OAKS, Pa., March 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SEI (NASDAQ:SEIC) reported continued growth in its institutional outsourced chief investment officer (OCIO) business with the addition of 63 new clients and $11.5 billion in new global institutional assets since the beginning of 2015. Some of the new North American institutional clients added during that timeframe include North Dakota State University Foundation and Alumni Association, Western Golf Association Evans Scholars Foundation, Bluegrass Care Navigators, Boca Raton Regional Hospital, New Canaan Country School, SAF-Holland, Inc., The Health Trust, Town of Braintree Contributory Retirement System, United Methodist Children’s Home of the North Georgia Conference and The Archdiocese of Philadelphia-comprised of various entities, parishes, schools and social service agencies.

“The ongoing growth of SEI’s Institutional business is a testament to the infrastructure, resources and expertise we’ve built as an established leader in providing OCIO services,” said Paul Klauder, Executive Vice President of SEI and Head of SEI’s Institutional Group. “Very few providers can match SEI’s overall client base and our tenure as an OCIO. We’re proud of our position as one of the largest companies in this space.”

SEI now provides OCIO services to more than 475 clients worldwide and has surpassed $79 billion in assets under management in this program*. In North America, the growth of SEI’s institutional business has been predominantly driven by increased adoption by a variety of institutional investors:

• The non-profit foundation and endowment sector continues to adopt this model at a significant rate and now represents more than a quarter (26 percent) of SEI’s OCIO clients*.
• The company has seen a trend in large healthcare systems shifting to an OCIO model and now manages nearly $14 billion in assets for organizations within that sector*.
• SEI’s Taft-Hartley and public pension plan assets under management are at an all-time high, at more than $12.1 billion, as more of those organizations are changing to an OCIO approach*.
• Defined contribution plan sponsors are also shifting to this model as they decouple asset management from record-keeping and look for custom implementation options to offer to their participants. SEI added over $1.2 billion in new defined contribution assets since the beginning of 2015.

“Unlike many OCIO providers, SEI specializes in serving a variety of institutional investors including corporations, not-for-profits, healthcare providers, unions and governments. This has resulted in a deep foundation of best practices and strategic thinking,” said Michael Cagnina, Vice President and Managing Director, SEI’s Institutional Group. “Solving challenges for a diversified client base has led to the development of innovative strategies from which all of our clients benefit. This wide range of experience continues to set SEI apart in the OCIO marketplace.”

About SEI’s Institutional Group
SEI’s Institutional Group is one of the first and largest global providers of outsourced investment management services. The company delivers integrated retirement, healthcare and non-profit solutions to more than 475 clients in 13 countries. Our solutions are designed to help clients meet financial objectives, reduce business risk and fulfill their due diligence requirements through implemented strategies for the management of defined benefit plans, defined contribution plans, endowments, foundations and board designated funds. For more information visit: seic.com/institutions.

About SEI

SEI (NASDAQ:SEIC) is a leading global provider of investment processing, investment management, and investment operations solutions that help corporations, financial institutions, financial advisors, and ultra-high-net-worth families create and manage wealth. As of December 31, 2016, through its subsidiaries and partnerships in which the company has a significant interest, SEI manages or administers $751 billion in hedge, private equity, mutual fund and pooled or separately managed assets, including $283 billion in assets under management and $468 billion in client assets under administration. For more information, visit seic.com.