Royal London Asset Management on 18 February announced two new funds which aim to meet the growing demand of investors for strategies that generate revenues in the speculative grade category. The two new vehicles, in UCITS IV format, will be domiciled in Dublin, and will be available in the United Kingdom from 27 February. The Royal London Global High Yield fund aims for annual returns 1% higher than its benchmark, the BoAML BB-B Global Non-Financial High Yield Constrained Index. The Royal London Short Duration Global High Yield Fund, for its part, aims for annual returns 2% higher than those of its benchmark index, the Libor 3-month index, while maintaining a duration of near two months.
Das Investment reports that the Hamburg-based investment boutique Antea has retained Dierk Wiedamnn of Rothschild Asset Management as the fourth manager for its fund, for the private equity, hedge funds, commodity and precious metal allocation.The other three managers are Hendrik Leber (Acatis), Jens Ehrhardt (DJE Kapital) and Bert Flossbach (Flossbach von Storch).Each manager directly manages his own allocation, independently of the others.
Since 18 February, the Swiss SIX exchange has listed a new, UCITS-compliant, Luxembourg-registered ETF of equities in gold mining companies, launched by Lyxor Asset Management, and replicating the MSCI AWI Gold with EM DR 18% Group Entity Capped Index. For emerging market gold mining shares, the fund invests via depositary receipts.The fund, in US dollars (ISIN code: LU0854423927) charges 0.50%.
The British firm M&G Investments has recruited personnel in Singapore with the recent recruitment of Marcel de Bruijckere as head of institutional activities for the Asia-Pacific region, Asian Investor reports. The team now includes nine people, including four heads of sales. Two client advisers will join the team in the next few weeks. De Bruijckere, previously of Zoom Marketing Services and LGT Capital Management, also spent 20 years, from 1990 to 2010, at ABN Amro Asset Management/Fortis Investments.
Syz Asset Management is now offering management of Japanese equities as part of its range of institutional strategies. To implement this strategy, the institutional asset management arm of the Swiss banking Group Syz & CO has recruited Joël Le Saux, a Japanese market specialist. Offered to institutional investors in the form of segregated mandates, this expertise will also be accessible to a broader public via the Oyster Japan Opportunities fund, which will thus be managed by Syz Asset Management. This new asset class strengthens the Syz & CO Group’s expertise in international equities and is an addition to the 17 strategies already available.In addition to management of segregated accounts, Joël Le Saux will be taking over management of the Oyster Japan Opportunities fund, which until now was entrusted to the asset management company Morant Wright of London. Unlike the orientation towards mainly domestic small- and medium-sized companies that had prevailed until now, Joël Le Saux’s management will be more agnostic in terms of style, sectors and market capitalization. His “bottom-up” approach focuses on undervalued companies, while taking into account the Japanese and global economic environment. The portfolio will be more balanced between domestic-oriented stocks and international exporting companies.Joël Le Saux joins Syz Asset Management with 17 years’ experience of the Japanese market. He joined UBP in Geneva in 2011, where he was a “product specialist” and analyst for funds investing in Japan.
Japan’s Orix is acquiring approximately 90.01% of the equity in Robeco from Rabobank, for EUR 1,935 million, according to a statement published on Tuesday morning. Closing of the transaction is subject to legal and regulatory approvals, which are expected to be completed within six months. The amount is approximately 1,1 % of Robeco’s AUM of EUR189bn.Part of the agreement is a strategic alliance between Rabobank and Orix. This includes Rabobank retaining a 9.99% share in Robeco, and continuing to cooperate in maintaining and expanding the asset manager’s business platform. The Japanese group will allocate treasury stock to Rabobank as part of the acquisition price, and as a result Rabobank becomes a shareholder of Orix. Also, Orix and Rabobank have agreed that Robeco’s banking activities, which are only based in the Netherlands, will be transferred to Rabobank with Robeco retaining its client service relations. «The financial market has drastically changed since the financial crisis and Orix believes that it is necessary to pursue a new business model by combining finance with related services in a strategy called «Finance + Services.» As one of the measures to drive this strategy, Orix has been seeking to build its presence in the global asset management industry in recent years, as evidenced by the 2010 purchase of Mariner Investment Group in the U.S.», according to a press release.
