Following the announcement on Thursday that redemptions will reopen for the CS Euroreal fund, the market is waiting for its example to be followed in the near future at four other open-ended real estate funds which were also frozen at the end of October, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reports. In early July, KanAm grundbesitz will reopen, followed in mid-July by Axa Immoselect. During the month of July, Morgan Stanley Real Estate and TMW are expected to announce reopenings of the P2 Value and Immobilien Weltfonds. At any rate, the reopening of the SEB ImmoInvest fund (EUR6.3bn in assets) on 2 June has gone well: although SEB Asset Management was expecting heavy outflows, redemptions represented only an amount in the low hundreds of millions of Euros. At DEGI International (EUR2.5bn), redemptions have been limited to EUR260m in the past four weeks.

D’après VDOS Stochastics, rapporte Cinco Días, on a enregistré depuis le début de l’année le lancement en Espagne de 146 fonds, 98 étrangers et 48 espagnols. C’est plus du double du total enregistré pour la période correspondante de l’an dernier. Les gestionnaires les plus actifs dans ce domaine ont été le BBVA avec 7 fonds et le Santander ainsi qu’Invercaixa avec 5 fonds chacun.

According to VDOS Stochastics, Cinco Días reports, 146 funds have been launched in Spain since the beginning of the year, 98 of them foreign and 48 of them Spanish. This is more than double the total registered in the corresponding period of last year. The most active managers in this domain were BBVA, with 7 funds, and Santander and Invercaixa, with 5 funsd each.

The adventure of Altitude Investments, born of an agreement between BBVA and Schroders, is at an end. BBVA notified the CNMV on Thursday that on 11 June it cancelled its fund management outsourcing agreement with Altitude. BBVA has begun liquidation of its two funds registered in Spain under the Altitude brand, Teide and Veleta, Expansión reports. The third product, registered in Luxembourg, was liquidated in early February. Teide and Veleta had a total fo EUR15m in assets and 111 subscribers. At their peak, they had EUR500m in assets under management.

CNP Assurances (CNP) and Barclays Bank PLC (Barclays) have concluded an agreement for a term of 25 years to develop their life insurance activities, via the Barclays network in Spain, Portugal and Italy, capitalizing both on the experience and the rapid growth of Barlcays in these countries (about 1,000 sales points as of the end of 2008), and on potential for growth in the southern European insurance markets. The agreement involves an acquisition of a 50% stake in CNP by the life insurance affiliate of Barclays, Barclays Vida y Pensiones (BVP), which operates in Spain and Portugal. The two partners will also launch a new insurance activity in Italy, which will come in addition to the already existing activity. CNP will take operational control of all of these structures. By the terms of the agreement, Barclays will receive an initial sum of EUR140m from CNP, at the conclusion of the operation. This amount is subject to adjustment depending on the net assets of BVP as calculated at the conclusion of the operation. A complementary payment mechanism over 12 years which may result in a significant added amount has also been stipulated. The payments will be tied to expected volumes and margins as well as growth of the network of Barclays agencies.

According to the latest “Vision” survey from State Street, entitled “Outsourcing Investment Operations: Managing Expense and Supporting Strategic Growth,” asset managers increasingly tend to outsource their support activities, as they are aware than external service providers generate savings in terms of operational and technical efficiency, thanks to global solutions applied to all the steps of the investment cycle. In addition, new accounting standards, “reportings to be submitted on a regular basis to regulatory authorities and the disclosure of more detailed information to investors,” are responsibilities that carry considerable costs, and involve some risk. The turbulence of the past few months has thrown into relief that compliance risks are increasing, State Street observes.

Selon Les Echos, Bernard Madoff sera fixé lundi sur son sort, sauf surprise de dernière minute, ce qui n’est pas à exclure. Déjà, en mai, le juge avait repoussé la séance du 16 juin au 29 juin pour des raisons de logistique. Bernard Madoff est à l’origine d’une fraude pyramidale, estimée à environ 65 milliards de dollars. . Pour cette escroquerie, traduite par 11 chefs d’inculpation, parmi lesquels « blanchiment d’argent, faux et usage de faux, fraudes sur des titres financiers, transactions et courriers électroniques », il risque d'écoper de cent cinquante ans de prison.

