Benjamin and Bastien Collette (Palana): Delivering serenity to asset managers
Bastien and Benjamin Collette, founders of Palana, explain how their integrated model supports asset managers with regulatory, operational, and tech-driven solutions throughout the fund lifecycle.
What was the starting point for creating a fully integrated model?
The foundation came from observing how fragmented the asset management support industry had become. From day one, the objective was clear: design a model where compliance, technology, and operations come together to serve the full lifecycle of a fund. Palana quickly gained market traction, especially during sensitive periods like the FATF visit, thanks to our expertise in compliance and anti-money laundering. The integration of Avanterra — a fintech with over ten years of experience in regulatory reporting and data management — gave us a strategic edge. It allowed us to expand from traditional advisory into a more technology-driven, operationally solid structure. Today, nearly one hundred professionals support asset managers across every stage, from setup to ongoing support and large-scale reporting. Clients appreciate a structure where nothing is outsourced, and where a partner offers consistency, independence, and in-depth technical expertise. The firm doesn’t simply advise; it executes. The consolidation of Palana and Avanterra created an offering that asset managers had been waiting for — an entity that manages regulatory and operational complexity while allowing them to focus on performance and capital growth.
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What role does proprietary technology play in your client offering?
Technology is not a layer added to our service — it forms its foundation. Full ownership of our systems, especially through Avanterra, has transformed the way we approach regulatory reporting. Every month, we produce thousands of reports for clients operating across Europe, the UK, and numerous offshore markets. Our platforms are built to be precise, compliant, and scalable. Clients use them either in-house in SaaS mode or embedded within our managed services. That flexibility means smoother integration, fewer manual steps, and faster turnaround times. Regulatory reporting remains one of the most complex and resource-intensive aspects of fund administration. Our technology reduces that burden by automating, updating, and managing regulatory flows at scale. Beyond reports, the systems also handle complex data management and monitoring. Because we own the entire stack, we adapt quickly to regulatory shifts. This agility keeps our clients confident and focused on value creation. Asset managers need trusted partners who don’t just track rules but anticipate and build systems around them. That’s the difference technology makes when it’s fully embedded.
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“Our strong and sustained growth is driven by an unwavering commitment to end-to-end support and exceptional service quality."”
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How do you maintain such a high level of service in a fast-evolving landscape?
Clients rely on us for stability and reliability, but also for our capacity to evolve. Our strongest growth came not only from adding services, but from building a culture that supports long-term partnerships. We serve leading European asset managers who expect precision, confidentiality, and adaptability. To deliver that, we hire specialists and empower them to innovate within a supportive environment. Internally, we encourage creativity and dynamic thinking. People don’t just execute tasks — they improve processes, suggest solutions, and take ownership. That translates into superior service. Regulatory change remains constant in this industry, so agility isn’t optional — it’s essential. What sets us apart is the consistency in delivery and the absence of compromise on quality. Clients feel secure because the same people who advise them also operate the systems and manage the reporting. No disconnect, no delays. Our commitment to both excellence in delivery and employee fulfilment creates a virtuous cycle. Happy teams build strong systems, and strong systems earn lasting trust from clients.
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FACTS&FIGURES (Benjamin COLLETTE)
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Birthday: 07/11/1975
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Place of birth: Rocourt, Belgium
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Nationality: Luxembourgish, Belgium
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Children: 3
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Languages: French, English
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Hobbies: Cars, Food, Travel​
MY FAVOURITE
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Cities: Paris, London, New York, Liège
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Restaurants: Um Plateau, La Mirabelle, Clairefontaine, La Gaichel
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Places: Mullerthal, all small villages in Southern France
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Music: Soul, R&B, Rock, Dance
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Artists: Emeli Sandé, Ayrton Senna, Anthony Bourdain
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Books: Straight from the Gut (Jack Welch), What got you here won’t get you there (Marshall Goldsmith) ,Competing in the Age of AI: Strategy and Leadership When Algorithms and Networks Run the World (Marco Iansiti, Karim Lakhani)
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POSITION
Palana & Palana Services: Partner
Avanterra: Chairman of the Board of Directors
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FACTS&FIGURES (Bastien COLLETTE)
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Birthday: 25/11/1977
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Place of birth: : Liège (Rocourt)
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Nationality: Belgian
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Children: 2 (Gabriel and Raphaël)
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Languages: French, English
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Hobbies: Football, boxing, sailing, travelling, spending time with my family and friends
MY FAVOURITE
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Cities: Paris, London, New York, Liège, Lisbon
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Restaurants: There are so many that I can't say which one... I'm a real epicurean
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Places: Fays (a small village in Belgium where I grew up), Nobressart and wherever there’s sunlight and the ocean breeze
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Books: all books related to the Mob, Financial crime, etc…. real story or investigation
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Music: Classical, Hip-Hop/R&B
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Artists: I have a deep love for music and art, without any particular preference —I’m drawn to anything that moves or surprises me.
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​POSITION
Partner : Palana SA, Palana Services SA
©360Crossmedia / MA