In first quarter, C-Quadrat has earned net profits of EUR4.7m, compared with losses of EUR0.2m for January-March 2009. Operating profits increased to EUR16.6m, from EUR6.2m, largely due to EUR4.5m in performance commissions and a 67% increase in commission revenues.

The US management firm State Street announced on 4 May that it has been selected by PineBridge Investments to provide outsourcing services for middle office operations, serving a total of USD53bn in assets. PineBridge Investments is a multi-strategy asset management and investment consulting firm with USD87.8bn in assets under management. State Street will provide the PineBridge operations in New York, Dublin, Hong Kong and Tokyo with global outsourcing services, particularly for transaction management, data management, investment account maintenance, system performance, and settlement. State Street will also provide fund accounting services to PineBridge in Japan.

Ameriprise Financial, which owns Threadneedle Investments and the US firm RiverSource Investments, among others, announced on Monday that it has completed its acquisition of the long-term asset management activities of Columbia Management from Bank of America. The deal was worth about USD1bn in cash, for a business with assets of USD189bn, In other words, Ameriprise paid only 0.53% of assets under management. As of 31 March, Ameriprise, with USD652bn in assets, placed eighth worldwide among long-term mutual fund management firms. The funds of RiverSource will be retained for annuities and life, health and disability insurance. In addition, the deal includes a distribution agreement which gives Ameriprise permanent access to distributors affiliated with Bank of America. Asset management activities will continue to be led by William F. “Ted” Truscott, CEO, U.S. Asset Management & President, Annuities. Michael A. Jones and Colin Moore, who will report to Truscott, will continue to serve as president and CIO of Columbia Management.

In a statement dated 4 May, CCR Asset Management, the asset management firm of the UBS group for France, has announced the appointment for Lorenzo Ballester-Barral to the position of CEO. He replaces Tim Blackwell, who will remain as president of the firm, while Jean-François Sarlat will become deputy CEO. Blackwell has been head of Europe, Middle East and Africa, excluding Switzerland, for UBS Global Asset Management since October 2009, and head of France since October 2008. Ballester-Barral has been deputy CEO and chief investment officer at CPR AM since 2009. Sarlat was previously deputy CEO of CCR AM, in charge of the products and marketing department.

Kenneth Griffin, founder of Citadel Investment Group, last week asked Patrik Edsparr, head of the securities division, to leave the hedge fund management firm due to differences over business strategy and the culture of the firm more generally, the Wall Street Journal reports. Edsparr has not been replaced sof ar, but Citadel is planning to seek an external candidate for the position. The move is a further sign that Griffin has more work to do to stabilise the ranks at the firm.

«As expected, the restructuring undertaken at TCW at end-2009 resulted in a significant outflow in Q1 10,” Société Générale has announced at a presentation of results for its asset management activities. Since the departure of Jeff Gundlach and several other employees from the US firm, outflows from the asset management affiliate of SG have totalled EUR12.6bn. Accordingly, out of total withdrawals of EUR -12.6 billion, EUR -10.8 billion are attributable to the restructured MBS activity, whereas the outflow in other asset classes amounted to only EUR -1.8 billion. Going forward, the restructured MBS activity will be affected by further withdrawals, mainly by institutional clients, most of which have already been announced (EUR -4 billion). April suggests a more favourable trend for the rest of the activity scope, with a positive inflow of EUR +0.9 billion,” Société Générale says. The business line’s net banking income totalled EUR 83 million on the back of the growth in performance commissions and management fees, underpinned by improved market conditions. Operating expenses were down -3%(1) vs. Q1 09, at EUR -94 million. Gross operating income was EUR -11 million in Q1 10 vs. EUR -39 million in Q1 09. Amundi’s contribution of EUR 26 million takes the contribution to Group net income to EUR 19 million. At EUR 504 million, the Private Banking, Global Investment Management and Services division’s Q1 revenues were down -14.3% (-11.9%(1) when adjusted for changes in Group structure and at constant exchange rates) vs. Q1 09. Operating expenses were down -15.9% (-7.9%(1) when adjusted for changes in Group structure and at constant exchange rates) vs. Q1 09, reflecting the cost-cutting measures implemented under the infrastructure optimisation plan. Gross operating income totalled EUR 38 million. The division made a profitable EUR 55 million contribution to Group net income.

