Jupiter AM a nommé Simon Somerville en tant que vice-gérant du Jupiter Global Managed Fund (275 millions de livres d’encours), géré par John Chatfeild-Roberts. Ce dernier assure l’allocation d’actifs du portefeuille, sachant que la sélection des valeurs est réalisée par huit gérants régionaux de Jupiter.

Associate director de KPMG au Royaume-Uni, Chris Mc Golpin vient de rejoindre Schroders comme head of client service & business management pour l’activité institutionnelle. Il s’agit d’un poste nouvellement créé.L’intéressé sera directement subordonné à Miles O’Connor, head of UK institutional.

Axa a annoncé le 15 septembre la finalisation de la cession à Resolution des activités suivantes basées au Royaume-Uni : vie et retraite traditionnelles, prévoyance et retraite collectives distribuées par des conseillers financiers indépendants, et annuités ; le tout pour un prix global de vente de 2,75 milliards de livres (soit environ 3,3 milliards d’euros).Le montant net reçu en numéraire pour le groupe est de 1,7 milliard d’euros, précise le groupe dans un communiqué. « Cette opération est un élément clé de notre stratégie visant à optimiser davantage l’allocation du capital au sein du groupe, tout en se concentrant sur les opérations à plus forte croissance et rentabilité du marché britannique de l’assurance vie, épargne, retraite», indique le directeur général délégué d’Axa, cité dans le communiqué.

La Russie prévoit de lever 50 milliards de dollars - et non plus 29 milliards - par le biais de privatisations au cours des cinq années à venir, a déclaré mercredi 15 septembre le ministre des Finances, Alexeï Koudrine, cité par l’Agefi.

Selon l’Agefi, Export-Import Bank of China et le fonds souverain chinois CIC ont chacun investi 300 millions de dollars dans un fonds destiné à financer des projets dans l'énergie et les infrastructures en Asie du Sud-Est. Il doit atteindre les 10 milliards de dollars dans les huit ans.

CamGestion, filiale du groupe BNP Paribas qui a changé de nom il y a un peu plus d’un an, a l’intention de se développer à l'étranger, et notamment en Italie, en Espagne, en Suisse et au Bénélux. Le spécialiste de la gestion de patrimoine au sein de BNP Paribas Investment Partners a collecté environ 500 millions d’euros depuis le début de l’année, après 2,6 milliards en 2009. Ses encours ressortaient au 31 mars à 12,6 milliards d’euros.

Bien que le groupe Louis Dreyfus soit considéré comme le mieux placé pour racheter les fonds au Brésil, en Inde et en Chine de Natixis, le dossier patine, rapporte la Tribune qui cite plusieurs sources proches de la banque. Pourtant, pour le géant des matières premières, un pays comme le Brésil est stratégique. Ce sont les fonds indiens et chinois qui posent problèmes. Ils sont récents et ne disposent pas d’historique de performance suffisant, ce qui rend leur valorisation difficile. Leur structure est également complexe puisqu’ils sont logés par groupe, au sein d’un holding. Natixis compte pourtant vendre les fonds ensemble et non par appartements, note le quotidien.Natixis pourrait lancer dans la foulée la cession de ses fonds européens pour compte de tiers en Espagne, en Italie, en Pologne et en Allemagne. De leur côté, les fonds suédois et néerlandais sont gérés pour le compte propre de la banque mais n’ont quasiment pas réalisé d’investissements, ce qui faciliterait leur liquidation.

Le 15 septembre, le bureau parisien de l’autrichien Raiffeisen Capital Management (RCM) a obtenu le référencement par la plate-forme Generali du fonds Raiffeisen-EmergingMarkets-Aktien (AT0000497268, plus de 200 millions d’euros d’encours), qui a aussi été retenu par Cardif en août.Deux ans après le démarrage de l’activité retail en France, un ou plusieurs fonds RCM sont déjà accessibles sur les plates-formes suivantes, hors Generali et Cardif : Finaveo, ACMN Vie, Orelis, Natixis Life, HSBC Assurance-vie, Cholet Dupont Partenaires, Cortal Consors, Altaprofits, Linxea.Des partenariats sont en cours de négociation avec deux autres plates-formes et pourraient être annoncés durant le salon Patrimonia (30 septembre, 1er octobre à Lyon) où Jean-Paul Juquin, directeur distribution et partenariats, participera à la table-ronde sur l’investissement dans les marchés émergents aux côtés de Brice Anger, directeur du développement de M&G France et Nuno Teixeira, directeur général adjoint de Schroders.