Credit Suisse Asset Management Immobilien KAG (CSAM Immobilien) announced on Thursday that, as planned, its open-ended real estate fund CS Euroreal will reopen redemptions, which were suspended at the end of October, on 30 June. The move has been made possible since the fund has ammassed a sufficient liquidity reserve and to the fact that the good performance of the fund (4.4% as of 31 May) has attracted high subscription levels. Karl-Heinz Heuß, CEO of CSAM Immobilien, says that “free” liquidity as of 23 June represented a total of EUR1.1bn, or 16% of assets, and that gross liquidity is estimated at EUR1.7bn, or 24% of assets under management. From 30 October, the date on which redemptions were frozen, until 23 June, net subscriptions have totalled more than EUR420m, which, CSAM Immobilien says, is the highest amount recorded for all frozen real estate funds in Germany. To profit from investment opportunities which could be available, SCAM Immobilien is in negotiations with several banks to raise the fund’s credit ratio from 15% to about 25%.

On the basis of preliminary results for April and May as well as estimated results for June, UBS predicts that it will post a net loss for second quarter 2009. Projected losses are largely due to capital losses on liabilities and restructuring charges already announced. However, the Swiss group announced on Thursday, operating results for April-June are expected to improvecompared with the first quarter 2009, largely due to more favourable market conditions for the investment bank and a reduction in losses and write-downs on high-risk positions inherited from the past. In second quarter, the three wealth management and asset management divisions show net outflows thus far. The bank has also announced that it will be offering 293,258,050 shares to a restricted number of institutional investors at a price of CHF13 per share. This will raise a net total of nearly CHF3.8bn.

With its acquisition of part of the activities of Credit Suisse, Aberdeen Asset Management has enlarged its geographical spread to a large extent. This is particularly the case in France, where the British management firm had only a limited presence previously. Martin Gilbert, CEO of Aberdeen Asset Management, says the entry into the French market is a genuine reason to be satisfied. At the Fund Forum International in Monaco, Gilbert says that about EUR4bn will be transferred in France from Credit Suisse to Aberdeen, putting total assets under management for the British management firm at EUR103.9bn. He adds that Philippe Troesch will be appointed CEO of Aberdeen Asset Management France. The transaction will be completed on 1 July.

A closing for an acquisition of a majority stake in the capital of Tocqueville finance has recently been completed, and in mid-July, we will officially know the name of the buyer. According to information obtained by Newsmanagers, the short list includes five contenders who may be separated into two groups. One of these is larger establishments - including one Swiss group and one major network - while the other consists of three independent management firms. One of the firms which has submitted a bid is reportedly considered solid. The contenders are bidding for a majority stake in the capital of Tocqueville Finance, via an acquisition of the shares held by Jean-Philippe Thierry, who arrived at the management firm in mid-2007, and thus of a participation of about 34%. Another large portion of the firm’s capital is held by Marc Tournier, who, some rumours claim, has announced a date on which he will be leaving the firm. Sources familiar with the matter say that it is clear the contenders will benefit from a particularly attractive window of opportunity, with “price limits.” A sale will be undertaken on the basis of a valuation of the company at EUR45m in total. The future major shareholder in Tocqueville Finance will be in a position to benefit from the firm’s value-type management in its close connections with independent financial advisors.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Nelson Petz has not increased his stake in Legg Mason, contrary to previous rumours.

Van Eck Global has announced the launch of the Van Eck Multi-Manager Alternatives Fund, an open-ended mutual fund which provides investors with access to several strategies, including absolute performance strategies, with daily liquidity and NAV. The fund will have several sub-advisors, and will invest in open-ended funds, closed funds and ETFs, using arbitrage and directional long/short strategies, among others. For the selection of managers, Van Eck will rely both on internal specialists and the input of Explorer Alternative Management, a manager and hedge fund selection provider. Minimal subscription for A-class shares is USD5,000 and fees will have a ceiling of 2.40%.

Delphi has accused a group of hedge funds of holding General Motors and the US government hostage by opposing a sale of the auto parts manufacturing activities of Platinum Equity, the Financial Times reports. Elliott Associates is held particularly responsible.

Money Marketing reports that Jeff Burch has joined Investec Asset Management as a credit hedge fund manager, to become co-head of the fixed income team, and to manage a global long/short fund. Burch was previously at Blue Mountain Capital.

Frédéric Codet has joined Galena Asset Management as a senior trader, and will become co-head of the Galena Energy Fund. Codet, who began his career at BNP, has more than 15 years of experience on capital markets, including 12 years of experience in commodities. Before joining Galena, he worked at Citigroup as Managing Director and head of European trading in oil, soft commodities and exotic commodities.

