On 26 September, the J. Safra Sarasin Bank announced the appointment of Pierin Menzli as director of its sustainable analysis department. He will begin on 1 November 2013. Menzli is co-founder of Contrast Capital and the former head of the analysis department at SAM Sustainable Asset Management AG.He will be joined by Philipp Mettler, a specialist in sustainable development previously responsible for financial analysis at ALNUA Investment Managers, and a senior equity analyst at SAM Sustainable Asset Management AG.Sarasin has also announced that it has signed a long-term contract with Contrast Capital, an invesment adviser specialised in sustainable investment solutions. According to a statement, “the objective with these appointments and this strategic mandate is to consolidate its dominant position in investment banking in the sustainable area and to develop key competences, while raising its investment philosophy to a higher level in order to satisfy the ever-more exacting requirements of clients.”
The Canadian asset management firm BMO Global Asset Management is in the process of recruiting a team to manage a fund platform domiciled in Hong Kong, with the objective of selling the funds in China once the project has received permission to sell open-ended mutual funds, Asian Investor reports. The products available for the platform may be ETFs, it is said. BMO already offers 60 ETFs listed on the Toronto stock exchange, totalling about USD11.5bn. BMO is also planning to add to its distribution capacities in Asia.
Nordea has launched two actively-managed ETFs on the Stockholm and Helsinki stock exchanges: Nordea Global Emerging Market Equities UCITS ETF and Nordea Stable Equities UCITS ETF, realtid.se reports. They are the first actively-managed ETFs from these countries, according to the Swedish newspaper.
ING Investment Managers has seen the departure of Gus Robertson, who will be returning to South Africa for family reasons, and has consequently had to overhaul its emerging markets equity team, Citywire Global reports. Nathan Griffiths becomes principal manager of the ING Global Emerging Markets and ING (L) Invest Emerging Europe funds. Ivo Luiten will assist with the fund, while ING IM is in the process of recruiting a full-time co-manager for the Emerging Europe fund.
HSBC Global Asset Management will launch an ETF dedicated to Asia ex Japan with a total expense ratio of 0.6%, Investment Week reports. The HSBC MSCI AC Far East ex-Japan ETF will replicate the performance of the corresponding MSCI index, which includes mid- to large-sized businesses in developed and emerging Asia. The ETF, which is expected to be launched on Friday, will be domiciled in Ireland, and listed on the London Stock Exchange and Deutsche Börse. It will be registered in several European countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Austria.
BrightScope, an independent provider of financial information and investment research, has published a list for the first time of the 20 ETFs that are most often included in the portfolios of 401(k) retirement plans and defined contribution pension funds.On the list below, the top three ETF promoters, iShares (BlackRock), Vanguard and SPD (State Street Global Advisors) account for 19 of the places on the list, with the only exception being a fund from iPath (Barclays).1. Vanguard Total Bond Market (ticker: BND)2. SPDR S&P 500 (SPY)3. iShares Russell 2000 Index (IWM)4. Vanguard Total International Stock (VXUS)5. iShares Russell 1000 Value Index (IWD)6. iShares Core Total US Bond Market (AGG)7. iShares Russell 1000 Growth Index (IWF)8. Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 Index (VIOO)9. iShares S&P 500 Index (IVV)10. Vanguard Small Cap Growth (VBK)11. iShares MSCI EAFE Index (EFA)12. Vanguard Value (VTV)13. iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond (LQD)14. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD)15. Vanguard S&P 500 (VOO)16. iShares Russell Midcap Value Index (IWS)17. iShares Barclays TIPS Bond (TIP)18. Vanguard REIT Index (VNQ)19. iPath Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index Total Return (DJP)20. iShares S&P MidCap 400 Index (IJH)
Of 9,928 funds launched n Germany from 1 January 2000 until the end of 2012, 14.7% did not make it to their third birthday, 21.8% were closed in four years, and 28.7% had to be liquidated without being able to complete their fith year. The main reason for these high attrition rates calculated by the Berlin-based ratings agency Scope is inadequate performance.The newly-created funds only very rarely offer results higher than those of already existing products, which is often due to a lack of genuine innovation in the concepts, and also to a high level of cost compared with the limited volume of assets in the new funds.The categories of funds most severely affected by liquidations are money markets and equities, with attrition rates of 38.1% and 29.8% after five years, respectively.
FinanceCom Asset Management has launched the FCOM Africa fund, managed under an outsourcing mndate to RMA Capital, a local player whose assets under managemen total USD5bn. The French-registered, UCITS IV fund is invested in shares in African companies and international businesses which operate primarily in Africa, and which cover a large part of the continent (Nigeria, Souuth Africa, Morocco, Kenya, Ghana, etc.). “With initial assets of EUR20m, the fund is expected to soon see its assets increase due to the rising interest of investors in this geographical region,” according to FinanceCom.