Meeschaert Gestion Privée, qui ne cache pas sa préférence actuelle pour les actions, a récemment lancé un FCP dédié à l’Afrique, MAM Actions Afrique dont l’objectif de gestion est d’offrir une croissance du capital à long terme à travers l’exposition sur des actions d’entreprises des marchés internationaux dont l’activité principale est située en Afrique. Pour le gérant du fonds, Guillaume Chaloin, de multiples facteurs militent pour l’Afrique. Outre que les ingrédients sont réunis pour un décollage économique du continent africain avec une croissance moyenne de 5% par an depuis 2000, la région est encore peu travaillée par les investisseurs en tant que zone d’investissement. MAM Actions Afrique a choisi une approche d’investissement tournée vers l'éveil de la consommation, à travers notamment les biens de consommation, les services, les télécoms. Les zones géographiques retenues sont l’Afrique du Nord, l’Afrique subsaharienne ainsi que l’Afrique du Sud. Le portefeuille devrait comporter une quarantaine de valeurs «buy and hold». Principales caractéristiques Code ISIN : FR0010916171Frais d’entrée : aucun jusqu’au 30 septembre 2010Frais de gestion : 2% TTC maximum

Le 13 septembre, Rydex ETF Trust a fait enregistrer par la SEC une série de 19 nouveaux ETF sans effet de levier répliquant 16 indices Russell et 3 indices MSCI. Tous comportent le suffixe «equal weight» signifiant que les titres des sociétés composant l’indice considéré sont équipondérés. Les commissions de gestion s'échelonnent entre 0,55 % et 0,90 %.

Dans un communiqué publié le 15 septembre, la Banque Sarasin a annoncé qu’elle envisageait de tirer parti des conditions favorables qui prévalent actuellement sur le marché suisse des capitaux pour émettre un emprunt à moyen terme avec l’objectif de «diversifier sa stratégie de financement».La Banque Sarasin a chargé l’UBS de jouer le rôle de chef de file.

Avec le fonds luxembourgeois Emerging Markets Corporate Value Bonds, le danois Sparinvest élargit sa gamme de fonds typiquement value à un produit investi exclusivement en obligations d’entreprises peu endettées des pays émergents, sans adjonction de dette publique, ce qui le différencie d’un certain nombre de produits concurrents. Le fonds est commercialisé également en Allemagne et en France depuis le 15 septembre.Sparinvest a déjà obtenu 45 millions d’euros de souscriptions de la part d’investisseurs institutionnels danois pour ce fonds géré par Sune Jensen et Toke Hjortshøj selon la méthodologie qui a fait le succès du Sparinvest High Yield Value Bonds. CaractéristiquesDénomination : Sparinvest Emerging Markets Corporate Value BondsCode Isin : LU0519053697Commission de gestion : 1,25 %Droit d’entrée : 2 % Montant de la part : 100 euros Le fonds comporte des parts R pour les particuliers et I pour les investisseurs institutionnels.

Le 15 septembre, le London Stock Exchange (LSE) a admis à la cotation 45 ETF de Credit Suisse, dont 13 ont également été admis sur le marché ETFPlus de Borsa Italiana à Milan (voir liste ci-dessous).De la sorte, la cote de la Bourse de Londres comporte 327 ETF de onze promoteurs tandis que celle de la Bourse de Milan en aligne 478 de 11 émetteurs également.