The wealth management firm Reuss Private has received permission from the Swiss federal financial regulator, Finma, to launch securities brokerage activitis, Agefi Switzerland reports. Reuss has more direct access to financial markets, which will allow it to extend its range of services. “The status of securities broker will help us to continue our growth,” says Adriano Lucatelli, director and partner at Reuss Private, which presents itself as an “independent wealth management firm for discerning clients.”
Natixis on 17 February announced at a publication of its annual results that it is selling off cooperative investment certificates (CCI) to the co-Within the savings unit 9asset management, insurance and private banking) at Natixis, growth remains dynamic in asset management, particularly in the United States, and the context in 2012 is expected to have been difficult overall for life insurance activities. Gross net proceeds from asset management are up 17% compared with fourth quarter 2011, at EUR437m (+13% at constant rates). The acquisition of McDonnell in the United States is being finalised, and will develop the group’s expertise in fixed income and municipal bond products (EUR10bn in assets under maoperative banks and savings banks, for a total of EUR12.1bn. At the conclusion of the operation, Natixis would pay a one-time distribution of EUR2bn, or EUR0.65 per share. Good results for asset management Assets under management totalled EUR591bn as of 31 December 2012, compared with a level of EUR570bn as of 30 September 2012, due to net outflows of -EUR2.2bn, currency effects of -EUR6bn, perimeter effect of +EUR15.5bn (primarily the acquisition of McDonnell) and market effects of +EUR13.6bn. Net inflows were positive to the tune of EUR4.5bn in the United States in 2012.
The Transparency Code for open-ended SRI (socially responsible investment) funds has been updated by the French financial management association (AFG) for the second time, in collaboration with the Responsible Investment Forum (FIR) and the European Sustainable Investment Forum (Eurosif), by a working group led by Paul de Marcellus, a member of the SRI Commission at AFG, and Vice President of FIR. The new version of the Code has been approved by the boards of directors at the AFG and FIR, and approved throughout Europe by the Board of Eurosif.The objectives of the Code remained unchanged. They are largely to improve the legibility and transparency of the process for SRI funds for investors/savers and strengthen self-regulation through the establishment of a common code of best practices and transparency.The modifications to the Code aim to simplify it to increase legibility, with a reduction in the number of questions, the merger of the Code with its use manual, and the standardisation of the format for responses through a recommendation to asset management firms to create a 10 to 30-page document.
In 2012, Union Financière de France (UFF) has reported a contraction of 40% in its net profits to EUR15.2m, which is mainly due to a decline in revenues from commissions (-11% to EUR142.2m). However, assets managed as of the end of December totalled EUR7.2bn, up 9% over the level twelve months previously, as net inflows contributed EUR49bn to an EUR613m increase in AUM.At the beginning of 2013, UFF is launching “products aimed at investors seeking performance with controlled risk-taking.” In addition, 2013 will be marked by the operational start in second quarter of activities at the affiliate CGP Entrepreneurs, founded in June 2012, dedicated to the IFA market.
2012 bonuses paid to finance professionals on Wall Street are disappearing like snow in the sun. According to a recent survey by eFinancialCareers, the average bonuses paid for last year were 36% down compared with the previous year. Front office is the hardest hit by the decline, down 38% in one year, compared with -15% for middle office and -2% for back office employees. efinancialCareers also reports that Wall Street is increasingly subjecting bonuses to performance conditions. 13% of respondents say that at least part of their bonus depends on performance, compared with only 7% in 2011. “Whether or not the performance of the business is the reason for bonuses to fall, many finance professionals estimate that the performance of the company is not enough to guarantee a good bonus: now, measurable personal performance is the important thing,” the study says. As a result, eFinancialCareers predicts that heads of human resources will have more trouble recruiting due to a lack of assurances about bonus levels. A decline of bonuses may also result in an increase in the set portion of salaries.
Money Marketing reports that the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has sent a letter to 50 asset management firms to ask them how they have applied RDR regulations to advice fees. The questionnaire was sent to a sample of small, mid-sized and large firms, including independent, captive, and hybrid companies.20 of the companies will be examined in more detail, with visits from FSA inspectors and analysis of client files.After six months, the FSA will publish examples of good and poor practices.