Franklin Templeton has launched an investment-grade bond fund,, which will be managed by Sonal Desai, portfolio manager and also director of research in the international bonds department, Citywire Global reports. The Templeton Constrained Bond Fund will be co-managed by Christine Zu. Desi will concentrate primarily on fixed or variable rate debt securities, including bonds from outside the investment grade category, as well as debt issued by government or semi-government agencies worldwide. Desai will also be able to invets in bonds issued by supra-national organisations such as the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the European Investment Bank. Investment grade bonds will represent most of the portfolio, but up to 15% of assets may be invested in securities outside investment grade.
Prudential Investments, an affiliate of Prudential Financial, has announced the launch of the Prudential Jennison Global Infrastrucure Fund (NASDAQ ticker: PGJAX), a fund which invests primarily in global listed equity of companies active in infrastructure and associated sectors.The product is managed by Shaun Hong and Bobby Edmeka, portfolio managers at Jennison Associates, with the assistance of three analysts. The portfolio will include 70 to 90 positions, and the benchmark index is the S&P Global Infrastructure, but the managers use an absolute return strategy which allows them to include shares which are from outside this perimeter.The fund carries a front-end fee of 5.5%, and a total expense ratio capped to 1.50%.
Jack Hansen, CIO, and Thomas Lee, portfolio manager at The Clifton group, are the managers of the new Parametric Balanced Risk Fund (tickers, EAPBX, for investor shares, and EIPBX for institutional shares), a mutual fund from Eaton Vance, the parent company of Parametric (USD107.2bn), of which Clifton is an affiliate.The absolute return product uses a risk parity strategy to allocate to the main asset classes of global equities, global real estate, global credit spreads, commodities, global bonds, inflation-linked bonds, precious metals, and volatility.Allocation is steered according to the volatility anticipated over the long term for each asset class, with the management team working to preserve a level of contribution to portfolio risk which is measurably equal between the various asset classes.
In November, the Schroder GAIA (Global Alternative Investor Access EUR1.8bn in assets) platform will gain a sixth UCITS-compliant hedge fund, the Schroder GAIA Avoca Credit fund, from Avoca Capital Management LLP (EUR6bn), managed by Simon Thorp and James Sclater, who have been responsible for the strategy for 13 years. The UCITS-compliant Avoca Credit Absolute Return Fund will at that time be absorbed into the new Schroder GAIA Avoca Credit fund.The return objective is 7-10% per year, excluding fees. The fund, with no benchmark index, will focus on corporate and financial sector bonds from the entire world, including emerging markets. The long/short credit team at Avoca will use the same strategy as for the Avoca fund, whose net returns since 2002 have been 9.8% per year. In other words, the management team will invest in corporate bonds, CDS, credit indices, options on investment-grade indices and high yield, as well as sovereign debt.
Expansión reports that Lazard Frères Gestion has launched the Objectif Recovery Eurozone fund, which invests in businesses with over EUR100m in capitalisation, and which have the highest potential for revalutation in the event of a recovery in the euro zone. As of 30 August, it was 27% invested in 13 Spanish equities, such as Atresmedia and Iberdrola. Among the other positions are Unicredito, Enel and Peugeot.
Neuberger Berman has mandated Jon Jonsson to manage a global absolute return bond fund, Neuberger Berman Global Bond Absolute Return, Citywire Global reports. Jonsson, who joined the firm in London from JP Morgan at the end of August, will manage the new fund with Andy Johnson. The fund will have seed capital of USD42m.
The cost of settling the multiple lawsuits opposing the bank JPMorgan Chase and US regulators may total USD11bn, several English-language newspapers estimate, citing sources close to the negotiations. The payment of such a fine, by far the largest ever paid by a business in the United States, would allow the New York bank to settle several civil and criminal charges. According to the Financial Times, the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal, JPMorgan may be fined USD7bn in case, and required to modify the terms of poorly-designed real estate loans subscribed to by troubled families to the tune of USD4bn. The US attorney general, eric Holder, refused to make an initial offer to JP Morgan of USD3bn, according to the Wall Street Journal, and the talks still remain highly uncertain, without a guarantee of success. The bank is primarily hoping to avoid a criminal case, which would complicate talks, and has been highly reticent to admit that its behaviour may have been at fault in the various cases. In addition to the attorney general, the talks involve the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and the New York state prosecutor, as the bank is based in that state. JPMorgan, which has long appeared to be the US bank that best overcame the sub-prime crisis, has already paid USD5.3bn in penalties to settle various lawsuits related to its real estate credit sales policies, the Financial Times reports.
Paul Konigsberg, who was the accountant for Bernard Madoff for a long time, was indicted on Thursday for keeping false books, which allowed Madoff to cover up his fraud for decades, the Wall Street Journal reports. Konigsberg pleaded not guilty.
