banker

12 November, 2015 (Hong Kong):Contineo, the industry-backed messaging network for equity-linked structured products, was awarded Best New Product/Platform in the prestigious Asian Private Banker Awards today.

The awards recognise technology companies with ‘foresight and the ability to create innovation and efficiency at private banks.’ CEO Mark Munoz said the award was a pleasing addition to the many awards Contineo had won in the five months since its launch.

“We are in the company of very established global service providers, including Microsoft, as a winner in the Technology category,” he said. “It’s significant that this category is for more than just a platform, because in our short lifetime Contineo has already evolved. We are not just the best network for our asset class, but also a data provider for unique insights into what has previously been a completely opaque market.”

Contineo went live in June as a communications hub for products including Equity Linked Notes; Knock-Out Equity Linked Notes; Accumulator; Decumulator; Fixed Coupon Notes; DRAN and OTC Options. In the five months since go-live the firm has won awards for Best Multi-Issuer Platform Asia Pacific and Outstanding Wealth Management Technology Initiative – Front End.

“Contineo is growing fast,” said Munoz. “We have received great feedback from all of our subscribers and our unique edge is that we work with them, through our Advisory Committee, to determine what’s really important to the industry and make those things a reality. Contineo was developed by the industry, for the industry, and our success is reflected in accolades such as these.”

For interviews with Mark Munoz:

Kristin Westlake, The Continuum Partners kwestlake@thecontinuumpartners.com/ +61 416 219 358

ABOUT CONTINEO

Contineo is the first industry supported, open messaging network for private banks and wealth management firms to access issuers of structured products. Together we are a community with a shared vision and purpose. We believe that technology should be intuitive, easy to access, and available to all participants. This means creating an open messaging standard in concert with the buy-side and sell-side, and enabling access to all parties, including other certified technology vendors. This mission is shared by our current subscribers, who recognise the importance of an open, efficient and transparent network.


Contineo recognised for Outstanding Wealth Management Technology

Contineo, the industry-backed messaging network for equity-linked structured products, was awarded a Highly Commended award for Outstanding Wealth Management Technology Initiative – Front End at the Private Banker International Wealth Awards in Singapore on Friday. The awards, now in their 10th year, recognise global leaders in private wealth management. CEO Mark Munoz said the award was a welcome endorsement for the Contineo team.“These awards are based on nominations, and we are proud that the industry saw fit to nominate us.” he said. “Contineo is unique in that our network and products are designed by the industry, for the industry with our Advisory Group and subscribers driving the development agenda. Public recognition like this shows us that the industry is really on board with what we are doing.”

Contineo went live in June as a communications hub for products including Equity Linked Notes; Knock-Out Equity Linked Notes; Accumulator; Decumulator; Fixed Coupon Notes; DRAN and OTC Options. Since go-live the firm is also launching new data products to illuminate the ‘black hole of trading.’

“Contineo is developing a range of data products that will bring transparency to the structured product market for the first time.” he said. “We’ve had terrific feedback from our industry partners and look forward to bringing further insights to the industry in the near future.”

For interviews with Mark Munoz:

Kristin Westlake, The Continuum Partners kwestlake@thecontinuumpartners.com +61 416 219 358

ABOUT CONTINEO

Contineo is the first industry supported, open messaging network for private banks and wealth management firms to access issuers of structured products. Together we are a community with a shared vision and purpose. We believe that technology should be intuitive, easy to access, and available to all participants. This means creating an open messaging standard in concert with the buy-side and sell-side, and enabling access to all parties, including other certified technology vendors. This mission is shared by our current subscribers, who recognise the importance of an open, efficient and transparent network.


Contineo wins Best Multi-Issuer Platform Asia Pacific

Contineo, the industry-backed messaging network for equity-linked structured products, last night won Best Multi-Issuer Platform Asia Pacific at the annual Structured Retail Products Awards in Hong Kong.The award was based on votes from over 700 private, retail and investment banks across the region. CEO Mark Munoz said the award was testament to the traction Contineo had got in the market since going live in June. “This award is particularly valuable because it’s based on direct feedback from the industry,” he said. “From our inception, we have designed Contineo to fulfill the needs of both the buy- and sell-sides. Our product decisions are made with our Advisory Group, and we think this is key to being the best network that serves the entire industry. This makes our business unique in the space and we’re very proud to see that being publicly recognised.” Contineo went live exactly three months ago as a communications hub for products including Equity Linked Notes; Knock-Out Equity Linked Notes; Accumulator; Decumulator; Fixed Coupon Notes; DRAN and OTC Options. Munoz said the firm had received great feedback. “Thanks to the support of our subscribers, we continue to enhance our offering,” he said. “Our wholehearted thanks to all who voted for us, recognising the value we bring as the only neutral, unconflicted platform of our kind.”

For interviews with Mark Munoz:

Kristin Westlake, The Continuum Partners kwestlake@thecontinuumpartners.com/ +61 416 219 358

ABOUT CONTINEO

Contineo is the first industry supported, open messaging network for private banks and wealth management firms to access issuers of structured products. Together we are a community with a shared vision and purpose. We believe that technology should be intuitive, easy to access, and available to all participants. This means creating an open messaging standard in concert with the buy-side and sell-side, and enabling access to all parties, including other certified technology vendors. This mission is shared by our current subscribers, who recognise the importance of an open, efficient and transparent network.


Contineo hires Data Scientist to illuminate the “black hole of data”

Hong Kong, 8 July 2015;Contineo, the industry-backed messaging network for equity-linked structured products, today announced the appointment of Ada Tong as Data Scientist.