The husband of heiress Aerin Lauder, Eric Zinterhofer, chairman of Charter Communications, is leaving Apollo Global Management, where he is co-head of media & telecom investing, to found his own private equity firm, according to souces familiar with the matter cited by the Wall Street Journal. His new fund, which will be supported by the Lauder family, may raise USD500m to USD1bn, and will specialise in media and telecommunications. Apollo, for its part, is planning to appoint Gregory Beard, managing director of Riverstone Holdings, as head of commodities. He replaces Neal Shear, who, after a brief stint at Apollo, has moved on to become global head of securities at UBS.

Swisscanto (CHF60.4bn in assets) has signed up to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UN-PRI), in an “engagement to entrepreneurial sustainable development in asset management.” The management firm for the Swiss cantonal banks “pledges to systematically integrate aspects of sustainable development (ESG) into its investment process for all clients.”

In first quarter, pre-tax profits for the Wealth Management & Swiss Bank unit of the UBS group totalled CHF1.16bn, a 5% increase compared with fourth quarter 2009. Pre-tax profits for the Wealth Management unit totalled CHF696m, a 3% increase compared with the previous quarter, while the Retail and Corporate unit earned pre-tax profits of CHF465m (+7%). Wealth Management Americas posted pre-tax profits of CHF15m for first quarter, compared with CHF178m in fourth quarter 2009. Global Asset Management finished the quarter with pre-tax profits of CHF137m, compared with CHF284m in fourth quarter, due to a slight reduction in revenues and an increase in personnel costs. In first quarter, net outflows of capital contracted in net terms compared with fourth quarter 2009, though they remained significant at about CHF18bn. These outflows, however, totalled CHF65.2bn in fourth quarter. For Wealth Management outside the Americas, capital outflows totalled CHF8.2bn, of which CHF1.4bn were in Switzerland, including the retail bank, compared with CHF33.2bn three months previously. The bank on Tuesday explained this heavy decrease as a result of external factors such as the Italian tax amnesty offer. For the Americas, net capital outflows totalled CHF7.2bn, compared with CHF12bn in fourth quarter 2009. Though net inflows to funds remained negative in this region, outflows related to the departure of financial advisers declined. In the Global Asset Management segment, net capital outflows totalled CHF2.6bn, following a total of CHF11bn three months earlier. Profits for the UBS group totalled CHF2.2bn in first quarter, an 83% increase compared with the previous quarter. In a letter to shareholders, UBS predicts “a gradual improvement in results for wealth management and asset management, depending on market conditions.” Net capital outflows “will be relatively moderate” in the next few months.

Jupiter announced on Tuesday that Guy de Blonay will co-manage the Financial Opportunities fund (GBP1.2bn in assets), alongside Philipp Gibbs, from 1 June. Initially (see Newsmanagers of 19 November), he had been set to take on this role beginning in summer. De Blonay, who left Henderson New Star on 21 October 2009, joined Jupiter as an advisor in January this year. He had previously spent six years at Jupiter, before joining New Star on 28 December 2001.

The consulting firm Mercer is continuing to scale up its presence in Asia, with the deployment of a team dedicated to wealth management in Singapore, which will be led by Hansi Mehrotra, who will move from Sydney to Singapore at the end of June. Mehrotra joined Mercer in October 2003 to set up wealth management services for the Australian market. She will retain her positions as head of wealth management services for the Asia-Pacific region and head of advising for the Indian market. Asian Investor reports that Mehotra will work with Desmond Lee, who joined Mercer this week as wealth management consultant. Lee was previously at DBS Asset Management, where he was head of structured management and advising for high net worth clients. Mercer is also planning further recruitments in Singapore.