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The European Commission on 15 September unveiled proposed regulations to improve the security and transparency of over-the-counter (OTC) derivative markets. Under the proposed regulations, the EU would require information on over-the-counter derivative contracts to be disclosed to central reference points, and that they be made available to surveillance authorities. Other information would also be made available to all market participants. The Commission is also proposing that normalised over-the-counter derivative contracts should be handled by centralised clearing-houses, which would have the effect of reducing counterparty credit risks, or the danger that the other party might default on a contract. The proposals by the Commission, which are in line with engagements by the EU and the G20 and the approach adopted by the United States, will now be examined by the European Parliament and member states. Once passed, the regulations would come into force in the second half of 2012. While welcoming the Commission’s proposals, the professional associations have expressed some reservations. The European asset management association (EFAMA) says that all participants should benefit from the new regulations, which will also protect users of the markets, including buy-side investors. The European banking federation (EBF), for its part, says that the Commission has perhaps gone a step too far in its enthusiasm for regulation, for example, with the clearing-house requirements. The Commission has also passed proposed regulations for short-selling and some aspects of credit default swaps (CDS). The bill will impose more transparency, reduce risks, and create a harmonised framework which will allow coordinated action throughout Europe. The new regulations grant national and European regulators clear authority to act when necessary in a coordinated manner to improve the functioning of the internal market. The proposal has been handed over to the European Parliament to be passed, and would come into force on 1 July 2012.

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The global transaction services unit at Citi is now offering a range of support services in relation to regulatory requirements and compliance issues for hedge funds and private equity funds, Hedgeweek reports. Similar services already exist for investment advisers and mutual funds.

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } CamGestion, an affiliate of BNP Paribas which changed its name slightly over one year ago, is planning to develop abroad, particularly in Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Benelux. The wealth management specialist of the BNP Paribas Investment Partners group has seen inflows of about EUR500m since the beginning of the year, following EUR2.6bn in inflows in 2009. Assets as of 31 March totalled EUR12.6bn.

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } For the second consecutive month, Pacific Investment Management Co (Pimco, Allianz group) has reduced its allocation to US government debt, as returns on Treasuries has fallen to historic all-time lows, the Wall Street Journal reports. US public debt in the portfolio of the Pimco Total Return Fund (USD247.9bn), managed by Bill Gross, were down to 36% as of the end of August, compared with 54% in July, and 63% in June, while mortgage-backed securities (MBS) totalled 21%, compared with 18% in July and 16% in June.

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The intervention of the Bank of Japan on Wednesday to weaken the Yen (which fell 3%) was a hard hit for hedge fund specialists in fast-trading who had accumulated profits through betting on rises in the Japanese currency, the Wall Street Journal reports. John Taylor at FX Concepts (USD7.8bn), for example, has stated that several funds from his firm lost about 2% on Wednesday. According to financial industry sources, Aspect Capital and Winton Capital Management, among others, were also affected.

On 15 September, Feri Finance Group announced that it has recruited Wilfried Hoffmann as director of the activities fo Feri Family Trust (which manages the assets of 250 families) for southern Germany. Hoffmann has spent more than six years as head of Merck Finck Treuhand. Merck Finck & Co was acquired in May by the Indien Hinduja group when the latter bought KBL European Private Bankers.

Jupiter is expanding its continental Europe sales team in Munich, Germany, to facilitate the company’s continued sales drive in the German, Swiss and Austrian markets. The office, managed by Martina Guenzl, sales director, Europe, will soon be joined by Daniel Blum, sales manager, Europe, who has worked for Jupiter since September 2005, and a dedicated sales support assistant.The local office has been expanded to address the growing demand for Jupiter’s funds from professional buyers including private banks, fund of funds, family offices and wealth managers, says a press release.

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } IC Immobilien Holoding (EUR5bn in assets under management) has acquired PropertyOne (EUR2.8bn), financing the acquisition through a capital increase via an injection of capital. The merged entity will become a new firm, IC PropertyOne Asset und Real Estate Management GmbH, with assets of EUR7.8bn, according to a statement to the market dated 15 September. The business will have total staff of about 7,000, and the total area of properties will add up to about 3.7 million square metres, including about 700 properties. Shareholders in PropertyOne will control about 7% of the new entity, including a 4.8% stake for the US private equity investor Cerberus. The objective of IC Immobilien is to reach EUR10bn in assets under management by the end of 2011.