According to the World Wealth Report, published on 24 June by Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management and Capgemini, the confidence high net worth private investors show in the markets, regulatory authorities, financial institutions and the basic principles of portfolio management have been questioned by the global economic recession. Losses on the markets and a fall in the confidence level have led many high net worth private investors to diversify their investments to several institutions in order to limit risks. The report finds that more than 25% of millionaires partially or totally divested from their wealth management institutions in 2008. To win the loyalty of their clients more fully, advisors and wealth management firms will need to improve the quality of reporting on risk factors, increase the level of customer service, and reorient their communication to provide more transparency.

Securities activities at major international banks and brokers have already passed the low point in the current crisis, Standard & Poor’s estimates in a report published on 25 June (Global Banks’ and Brokers’ Securities-Related Businesses Appear To Be Past The Trough, But Improvement Will Be Gradual), which adds that, as its title indicates, a return to better times will be gradual. “We believe that fourth quarter 2008 probably marked the low point for trading activities of these banks, and that first quarter 2009 was the low point for their investment banking, asset management and wealth management activities,” says Scott Sprinzen, a credit analyst at Standard & Poor’s.

The Financial Times reports that Alistair Darling is planning to unveil a new Banking Act this year, which will strengthen the role of the Financial Services Authority. The decision comes in the wake of criticism of the Bank of England for failing to react adequately to the banking crisis. The chancellor will assign the FSA a new mission of maintaining financial stability.

The Wall Street Journal reported, citing a lawsuit, that Danny Pang is accused of having stole taken at least USD83m from his investment firm before it was seized in April by federal regulators, who accuse Pang of a vast international fraud. The potential losses for investors in Private Equity Management Group, Pang’s company, are estimated at between USD287m and USD654m.

Sir Allen Stanford on Thursday pleaded not guilty to 21 charges against him, including those of organizing a USD7bn Ponzi scheme to defraud investors, and of bribing a Caribbean regulator to cooperate, the Financial Times reports. If found guilty, the Texan billionaire faces up to 250 years in prison.

The international organisation of securities commissions (IOSCO) on 24 June published a series of recommendations to remedy current weaknesses on emerging markets in regulatory issues, at a time when their integration into the financial system is growing. The recommendations are the conclusions of a study undertaken by the emerging markets committee (EMC) of IOSCO. The IOSCO document claims it is necessary to align regulations in emerging countries with internationally elaborated principles, and it would also like to promote a higher level of participation be emerging market authorities in all regulatory debates. Impact on and Responses of Emerging Markets to the financial crisis – Consultation Report of the Emerging Markets Committee of IOSCO

Selon L’Agefi suisse, le fonds d’investissements américain KKR a dévoilé mercredi des modifications aux modalités de son projet d’introduction à la Bourse de New York, prévoyant notamment une plus grande participation de sa filiale européenne KPE, cotée à la Bourse d’Amsterdam. KKR caresse depuis juillet 2008 l’idée de faire son entrée à la Bourse de New York, rappelle le quotidien. Mais le fonds, dont la valeur des actifs sous gestion a baissé à 47 milliards de dollars contre 53,2 milliards en 2007, a depuis repoussé l’opération à plusieurs reprises. KKR, qui prévoit une entrée en Bourse à New York via une absorption de KPE et un retrait de la filiale de la cote à Amsterdam, a fait une proposition plus alléchante pour les actionnaires de cette dernière.

Pour le compte de son fonds dédié Deka-S-Property Fund N°1, Deka Immobilien Investment a affecté 28,1 millions d’euros à l’acquisition d’un immeuble de bureaux de 15.000 mètres carrés, viale Jenner à Milan. Le vendeur est la société de gestion de fonds immobiliers BNP Paribas REIM SGR. L’immeuble est entièrement loué à l’opérateur de téléphonie mobile Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM).

Jeudi matin, UBS a annoncé que Chi-Won Yoon prend avec effet immédiat les fonctions de Chairman & CEO Asia Pacific et de membre du comité de direction. Il remplace Rory Tapner, qui quitte le groupe au bout de 25 ans. Chi-Won Yoon conserve ses prérogatives de patron de l’activité valeurs mobilières de la banque d’investissement d’UBS pour la région Asie Pacifique (APAC) ainsi que celles de country head et CEO de la succursale de Hong-Kong.UBS emploie 9.500 personnes dans la région APAC, aussi bien dans la banque d’investissement que la gestion de fortune et la gestion d’actifs.

