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05/09/2013
Fonds

BlackRock va fermer deux fonds d'actions européennes de premier plan

BlackRock va fermer aux investisseurs deux fonds d’actions européennes de tout premier plan, gérés par Alister Hibbert et Vincent Devlin, rapporte Citywire. La fermeture devrait intervenir le 7 novembre, précise le site d’information.Dans des courriers dont le site spécialisé a eu connaissance, le groupe indique le BGF Continental Europe Flexible, dont les actifs sous gestion s'élèvent à 1,93 milliard d’euros, serait fermé aux actionnaires existants et nouveaux à compter du 7 novembre. A la même date, le BSF European Absolute Return A2 EUR fund (1,59 milliard d’euros) sera fermé à toute nouvelle souscription. A la même date, le BlackRock European Dynamic Fund (1,96 milliard de livres), domicilié au Royaume-Uni et géré par Alister Hibbert, sera «soft closé».
Fonds
05/09/2013

Etienne Rougier et Erik Vynckier rejoignent AllianceBernstein

Le pôle assurances Europe du gestionnaire ACM Bernstein a été renforcé en août par l’arrivée d’Etienne Rougier, COO & head of strategy chez Architas Multi Manager, qui devient COO Insurance EMEA, et d’Erik Vynckier, investment director pour l’allocation actions et obligataire des clients assurances chez SWIP, comme gérant de portefeuille senior. Tous deux sont basés à Londres et subordonnés directement à Tim Ryan, président et CEO d’Alliance Bernstein Limited.
05/09/2013

Nikko AM perd une équipe actions asiatiques et achète une boutique

Nikko Asset Management vient de perdre à Singapour quatre spécialistes des actions asiatiques, dont le chief investment officer et deux gérants de portefeuille, rapporte Asian Investor. Le quatuor serait parti chez Threadneedle, selon le site spécialisé.Mais, dans le même temps, Nikko AM a signé un accord de principe pour le rachat à Singapour d’une boutique spécialisée dans les actions asiatiques qui emploie sept professionnels de l’investissement. La transaction pourrait être bouclée d’ici à la fin du mois.Les partants sont le chief investment officer Ng Soo-nam, qui doit quitter ses fonctions à la fin du mois, les deux gérants de portefeuille Christine Seng et Ling Weixiong, ainsi que l’analyste Low Wee Jia.
05/09/2013

Standard Life Investments et Legal & General IM pourraient porter plainte contre RBS

Standard Life Investments et Legal & General Investment Management envisagent de porter plainte contre Royal Bank of Scotland au sujet d’une augmentation de capital de 12 milliards de livres réalisée en 2008, rapporte le Financial Times. Les deux sociétés de gestion ont demandé au cabinet d’avocats Quinn Emanuel d’étudier si la banque avait trompé ses actionnaires concernant sa solidité financière dans le prospectus de l’opération, selon des personnes proches du dossier.
05/09/2013

David Barron rejoint Miton

Après avoir quitté en janvier JPMorgan Asset Management (lire Newsmanagers du 23 janvier), David Barron a été recruté comme director of investment trusts & product strategy par Miton, rapporte Fundweb. L’intéressé travaillera avec Ian Chimes, head of sales & marketing.
05/09/2013

India allows foreign investment in pension funds

The Indian parliament on 4 September passed a long-awaited law which allows foreign investment in the pension fund sector up to 26% in order to attract foreign capital and to revive investments. The decision by the lower house granted permission for a law to be passed which had already been approved by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2012, and which will now proceed to the upper house for a vote. The government would also like to increase the foreign investment limit in the insurance sector from 26% to 49%.
05/09/2013

European Commission lays out proposals to control risks in shadow banking system

The Commission on September 4 adopted a communication on shadow banking and proposed new rules for money market funds (MMFs). The communication is a follow-up to last year’s Green Paper on Shadow Banking (IP/12/253). It summarises the work undertaken so far by the Commission and sets out possible further actions in this important area.The Communication sets out the issues at stake in relation to the shadow banking system and the measures already taken to deal with the risks related to shadow banking such as the rules governing hedge fund activity and outlines the priorities identified on which the Commission intends to take initiatives in areas such as the provision of a framework for money market funds. The new rules proposed today (MEMO/13/764) cover money market funds (MMFs) that are domiciled or sold in Europe and aim to improve their liquidity profile and stability:• Liquidity management: MMFs would be required to have at least 10% of their portfolio in assets that mature within a day and another 20% that mature within a week. This requirement is there to allow the MMFs to repay investors who want to withdraw funds at short notice. In order to avoid that a single issuer bears undue weight in the net asset value (NAV) of an MMF, exposure to a single issuer would be capped at 5% of the MMF’s portfolio (in value terms). For standard MMFs, a single issuer could account for 10% of the portfolio. • Stability: to take account of the constant NAV, MMF’s propensity to require sponsor support to stabilise redemptions at par, the new rules would require this type of MMF to establish a predefined capital buffer. This buffer will be activated to support stable redemptions in times of decreasing value of the MMFs investment assets.
05/09/2013