Eaton Vance Management (Eaton Vance group) has announced that from 1 March, it will be removing the Eaton Vance name from a series of funds advised by its affiliate Parametric. They are the following products: Eaton Vance Parametric Structured Emerging Markets Fund, Eaton Vance Parametric Tax-Managed Emerging Markets Fund, Eaton Vance Parametric Structured International Equity Fund, Eaton Vance Parametric Tax-Managed International Equity Fund, Eaton Vance Parametric Option Absolute Return Fund, Eaton Vance Parametric Structured Absolute Return Fund, Eaton Vance Parametric Structured Commodity Strategy Fund and Eaton Vance Parametric Structured Currency Fund.
NYSE Euronext on 18 February announced that it has admitted a new French-registered ETF from Lyxor Asset Management, the LYXOR ETF MTS SPA, on NYSE Euronext Paris. The fund replicates the MTS Spain Gvt Index (All-Mat). It charges 0.165%.
Assets in securities issued by non-money market mutual funds in the euro zone as of the end of December totalled EUR6.558trn, compared with EUR6.349trn in September 2012, according to statistics from the European Central Bank. This development is due both to an increase in the value of shares and net issues. Net subscriptions to non-money market euro zone fund shares totalled EUR123bn in fourth quarter 2012, the ECB says. In the same period, assets in securities issued by money market funds in the euro zone fell, to EUR911bn, from EUR942bn. Net redemptions of money market mutual funds totalled EUR22bn. In terms of ventilation by investment strategy, the annual pace of growth for shares issued by bond funds totalled 12.0% in December 2012, and net subscriptions totalled EUR74bn in fourth quarter 2012. In the case of equity funds, the rate totalled 0.7%, and net subscriptions EUR18bn in the same period. For mixed funds, the growth rate was 3.8%, and net subscriptions totalled EUR22bn.
In 2012, Invesco Asset Management Deutschland posted net inflows of EUR1.5bn from institutional investors. Demand was primarily for real estate products and guaranteed diversified vehicles, the Börsen-Zeitung reports.
Banca Fideuram has launched the sustainable bond fund Fonditalia Ethical Investment, Bluerating reports. The portfolio is invested in government bonds which are attentive to social and environmental themes, shares in microcredit funds and equitable and solidaristic commerce funds. Lastly, Banca Fideuram will pay part of its commissions to a multiple sclerosis charity.
In a contribution to a consultation launched by the Spanish Inverco association of asset management firms, the Spanish tax authorities have announced that Spanish shareholders in foreign funds will not be required to make «720» declarations, if the shares have been bought from vendors based in Spain or resident representatives, Funds People reports.To benefit from the exemption, Spanish citizens concerned will also be required to hold their shares with the sales agent or representative.
Le gouvernement japonais a repoussé d’une semaine la nomination du gouverneur de la Banque du Japon (BoJ), une décision qui alimente les rumeurs de frictions entre le Premier ministre et le ministre des Finances sur le choix de l’homme qui sera chargé d’adopter une politique aggressive de soutien à la croissance. Le Premier ministre Shinzo Abe exige une politique monétaire ultra-accommodante du nouveau gouverneur qui doit être nommé d’ici fin mars, afin de sortir enfin le Japon de la déflation.
Le groupe japonais de services financiers Orix va racheter le gestionnaire d’actifs néerlandais Robeco auprès de Rabobank pour 1,935 milliard d’euros dans le cadre d’une opération en numéraire et en actions. Il s’agit de la plus grosse acquisition de l’histoire d’Orix, société à la fois présente dans la location, l’assurance-vie, l’immobilier, le crédit aux entreprises et dans le sport via la propriété d’une équipe de baseball professionnelle. Orix va payer Rabobank sans avoir recours à une augmentation de capital. A l’issue de la transaction, Rabobank détiendra 2% de la société japonaise. Rabobank, première banque de détail des Pays-Bas, conservera une participation de 9,99% dans Robeco. La banque coopérative, qui se recentre sur son activité de financement des agriculteurs néerlandais, avait annoncé en avril qu’elle étudiait différentes options pour Robeco après la perte de son triple A de la part de Standard & Poor’s en novembre 2011.