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Asian Investor reports that Citi Private Bank has recruited Roger Bacon, previously at Union Bancaire Privée, as head of managed investments (MI) and advising for the Asia-Pacific region. In this newly-created position, Bacon will be in charge of sales of MI products, sales, and development of custom portfolios as well as administration of MI products. Bacon will report to Debashish Dutta Gupta, head of investments in the Asia-Pacific region.

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } In a statement published on 15 September, Banque Sarasin announced that it is planning to exploit the current favourable prevailing conditions on the Swiss capital market with a mid-term bond issue, in order to “diversify financing strategy.” Banque Sarasin has mandated UBS to manage the issue.

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Banque Sarasin announced on 15 September that it has added to its range of offerings for high net worth private clients, with the launch of the Private Solutions brand, which provides global wealth management advising and sophisticated solutions for the needs of non-bankable assets such as real estate properties, participations in private companies, intellectual property and lifestyle assets. The range is aimed to respond first and foremost to fundamental neets in relation to non-bankable assets, such as generating liquidity, improving returns, and reducing risk. Bankable assets, i.e. cash, securities, and precious metals, generally represent only a fraction of the total wealth of European high net worth clients. Most of the assets are located outside the world of banking, and are in principle declared in the country of domicile of the owner of the assets at book value. Real estate properties, stakes in private companies, intellectual property and lifestyle assets are a part of this largely unexploited and attractive realm of assets, the bank says in a statement.

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Axa announced on 15 September that it has finalised its sale of the following activities based in the United Kingdom: traditional life insurance and retirement; collective retirement planning and pensions distributed by independent financial advisers; and annuities, all for an overall sale price of GBP2.75bn (about EUR3.3bn). The amount received in cash by the group is EUR1.7bn, the group says in a statement. “The operation is a key element in our strategy to better optimise the allocation of capital within the group, while concentrating on higher growth and profit operations on the British life insurance, savings, and retirement market,” Denis Duverne, the deputy CEO of Axa says in a statement.

F&C Investments is rebranding its UK retail range to Thames River following the merger of the two companies, writes Money Marketing. The fund manager is going to retain the F&C brand for the UK institutional side and switch to F&C Thames River in the rest of Europe.

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Sam Catalano, who was head of the equities research team specialised in metals and mining in Europe for Macquarie in London, has joined the global equities team at Schroders, led by Virgini Maisonneuve, head of global and international equities, as a portfolio manager specialised in the global materials sector. Giles Money, a recent university graduate, has also been recruited as a portfolio manager and analyst specialised in climate change. He will report to Simon Webber, co-manager of the Schroder Global Climate Change Fund.

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Chris McGolpin, associate director of KPMG in the United Kingdom, has joined Schroders as head of client service & business management for institutional activities. The position is newly-created. McGolpin will report directly to Miles O’Connor, head of UK institutional.

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } On 15 September, the Austrian management firm Raiffeisen Capital Management (RCM) launched its new Luxembourg Sicav container for several sub-funds which are clones of Austrian-registered funds: Raiffeisen Emerging European Equities, Raiffeisen Russian Equities, Raiffeisen Emerging Markets Equities and Raiffeisen Emerging Markets Local Bonds. The products will initially be registered in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Singapore, the main countries where RCM products are sold. Registration in other countries is planned. Aside from the Russian Equities fund, which is denominated in US dollars, all other funds are denominated in Euros. Shares in pounds Sterling, US dollars and Euros are planned for a later date. For retail investors, minimal subscription is set at EUR2,500. Management commission is 1.75% for equities funds, and 1% for bond products. The choice of a Sicav wrapper for the fund is due to the fact that about three quarters of cross-border sales are of products in this legal format. The Luxembourg Sicav vehicle will allow the firm to improve its access to major opportunities in Europe and Asia and to develop international distribution. RCM states that its assets increased by EUR1.6bn, or 6% in the first eight months of the year, to EUR28.5bn as of the end of August. Including advisory mandates, the total comes to EUR30.7bn. Profits are slightly superior to expectations.

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } According to statistics from the Austrian VÖIG association of management firms, assets in funds as of the end of August totalled EUR143.9bn, compared with EUR142.1bn as of the end of July. Compared with 31 December 2009 (EUR136.7bn), this represents an increase of 5.27%.