CEO Mark Munoz said Ms Tong would be leading Contineo’s development of new data streams and products based on the information generated by the increasing volume on the platform.

“This will be the very first time anyone has been able to quantify the landscape for equity structured products,” he said. “It’s been referred to for years as the ‘black hole of financial products. This week, that all changes.” Ms Tong’s initial work will focus on providing product distributors with useful information around liquidity, helping to inform their work in building new, efficient strategies and improve the performance for relationship managers.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to build new data products with an innovative new firm like Contineo,” she said. “The world of data science is expanding exponentially right now – it’s the perfect time to apply the science to the structured products world to create better, more efficient outcomes for everyone throughout the value chain.”

Ms Tong started her career in actuarial consulting at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Sydney. In Australia, she also worked for Quantium, providing analytics consulting to retail, insurance, banking and airline clients. She moved to Hong Kong three years ago and led the Modelling & Insights team at Asia Miles, where her team analysed customer behavior to drive better customer experiences and business outcomes. She has also worked for DemystData, a Hong Kong based startup focused on accessing alternate data sources for use in financial services. Currently, she also practises as an analytics and data science consultant, as part of Cooper Tong Consulting.

For interviews with Mark Munoz:

Kristin Westlake, The Continuum Partners kwestlake@thecontinuumpartners.com / +61 416 219 358

About Contineo Limited:

Contineo is the first industry supported, open messaging network for private banks and wealth management firms to access issuers of structured products. Together we are a community with a shared vision and purpose.

We believe that technology should be intuitive, easy to access, and available to all participants. This means creating an open messaging standard in concert with the buy-side and sell-side, and enabling access to all parties, including other certified technology vendors. This mission is shared by our current subscribers, who recognize the importance of an open, efficient and transparent network.


Contineo Structured Product Platform Goes Live

Hong Kong, 23 June 2015:Contineo, the industry-backed messaging network for equity-linked structured products, today announced that it had commenced live operations.

Contineo, whose on-boarding subscribers include Julius Baer, Barclays, BNP Paribas, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, J.P. Morgan and Societe Generale, is a messaging network facilitating transactions between buy- and sell sides. Managing Director Mark Munoz said Contineo’s go-live represented a new phase in the evolution of the structured products market.

“Contineo has been developed by the industry, for the industry,” he said. “Our agnostic platform is open to all participants and, through our Advisory Group, we are bringing the industry’s key players together for the first time to develop a set of standards that will benefit us all.”

“Automation is the way to go for structured product distribution and execution in Asia,” said Roger Meier, Head of Structured Product Sales Asia at Julius Baer. “Replacing email with a multi-issuer electronic platform will allow us to access products, have an overview of the market, and retrieve data in a streamlined fashion that we just don’t have today. In the future we envisage the evolution of things like common term sheets, post-trade data and more pay-offs.”

Contineo acts as a communications hub for products including Equity Linked Notes; Knock-Out Equity Linked Notes; Accumulator; Decumulator; Fixed Coupon Notes; DRAN and OTC Options. The platform was conceived in 2014 and began beta operations earlier this year.

For interviews with Mark Munoz:
Kristin Westlake, The Continuum Partners kwestlake@thecontinuumpartners.com /+61 416 219 358

About Contineo Limited

Contineo is the first industry supported, open messaging network for private banks and wealth management firms to access issuers of structured products. Together we are a community with a shared vision and purpose.

We believe that technology should be intuitive, easy to access, and available to all participants. This means creating an open messaging standard in concert with the buy-side and sell-side, and enabling access to all parties, including other certified technology vendors.

This mission is shared by our current subscribers, who recognize the importance of an open, efficient and transparent network.


Contineo hires Julie Chen as Head of Operations

Contineo, the industry-backed messaging network for equity-linked structured products, today announced the appointment of top financial senior consultant Julie Chen as Head of Operations.Hong Kong, 9 June 2015:

Contineo is currently finalizing preparations to go live later this month with its current subscribers. CEO Mark Muñoz said Ms Chen’s appointment was an important step in preparing the company for the swift growth journey ahead.

“Julie comes to us with strong international experience in financial technology operations, and expertise in the structured products space,” he said. “We are fortunate to have her on the team and look forward to her contribution as we prepare to go live.”

Ms Chen was most recently a senior consultant for Kurt Salmon in Paris and Hong Kong, spearheading financial technology projects for top-tier financial institutions. She has worked for BNP Paribas and consulted for a number of other institutions, including Societe Generale and Credit Agricole. Fluent in four languages, Ms Chen holds a Master of Finance degree from Tsinghua University and an Engineering degree from Ecole Superieure d’Electricite in France.

“Contineo is unique in bringing together industry leaders to build a utility platform that will benefit not only the users, but the market as a whole,” she said. “I’m excited to work at a company that has the energy of a start-up combined with the backing of some of the world’s most respected financial institutions.”

For interviews with Mark Munoz:
Kristin Westlake, The Continuum Partners kwestlake@thecontinuumpartners.com /+61 416 219 358

About Contineo Limited

Contineo is the first industry supported, open messaging network for private banks and wealth management firms to access issuers of structured products. Together we are a community with a shared vision and purpose.

We believe that technology should be intuitive, easy to access, and available to all participants. This means creating an open messaging standard in concert with the buy-side and sell-side, and enabling access to all parties, including other certified technology vendors.

This mission is shared by our current subscribers, who recognise the importance of an open, efficient and transparent network.