Le Trésor espagnol a placé mardi pour quatre milliards d’euros de bons à trois et à neuf mois, un montant qui correspond au haut de sa fourchette de prévisions, et l’opération à trois mois a été marquée par une légère baisse du rendement. Pour le papier à trois mois, Madrid a émis 0,89 milliard d’euros, le ratio de couverture ressortant à 5,8 contre 4,2 lors d’une précédente adjudication et le rendement revenant de 0,441% à 0,421%. Le Trésor espagnol a également émis pour 3,12 milliards d’euros de bons à neuf mois, une maturité inédite, avec un ratio de couverture de 2,3 et un rendement de 1,144%.
Le Trésor espagnol compte émettre entre 6 et 8 milliards d’euros de titres de dette à l’occasion de ses adjudications de cette semaine. L'émission demain de bons à trois et neuf mois devrait porter sur un montant compris entre 3 et 4 milliards d’euros. Jeudi, le Trésor entend lever entre 3 et 4 milliards à l’occasion de l’adjudication d’emprunts à échéance du 31 mars 2015, du 31 octobre 2019 et du 31 janvier 2023.
La facture moyenne d'électricité des ménages français devrait bondir de 30% d’ici à 2017, selon des projections de la Commission de régulation de l'énergie (CRE). Le régulateur précise dans un rapport que cette hausse sera due pour plus du tiers à l’augmentation de la contribution au service public de l'électricité (CSPE), laquelle s’explique notamment par le développement des énergies renouvelables.
L’usage illimité de «supercrédits», défendu par l’Allemagne afin de soutenir la production d’automobiles haut de gamme, remettrait en cause les objectifs de l’UE en matière de réduction des émissions de CO2, estime la Commission européenne. Ils permettent aux constructeurs de produire des véhicules dont les émissions dépassent les quotas européens, à condition d’assembler des véhicules hybrides ou électriques.
La croissance égyptienne sera de 3% à l’issue de l’année fiscale s’achevant fin juin, a déclaré Achraf Al Arabi, ministre du Plan et de la Coopération internationale, revoyant à la baisse une précédente prévision fixée à 4%. Il a également annoncé que la croissance annuelle avait atteint 2,5% au cours du dernier trimestre 2012.
Une source gouvernementale citée par Reuters a indiqué que les lettres de cadrage budgétaire 2014 seront envoyées d’ici 15 jours, démentant des informations faisant état d’une accélération de la procédure pour faire face à la dégradation des comptes publics. Jean-Marc Ayrault aura l’occasion d'évoquer le sujet lors d’un déjeuner de ministres mercredi à Matignon et jeudi matin lors d’une réunion interministérielle à l’Elysée.
Le plus important gestionnaire alternatif coté au monde a décidé de rapprocher deux filiales, AHL et Man Systematic Strategies. Il a nommé par ailleurs Luke Ellis à sa présidence. Soumise à une forte pression, la société a remanié sa direction. Emmanuel Roman doit remplacer Peter Clarke au poste de directeur général à compter du 28 février.
Le Premier ministre britannique a exprimé hier son impatience à voir la banque revenir à une situation bénéficiaire afin que l’Etat puisse progressivement sortir de son capital. «Nous souhaitons, quand c’est possible, une accélération des ajustements réalisés afin d’en faire un établissement puissant» a ainsi indiqué David Cameron lors de son déplacement en Inde. Et d’ajouter à l’intention du directeur général de RBS, Stephen Hester, que «la première tache est de retrouver la performance de RBS et de renforcer son bilan, renforcer ses activités». David Cameron précise d’ailleurs qu’«il est néanmoins de mon devoir d’examiner toutes les possibilités réalisables pour rendre RBS au secteur privé». L’Etat britannique a investi 45 milliards dans le sauvetage de RBS en rachetant des actions entre 410 et 500 pence selon les méthodes de calcul, contre un cours de clôture de l’action 339,3 pence hier.
Le ministre des Finances japonais Akira Amari a indiqué ce matin que le gouvernement désignera le nouveau gouverneur de la Banque du Japon qui succédera à Masaaki Shirakawa ainsi que ses adjoints après le retour du Premier ministre de son voyage aux Etats-Unis prévu du 21 au 24 février.
La Malaisie et Singapour ont signé hier un accord en vue de la construction d’une liaison ferroviaire à grande vitesse entre les villes de Kuala Lumpur et Singapour, distantes d’environ 350 km. L’objectif était d’achever les travaux en 2020. «Elle inaugurera une nouvelle ère de croissance forte, de prospérité et de perspectives pour nos deux pays», notent les deux gouvernements dans un communiqué.