Groupama Asset Management announced on Tuesday, 4 May that it has received a license from the Swiss federal market surveillance authority (FINMA) to release 8 OPCVM funds for sale in Switzerland. The operation comes as part of an international development effort at Groupama Asset Management, which is already present in Spain and Italy. In Switzerland, a dedicated team of 3 people will be in charge of development, while distribution will pass through private banks and wealth managers. The license for the 8 products is viewed as a major step for the management firm, which is planning to offer other investment strategies via its Sicav fund designed for European distribution, which will be launched in 2010, a statement from the firm says. Meanwhile, the OPCVM funds selected by the management firm are:•Groupama Avenir Euro, an equities fund dedicated to Euro zone small and midcap management•Euro Capital Durable, an SRI equities fund whose stock-picking is based on a “best in class” approach•Groupama Euro Stock, a conviction-based ufnd which invests in Euro zone large caps•Groupama Europe Stock, an opportunistic Western European equities fund•Groupama Croissance, a pure stock-picking equities fund of French equities•Groupama Japon Conviction, a conviction-based fund which invests in Japanese equities selected with the support of Nomura AM Tokyo •Groupama Asie, an equities fund which invests in large caps of the major Asian markets outside Japan in partgnership with Nomura AM Singapore for research• Monde Gan, a fund which invests in global equities, largely based on a fundamental approach

Aberdeen Asset Managament has called a halt to the acquisitions that have helped assets under management grow from GBP96bn in March 2009 to GBP171bn in March 2010, says Financial Times. Instead, according to Martin Gilbert, chief executive, the asset manager would focus on organic growth and paying off debt.

Aberdeen Asset Management has reported underlying pre-tax profits of GBP92.6m for the six months to the end of March 2010, compared with GBP33m for the corresponding half of last year. Between 30 September 2009 and 31 March 2010, assets increased by 16.2% to GBP170.9bn, largely due to the acquisition of the multi-management activities of RBS (GBP13.5bn), and positive market effects. Net inflows were limited to GBP0.1bn. However, these were concentrated on high-margin activities, which resulted in an increase of GBP26m per year in revenues from commissions. These revenues totalled GBP294.9m, compared with GBP192.2m one year earlier.

F&C Asset Management confirmed at the beginning of this week that it will retain the Thames River Capital brand. The management firm will operate autonomously within the F&C group, which is seeking to do what is necessary to retain the management of Thames River. If the deal is approved by shareholders, the transaction announced last week would be completed by the end of third quarter 2010.

La contagion grecque pourrait forcer la banque centrale à engager des rachats de titres d'Etat

La banque a placé 3,9 milliards d’euros de titres adossés à l'immobilier résidentiel britannique, à un meilleur prix que lors de sa précédente transaction

C’est aujourd’hui que commence le négoce du certificat capped-outperformance émis par Vontobel sur le platine: le VonTT sur Platinum (Troy Ounce) à échéance 5 mai 2011 (CH111816671), rapporte L’Agefi suisse. Le cours du produit à la date du fixing initial est de 1713 dollars pour un cap de 2007,64 dollars. Depuis le 4 mai 2009, le platine a pris plus de 55% à environ 1742 dollars, sans que la ligne de tendance haussière ne présente de cassures intermédiaires significatives. Le 31 mars dernier, Vontobel avait également émis 20.000 contrats VonTT sur le platine, qui ont enregistré depuis leur lancement une performance de 5,44% contre un peu plus de 4% pour la référence Platinum Troy Ounce. Les VonTT permettent à l’investisseur de participer plus que proportionnellement à la performance totale du sous-jacent entre le prix d’exercice et le niveau du cap.