Investable wealth of the world’s HNWIs rebounded in 2012, growing by 10% to reach a record high ofUSD$46.2 trillion after declining 1.7%in 2011, according to the new World Wealth Report 2013 from Cap Gemini and RBC Wealth Management. One million individuals joined the global HNWI population, which reached 12 million, reflecting an increase of 9.2%.
All regions experienced strong growth in HNWI population and wealth except Latin America, which led growth in 2011 but faltered in 2012 due to slow GDP growth and challenged equity markets.
Asset allocation trends followed the preservation tr
F&C Investments has announced the appointment of Vicki Bakhshi as head of governance and sustainable investment (GSI). Her appointment comes almost a year after the departure of Karina Litvack who had this position.Vicki Bakhshi joined F&C in 2006 and has been a senior member of the GSI team for a number of years, including most recently as head of engagement. Prior to joining F&C, she spent five years in the UK government. She has also worked as a writer at the Financial Times, and as an economist at the Bank of England.
In its half year trading update, Liontrust Asset Management plc reports that as of 24 Septemer, its assets totalled GBP3.413bn, compared with GBP3.265bn as of 1 July, and GBP3.039bn as of 1 April. One year previously, Liontrust had GBP2.364bn in assets under management.In the first half of its fiscal year, net subscriptions totalled GBP312m, of which GBP10m were in July-September, while market effects were positive to the tune of GBP62m (they were GBP138m in July-September). In April-September 2012, net subscriptions totalled GBP151m.Figures released by Liontrust reveal that net subscriptions in the first half of the fiscal year to the end of March 2014 came from offshore funds (GBP178m0 and retail funds (GBP146m), while institutional funds had outflows of GBP12m.As of 24 September, institutional funds had assets of GBP513m, while retail products had GBP2.487bn, and offshore funds had GBP413m.
Investment Week reports that JPMorgan Asset Management has recruited the economic editorialist Sophie Flanders from the BBC as its chief market strategist for the United Kingdom and Europe. She will be based in London, and will report to David Kelly, chief global strategist at JPMorgan Funds.
Expansión rapporte que Lazard Frères Gestion a lancé le fonds Objectif Recovery Eurozone investissant dans les entreprises de plus de 100 millions d’euros de capitalisation qui affichent le potentiel le plus élevé de revalorisation en cas de sortie de crise de la zone euro. Au 30 août, il était investi à 27 % dans 13 valeurs espagnoles comme Atresmedia et Iberdrola. Parmi les autres lignes figurent Unicredito, Enel et Peugeot.
Neuberger Berman a confié au gérant Jon Jonsson un fonds obligataire mondial à rendement absolu, Neuberger Berman Global Bond Absolute Return, rapporte Citywire Global. L’intéressé, qui a rejoint la société à Londres en provenance de JP Morgan fin août, gérera le nouveau fonds avec Andy Johnson. Le fonds bénéficiera d’un capital d’amorçage de 42 millions de dollars.
En novembre, la plate-forme Schroder GAIA (Global Alternative Investor Access, 1,8 milliard d’euros d’encours) s’enrichira d’un sixième fonds alternatif coordonné, le Schroder GAIA Avoca Credit d’Avoca Capital Management LLP (6 milliards d’euros) géré par Simon Thorp et James Sclater, qui sont responsables de cette stratégie depuis 13 ans. Le fonds coordonné Avoca Credit Absolute Return Fund sera à cette occasion absorbé par le nouveau Schroder GAIA Avoca Credit.L’objectif de rendement se situe à 7-10 % par an, net de frais. Ce fonds sans indice de référence se focalisera sur les obligations d’entreprises et de financières du monde entier, y compris des pays émergents. L'équipe long/short crédit d’Avoca utilisera en fait la même stratégie que celle mise en œuvre pour le fonds Avoca, dont la performance nette depuis 2002 se situe à 9,8 % annuels. Autrement dit, l'équipe de gestion investira en obligations d’entreprises, en CDS, en indices de crédit, en options sur indices catégorie investissement et haut rendement ainsi qu’en dette souveraine.