Excessive inflows can damage the performance of bond funds

According to a study carried out by Diaman Scf for the Italian weekly newsmagazine Plus 24 of over 2,100 European bond funds in 2012, the top 50 funds in terms of assets, equivalent to 3% of products analysed, received EUR226m, or 80% of total net inflows. In addition, 35% went to only four funds. In 2012, funds which had the largest inflows also received the best returns. But in 2013, performance tended to deteriorate. The good reputation of large funds has helped to make them grow to excessive size, which makes the task harder for the manager, who needs to find new investments for incoming capital. In addition, decisions taken by a large fund have an impact on the market, which penalises them.
05/09/2013

Swedish company launches frontier fund

The Swedish asset management firm Fonder FM has become the most recent firm to launch a frontier markets fund, FIM Frontier, Privata Affärer reports. The fund is invested in the Philippines, Vietnam and Bangladesh.
05/09/2013

New head for EM at Loomis Sayles

Peter Marber has been appointed as head of emerging markets investments at Loomis Sayles (US affiliate of Natixis Global Asset Management), where he will be responsible both for investments in equities and in bonds, under the authority of Jae Park, CIO. Marber joins from HSBC Global Asset Management, where he served in several roles at the emerging markets group, such as chief business strategist, floval head of emerging markets debt and portfolio manager. He had been founding partner, senior portfolio manager and chief investment strategist at The Atlantic Advisors, a firm acquired by HSBC in 2005.The team led by Marber includes three portfolio managers (David Rolley, Eddy Sternberg and Peter Frick), as well as Elisabeth Colleran as emerging markets senior credit strategist. The team is supported by over 12 emerging market specialists. Recently, a staetment says, Loomis Sayles recruited four senior emerging market analysts: Bianca Taylor (EM senior sovereign analyste), Celeste Tay (Asia soverign analyst), Li Ping Yeo (Asia senior credit analyst) et Nada Oulidi (EM senior bank analyst).As of 30 June, emerging market assets at Loomis Sayles totalled over USD12bn.
05/09/2013

Neuflize OBC Investissements merges FI and convertible teams

Neuflize OBC Investissements will merge its fixed income and convertibles teams into a single department, according to information confirmed to Citywire by the French asset management firm. Xavier Chapon, head of fixed income at the firm, will lead the new 10-member team with EUR11bn in assets under management.
05/09/2013

DeAWM recruits former manager from BofA Merrill Lynch

Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management (DeAWM) has recruited Matt Montana as managing director, in a newly-created position as head of equity trading for the Americas region. Montana will be based in New York, and will report directly to Joshua Friedberg, head of trading, Americas. He will be responsible for all equity trading in the Americas. He previously worked at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he spent 25 years.
05/09/2013

Lyxor to launch AIFM hedge fund platform

Lyxor, a well-known specialist in managed accounts, is currently working on launching a new AIFM hedge fund platform which institutional investors will be eligible for. The first funds are expected to be available by the end of the year, probably in December, says Nathanaël Benzaken, deputy head of alternative management at Lyxor Asset Management. The initiative is a response to a desire on the part of Lyxor to offer a third option, between UCITS-compliant hedge funds and totally offshore vehicles, between highly regulated products on the one hand, and offshore hedge funds with very little oversight on the other. ‘This is a third option which will allow us to take advantage of the new AIFM directive. Institutional investors have previously not had any choice other than ot invest in offshore vehicles. The regulatory environment now offers them another solution. Alternative investment funds (FIA) from our point of view appear to be the solutoin which best meets the requirements both of regulators and of risk-takers. This is clearly a range aimed primarily at institutional clients. However, I am persuaded that the AIFM brand can and will become a standard label, possibly outside Europe, like the UCITS brand, since it now allows for invetsmnt in all alternative management strategies, including the least liquid strategies, without as restrictive an investment limit as the one imposed on UCITS funds, all in an onshore environment, under the supervision of regulators.” The initiative may also allow for the interest of institutional investors in alternative management to be rekindled, due to the more favourable environment, insofar as “we are returning to more fundamental markets,” Benzaken adds.
05/09/2013