Selon Le Temps, l’ex-responsable de la division produits de Julius Baer crée Dynapartners, sa propre entreprise de gestion pour institutionnels, afin de profiter de la mutation de l’asset management. «Un mouvement de consolidation va se produire ces prochaines années, a noté Beat Wittmann cité par le temps. Or, la Suisse comporte 2600 asset managers de taille modeste qui gèrent en moyenne 300 millions de francs avec cinq employés. Dans ce cadre, Dynapartners entend croître de façon organique et par acquisitions avec pour objectif de gérer 5 à 7 milliards de francs avec 25 employés dans cinq ans.

Selon L’Agefi suisse qui cite l’agence AWP, la banque française Société Générale (SG) réorganise ses opérations de négoce au sein de l’unité d’affaires Private Banking. Le département boursier du site zurichois sera dissout et trois des quatre personnes concernées perdent leur emploi. SG à Genève n’a pas commenté l’information. La mesure sera mise en oeuvre au 1er juillet.

Les trios actionnaires de Zulauf Asset Management, Felix W. Zulauf, Daniel Köppel et Nicolas Mathys, ont engagé le processus juridique qui devrait déboucher sur la scission de la société en deux entités indépendantes, indique Hedge Week.Dès que le processus sera bouclé, les deux actionnaires majoritaires actuels, Nicolas Mathys et Daniel Köppel, continueront de travailler ensemble au sein d’une nouvelle société baptisée Zug Finance, qui prendra 80% du bilan de Zulauf Asset Management. Zug Finance va continuer à gérer le fonds equity long/short Zulauf Europe Fund qui devient Z Europe Fund.

Beat Wittmann, ex-responsable de la division produits de Julius Baer, crée Dynapartners, une société de gestion indépendante et internationale basée à Zollikon, rapporte Le Temps. L’entreprise s’adressera aux institutionnels et aux clients privés au profil institutionnel et offrira ses services à Genève, Zurich et Londres.

L’Agefi a procédé hier à la remise des Grands Prix du Gouvernement d’Entreprise, une manifestation qu’elle organise en partenariat avec le cabinet d’avocats Latham & Watkins. Au cours de la cérémonie qui s’est tenue hier à Paris, dix récompenses ont été attribuées. Le prix « Dynamique de Gouvernance » qui récompense la meilleure progression globale en matière de gouvernement d’entreprise observée sur les 12 derniers mois a été décerné à la société Capgemini devant France Telecom et Neopost. Le Prix « Qualité et transparence de l’information et de la communication » a été attribué au groupe GDF Suez, devant BNP Paribas et le groupe Eurotunnel. Le prix « Composition du conseil » qui tenait compte notamment de la présence d’administrateurs indépendants dans le conseil d’administration et les comités spécialisés, ainsi que de la structure du conseil a récompensé BNP Paribas devant Essilor et France Telecom. Le prix « Démocratie Actionnariale » qui tenait compte de l’exercice d’un droit de vote équitable et facilité lors de l’assemblée générale ainsi que la disponibilité et l’envoi de l’information en amont de l’assemblée générale, a été décerné à la société Air Liquide, devant EDF et Renault.Le prix « Fonctionnement des Organes» chargé d'évaluer, notamment, le contrôle interne, de vérifier la séparation des pouvoirs entre le présidents et le(s) directeur(s) général(aux), sans implication directe dans les comités spécialisés, et de s’assurer également d’une bonne communication sur les pouvoirs du ou des directeurs généraux, etc, a été attribué à Schneider Electric, devant Alstom et Capgemini. Le prix «Responsabilité sociétale» dont l’objectif est de récompenser une gestion optimisée du capital humain, une prise en compte des préoccupations environnementales dans le développement de l’activité et la satisfaction des attentes des parties prenantes (clients-fournisseurs) a été attribué à la société Veolia Environnement, devant le groupe Danone et Bic. Le prix « Stratégie et évaluation des risques» qui prend en compte l'évaluation et la gestion des risques associés aux choix stratégiques ainsi que l’implication des administrateurs dans le pilotage de la staratégie a récompensé le groupe Danone devant Air Liquide et Arkema. Le prix du Gouvernement d’Entreprise « Valeurs Moyennes » qui passait en revue l’ensemble des pratiques essentielles de gouvernement d’entreprise en se focalisant sur des entreprises cotées hors indice SBF 120 a été attribué à la société Fleury Michon devant Pharmagest et Faiveley. Enfin, le grand prix du gouvernement d’entreprise qui passait en revue l’ensemble des pratiques essentielles de gouvernement d’entreprise en se focalisant cette fois sur des entreprises cotées figurant dans le SBF 120 a été décerné à la société Air Liquide.