Le 26 septembre, la Banque J. Safra Sarasin a annoncé la nomination de Pierin Menzli à la direction de son service d’analyse durable. Il prendra ses fonctions le 1er novembre 2013. L’intéressé est cofondateur de Contrast Capital et ancien responsable du service d’analyse de SAM Sustainable Asset Management AG.Il sera rejoint par Philipp Mettler, spécialiste du développement durable précédemment responsable de l’analyse financière chez ALNUA Investment Managers et analyste actions senior chez SAM Sustainable Asset Management AG.En outre, J. Safra Sarasin indique avoir conclu un mandat de long terme avec Contrast Capital, un conseiller en placement spécialiste des solutions de placement durables.Selon un communiqué «l’objectif de ces nominations et de ce mandat stratégique est de consolider la position dominante de la banque dans le domaine de l’investissement durable et de développer ses compétences clés en élevant sa philosophie d’investissement à un niveau supérieur afin de satisfaire les exigences toujours plus pointues des clients». Les principales activités de ce partenariat seront les suivantes :- Intégrer les principes du développement durable dans toutes les étapes du processus de placement- Renforcer le lien entre la démarche durable et la méthodologie de l’analyse financière- Proposer des solutions d’investissement durable sur mesure aux clients.En Suisse, le volume des investissements durables est passé de 10,7 milliards de francs à 48,5 milliards entre 2005 et 2012 ; la part de marché de la Banque J. Safra Sarasin atteint 38% (source: FNG 2012).
Paul Nobile, chief marketing officer d’Eaton Vance, a été nommé chief marketing officer du pôle investment management de BNY Mellon. Il sera basé à New York et subordonné à PeterPaul Pardi, global head of distribution, ainsi qu’à R. Jeep Bryant, executive vice president for marketing & corporate affairs.De 1997 à 2009, Paul Nobile avait travaillé pour Barclays Global Investors à San Francisco, en dernier lieu comme managing director et head of brand marketing pour les ETF de la marque iShares.
L’Agefi rapporte qu’en ouverture de ses négociations salariales annuelles, BNP Paribas a proposé hier une enveloppe de 600 euros par collaborateur en 2014, à ventiler entre prime salariale et complément d’intéressement, mais aucune augmentation pérenne, annoncent des sources syndicales. Les élus du personnel plaident au contraire pour une hausse générale. Pour l’année 2013, la direction avait revalorisé les salaires de 0,5% et octroyé un complément d’intéressement de 730 euros par personne, après avoir démarré les discussions sur un socle de 0,3% d’augmentation et 300 euros de prime. Cette fois, elle mise sur les coups de pouce individuels, qui pourraient représenter 1,8% de la masse salariale 2014 contre 1,6% en 2013.
Dans son «half year trading update», Liontrust Asset Management Plc rapporte qu’au 24 septembre son encours se montait à 3.413 millions de livres contre 3.265 millions au 1er juillet et 3.039 millions au 1er avril. Un an plus tôt, Liontrust gérait 2.364 millions de livres.Sur le premier semestre de l’exercice, les souscriptions nettes ont porté sur 312 millions de livres, dont 10 millions pour juillet-septembre, tandis que l’effet de marché s’avérait positif de 62 millions (il a été de 138 millions pour juillet-septembre). Pour avril-septembre 2012, les souscriptions nettes s'étaient montées à 151 millions de livres.Les chiffres publiés par Liontrust montrent que les souscriptions nettes du premier semestre de l’exercice à fin mars 2014 sont venues des fonds offshore (178 millions de livres) et des fonds retail (146 millions), alors que les fonds institutionnels accusaient une décollecte de 12 millions de livres.Au 24 septembre, les fonds institutionnels affichaient un encours de 513 millions de livres, pendant que les produits retail atteignaient 2.487 millions et les fonds offshore se montaient à 413 millions.
F&C Investments vient de nommer Vicki Bakhchi en tant que responsable de la gouvernance et de l’investissement durable (governance and sustainable investment ou GSI). Sa nomination intervient presque un an après le départ de Karina Litvack qui occupait ce poste préalablement au sein de la société de gestion britannique.Vicki Bakhchi, qui a rejoint F&C en 2006, fait partie de l’équipe GSI depuis plusieurs années. Elle était dernièrement responsable de l’engagement. Auparavant, elle a travaillé 5 ans au sein du gouvernement britannique, a été journaliste au Financial Times et économiste à la Banque d’Angleterre.
Investment Week rapporte que JPMorgan Asset Management a embauché comme chief market strategist pour le Royaume-Uni et l’Europe l’éditorialiste économique de la BBC Sophie Flanders. Elle sera basée à Londres et subordonnée à David Kelly, chief global strategist de JPMorgan Funds.
Le gestionnaire d’actifs canadien BMO Global Asset Management est en train de recruter une équipe pour gérer une plate-forme de fonds domiciliés à Hong Kong, avec l’objectif de distribuer ces fonds en Chine une fois bouclé le projet d’accord de reconnaissance mutuelle des fonds ouverts, rapporte Asian Investor. Les premiers produits disponibles sur la plate-forme pourraient être des ETF, précise-t-on.BMO propose déjà une soixantaine d’ETF cotés à la Bourse de Toronto totalisant quelque 11,5 milliards de dollars.BMO envisage également de renforcer ses capacités de distribution en Asie.