Hayman Capital acquires 5.2% stake in JC Penney

Two hedge fund managers have unveiled significant staes in the JC Penney group, after a sale by Pershing Square Capital Management, a fund by Bill Ackman, of all of its shares in the US retail chain, Reuters reports.Hayman Capital Management has reported a 5.2% stake in the capital of JC Penney, while Glenview Capital Management has increased its stake to 9.1% from less than 4% previously, according to documents submitted to the Securities & Exchange Comimssion.Ackman sold his stake to Citigroup, which then offered it to other investors.
05/09/2013

“Godfather” of ETFs leaves KCG

Reginald Browne, who is known as the “godfather of ETFs,” is leaving KCG, the firm created when Knight Capital was acquired by Getco, the Financial Times reports. His colleagues, Eric Lichtenstein and Darren Taube, are also leaving. A dispute concerning a contract is reported to be the reason for the departures.Browne is known for helping to create some of the most original ETFs, including the PowerShares Senior Loan ETF.
05/09/2013

Lyxor promotes Frank Frecentese

Frank Frecentese, recruited slightly over three months ago as deputy head of hedge fund research at the New York office of Lyxor Asset Management (see Newsmanagers of 27 May), has been promoted to the position of global head of hedge fund research. He succeeds Dennis Heskel, who will be retiring next month.Frecentese will report directly to Lionel Erdely and Nicolas Gaussel, who are CIOs at Lyxor.
05/09/2013

H2O AM nears EUR3bn in AUM thanks to Asia

The asset management firm H2O AM is preparing an initial balance sheet for its activities, after three years in existence. According to information obtained by Newsmanagers, assets are nearing EUR3bn, largely due to inflows, three quarters of which are reportedly from Asian and Australian investors. If this is the case, it would be a considerable increase. By comparison, H2O AM had EUR1.9bn in assets under management as of 31 March 2012, with inflows from Australia representing one third of the total. This Asian emphasis is due to the greater maturity of Asian investors (pension funds, SWFs), which are more inclined to understand the risk/return relationship and the principle of long-term performance which the firm holds dear.Newsmanagers has learned that Bruno Crastes, co-founder and director of the firm, is preparing to rename one of his H2O Patrimoine funds, not due to the performance of the fund, but because the “Patrimoine,” or wealth concept is outdated as it is related to a falling interest rate phase. The fund is now expected to be renamed as H2O Multistratégies.
05/09/2013

Hermes REIM acquires Metro outlets in France

As part of a sale & lease-back operation for an amount “in the low hundreds of millions,” Hermes Real Estate Investment Limited (HREIML) has acquired a 75% stake in a portfolio of 43 Metro Cash & Carry France shops.The transaction, announced on 4 September, aims to diversify the international portfolio of HREIML.The 43 locations represent about half of the Metro network in France.
05/09/2013

Nikko AM loses Asian equity team and buys boutique

Nikko Asset Management has lost four Asian equity specialists in Singapore, including its chief investment officer and two portfolio managers, Asian Investor reports. But at the same time, Nikko AM has signed a memorandum of understanding to acquire a boutique in Singapore specialised in Asian equities, which employs seven investment professionals. The transaction may be completed by the end of the month. The outgoing heads are chief investment offices Ng Soo-nam, who is expected to leave his position at the end of the month, two portfolio managers, Christine Seng and Ling Weixiong, and the analyst Low Wee Jia.
05/09/2013

David Barron joins Miton

After leaving JPMorgan Asset Management in January (see Newsmanagers of 23 January), David Barron has been recruited as director of investment trusts & product strategy by Miton, Fundweb reports. Barron will work with Ian Chimes, head of sales & marketing.
05/09/2013

Standard Life Investments and Legal & General IM may sue RBS

Standard Life Investments and Legal & General Investment Management are planning to sue Royal Bank of Scotland over a capital increase of GBP12bn carried out in 2008, the Financial Times reports. The two asset management firms have asked the law firm Quinn Emanuel to study whether the bank misled shareholders about its financial health in the prospectus for the deal, according to sources familiar with the matter.
05/09/2013