L’Agefi rapporte que le Crédit Agricole en discussion avec le courtier chinois Citic Securities entend jouer les premiers rôles dans le courtage et sur le marché primaire actions (ECM) en Chine. Ces négociations exclusives doivent permettre d'établir un partenariat mondial qui concernera toutes les activités equity de CA CIB : les dérivés actions, l’ECM, et les courtiers CLSA en Asie, Cheuvreux en Europe, et CA Securities aux Etats-Unis. Newedge est cependant exclu du périmètre.En Chine, le Crédit Agricole joue gros où hormis UBS, septième au classement ECM de Dealogic en 2009, les courtiers du cru s’adjugent toutes les introductions en Bourse et les augmentations de capital à Shanghai. Le schéma de la transaction, toujours en discussion, passera par une joint-venture entre Citic Securities et CLSA, note le quotidien. Son mode de gouvernance déterminera aussi le succès de l’accord.

L’Agefi rapporte que le Crédit Agricole en discussion avec le courtier chinois Citic Securities entend jouer les premiers rôles dans le courtage et sur le marché primaire actions (ECM) en Chine. Ces négociations exclusives doivent permettre d'établir un partenariat mondial qui concernera toutes les activités equity de CA CIB : les dérivés actions, l’ECM, et les courtiers CLSA en Asie, Cheuvreux en Europe, et CA Securities aux Etats-Unis. Newedge est cependant exclu du périmètre.En Chine, le Crédit Agricole joue gros où hormis UBS, septième au classement ECM de Dealogic en 2009, les courtiers du cru s’adjugent toutes les introductions en Bourse et les augmentations de capital à Shanghai. Le schéma de la transaction, toujours en discussion, passera par une joint-venture entre Citic Securities et CLSA, note le quotidien. Son mode de gouvernance déterminera aussi le succès de l’accord.

Le directeur financier de VP Bank, Fredy Vogt, a indiqué le 30 avril, à l’occasion de l’assemblée générale des actionnaires, que la fortune des clients de Verwaltungs- und Privat-Bank AG (VP Bank) était demeurée stable au premier trimestre 2010, après l’arrêt des sorties de fonds au second semestre 2009.

Selon L’Agefi suisse, PowerShares Global Funds (groupe Invesco) vient d’émettre un ETF intelligent sur le SIX Swiss Exchange portant sur les valeurs helvétiques. PowerShares FTSE RAFI Switzerland Fund (ISIN IE00B23LNR19) fait partie des fonds ETF «intelligent exposure», qui répliquent les performances des indices de stratégie FTSE RAFI conçus par le groupe Research Affiliates. Ces derniers pondèrent les valeurs non pas en fonction de la capitalisation boursière des sociétés, mais selon quatre critères fondamentaux, à savoir le chiffre d’affaires, le cash flow, les dividendes et la valeur comptable. Cette approche permettrait d’éviter la surpondération des actifs surévalués et la sous-pondération des actifs sous-évalués, rendant ainsi le panier moins vulnérable aux bulles et à la spéculation. Libellé en CHF, le fonds inclut des frais de gestion de 0,55%.

Selon L’Agefi suisse, la Banque Privée Espírito Santo, qui a réalisé l’an dernier un résultat net de 8,9 millions (-26%) de francs pour des avoirs de 10,8 milliards de francs, a annoncé hier l’ouverture d’un bureau de représentation à Porto, lui permettant d’élargir ses opérations à la partie septentrionale du Portugal. La banque entend renforcer cette orientation onshore en 2010. L’implantation d’un autre bureau de représentation, en Pologne cette fois, est prévue pour le premier semestre de cette année. Par ailleurs, Banque Privée Espirito Santo propose son expertise en gestion de fortune au groupe Espirito Santo. Les managers suisses ont ainsi été mobilisés pour l’implantation d’une filiale à Dubaï, qui sera suivie d’une opération similaire à Singapour. En Suisse, l’établissement a étendu l’an dernier son expérience acquise dans les services aux établissements (B2B) en concluant un accord avec Altius Finance, une plateforme indépendante de gestionnaires externes. De quoi nourrir de nouveaux projets: l’ouverture d’une agence à Genève est prévue pour l’automne 2010.