New head of sales for Close Brothers Seydler Bank

The Frankfurt-based Close Brothers Seydler Bank, an affiliate of the British firm Close Brothers, has announced that it is adding to its 17-member sales team, with the recruitment of Karl Heinz Filbert, who had previously been a member of the executive committee at Macquarie Group Deutschland as head of European production for continental clients, as director of distribution. He will report to René Parmantier, CEO of Close Brothers Seydler Bank AG.
05/09/2013

BlackRock to close two top calibre European equity funds

BlackRock will close two top calibre European equity funds to new investors, managed by Alister Hibert and Vincent Devlin, Citywire reports. The closure is expected by 7 November, Citywire reports. In messages obtained by the specialist website, the group announces that BGF Continental Europe Flexible, whose assets under management total EUR1.93bn, will be closed to existing and new shareholders from 7 November. On the same date, the BSF European Absolute Return A2 EUR (EUR1.59bn) will also be closed to all new subscriptions. On that date, the BlackRock European Dynamic fund (GBP1.96bn), domiciled in the United Kingom and managed by Hibbert, will be soft closed.
05/09/2013

BlackRock wins PF mandate in the Netherlands

Stichting Pensioenfonds Wolters Kluwer Nederland, the pension scheme of Wolters Kluwer, has decided to mandate the management of about 90% of its assets of EUR850m to BlackRock, FondsNieuws reports. The US-based asset management firm will provide strategic advising for the entire portfoloi, and will create an annual investment plan with its client. In addition, BlackRock will be responsible for day-to-day risk management. Wolters Kluwer has already been working with BlackRock since 1996, for index-based investments.
05/09/2013

Switzerland wants to strengthen its financial centre

The Swiss Federal Council (government) on 4 September resolved to create a panel of experienced experts to analyse both the framework conditions and future prospects for the financial centre and to formulate recommendations on the subject. The group of experts will be led by Aymo Brunetti.The group of experts will be composed of representatives of the Confederation, the private sector, and scientific circles. Without giving in to prevailing pressure, on the basis of current policy on financial markets, the committee will examine both framework conditions and future prospects for the financial market, and then submit proposals. Its activity will continue until the end of 2014.The group of experts will not only consider the current challenges the financial market is facing nationally, but also the opportunities the country is facing internationally. To achieve that, it will take into account the interests of the entire economy. It will focus its work on the following points:-strengthening the Swiss financial market by improving national framework conditions. This reinforcement will allow for structural changes in the financial sector and the real economy to be better confronted;-maintenance or improvement of access to foreign markets, in order to preserve and promote, on the Swiss economic marketplace, the creation of value by international activities.
05/09/2013

Credit Suisse LAB hedge fund index down 1.01% in August

The Credit Suisse Liquid Alternative Beta (LAB) index has posted a decline of 1.01% in the month of August, according to the most recent available statistics. All strategies of the index finished the month with losses, including declines of 1.54% for the Event Driven strategy, and 1.05% for the Long/Short strategy.
05/09/2013

Bill Gross bond fund suffers due to Fed monetary policy

The change announced by the Fed to its monetary policy is weighing on the Pimco Total Return Fund, the largest bond fund in the world, managed by Bill Gross, Agefi reports. The fund posted USD7.7bn in net redemptions in August, according to Morningstar statistics. Assets have fallen to USD251bn, a decline of USD41bn since the end of April.
05/09/2013

Sanjeev Shah abandonne la gestion du Fidelity Special Situations fund

Successeur en 2008 d’Anthony Bolton à la tête du fonds de Fidelity dédié aux situations spéciales, Sanjeev Shah devrait abandonner la gestion de cette stratégie à la fin de l’année.Il devrait passer la main à Axel Wright, qui gère actuellement le Fidelity UK Smaller Companies fund.En attendant, Sanjeev Shah reste à la tête du fonds avec une période transition qui semble bien organisée. Axel Wright, qui travaille chez Fidelity depuis une douzaine d’années, a collaboré en qualité d’analyste tant avec Anthony Bolton que Sanjeev Shah.
05/09/2013

Axa Wealth recruits from Henderson

Kate Randall-Coles, FATCA project manager at Henderson Global Investors (HGI), has joined Axa Wealth as head of fund group relations, fundweb reports. Randall-Coles replaces Graham Bentley, who had served in the position in the interim since June.

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