A compter du 1er mai, l’agence suisse RepRisk a intégré dans son outil informatique dédié à la gouvernance d’entreprise les affaires de fraude majeures, les cas d'évasions fiscales et les pratiques anticoncurrentielles. Actuellement, la base de données de RepRisk couvre plus de 13.500 sociétés et 2.800 projets sujets à controverse.D’autre part, RepRisk a annoncé que SAM Sustainable Asset Management (groupe Robeco), va désormais utiliser l’outil RepRisk dans le cadre de l’examen sur le caractère durable des sociétés pour l'élaboration des Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI).

Schroders a annoncé avoir cédé à JP Morgan International ses services d’administration dans le private equity, actuellement basés à Guernesey et aux Bermudes au sein de Schroder Administrative Services (Bermuda) et Schroder Administrative Services (C.I.).Les actifs bruts de ces deux entités devraient s'élever à environ 1,3 milliard de dollars au bouclage de la transaction.

Aberdeen Property Investors a notifié à la CNMV, le régulateur espagnol, que les fonds immobiliers allemands offerts au public Degi Europa (1,64 milliard d’euros) et Degi International (1,97 milliard d’euros fin décembre), dont les remboursements sont gelés et/ou qui n’acceptent plus de souscriptions, ne font plus désormais officiellement partie des produits de la catégorie faisant appel public à l'épargne en Espagne.

Dans un entretien avec Funds People, Guillaume Poli, président du conseil d’administration de la société de gestion française Edmond de Rothschild Investment Managers ou EDRIM (groupe LCF Rothschild), indique que son objectif est d’atteindre le milliard d’euros d’encours contre 250 millions actuellement. Il reconnaît cependant que dans la période actuelle, il n’y a pas beaucoup de croissance et que les actifs sous gestion restent stables.La gamme commercialisée en Espagne par EDRIM (qui est physiquement présente depuis quatre mois à Madrid) comporte onze fonds, mais cinq autres vont les rejoindre. Il y aura un hedge fund en version coordonnée, trois fonds d’actions avec des degrés d’expositions respectifs de 0-35 %, 25-75 % et 60-100 %. Le cinquième sera un produit structuré avec une exposition de 70-100 % aux marchés émergents, avec une garantie du capital et une faible volatilité.

La société de gestion de Caja Madrid, Gesmadrid, a annoncé qu’elle compte renforcer la distribution de ses fonds auprès de la clientèle institutionnelle, avec des produits et des services destinés principalement aux groupes financiers et aux compagnies d’assurances, rapporte Funds People. Rocío Eguiraun, administrateur délégué de Gesmadrid, a indiqué en outre que des produits nouveaux seront développés exclusivement pour les investisseurs institutionnels.

Mónica Garay, administrateur délégué pour l’Espagne d’UBS, a décidé de quitter la direction de l’activité banque privée et de se consacrer à des projets professionnels en dehors du groupe, rapporte Expansion. C’est Pablo Díaz Mejía, le président d’UBS en Espagne, qui prendra les rênes de cette unité consacrée aux grandes fortunes. De source interne, on précise que le départ de Mónica Garay est vraiment une décision personnelle et qu’il n’a aucun lien avec la restructuration. En 2009, la filiale espagnole d’UBS a accusé une perte avant impôt de 24,8 millions d’euros.

Le capital-investisseur Apax Partners compte lancer dans les prochaines semaines une OPV secondaire en Allemagne et aux Pays-Bas ainsi qu’un placement privé aux Etats-Unis pour placer les 89 % qu’il détient dans le logisticien Ifco, rapporte la Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Cette société spécialiste des caisses pliantes affiche actuellement une capitalisation boursière de 550 millions d’euros. Elle compte dans le monde plus de 90 chaînes de distribution comme clientes, dont Wal Mart, Kroger, Metro, Rewe, Carrefour, Migros ou Spar, de même que quelque 5.500 producteurs. En dernier lieu, Ifco a réalisé un ebitda de 129 millions de dollars pour un chiffre d’affaires de 736 millions de dollars.