La Commission prône dans un livre vert une diversification des sources de financement des entreprises, en favorisant l'accès au marché obligataire et aux investisseurs institutionnels notamment.

La liquidation de Popular Bank of Cyprus, dite Laïki, devrait provoquer des milliers de suppressions d'emplois.

The Swiss firm Unigestion, which has EUR1.8bn in assets under management in hedge funds, out of total assets of EUR10bn, claims that this type of management still has a place for those who are seeking to protect themselves from rising interest rates. In an interview with Newsmanagers, Fiona Frick, CEO of the Swiss asset management firm, describes her vision of the market. She also gives an overview of her firm and the asset management industry overall.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The Wall Street Journal reports that, according to the London Daily Telegraph, Trian Management Fund, the activist fund managed by Nelson Peltz, has acquired further shares in Pepsico (Pepsi-Cola, Lay’s), whose shares gained 3% on Friday. According to market rumours, Trian may use its stake, as well as the stake it holds in Mondelez (Cadbury ,Trident) to require PepsiCo to spin off a beverages entity and a separate snacks company, which it would then merge with Mondelez, or else that the firm break up and merge.For its part, the hedge fund manager Relational Investors also owns a stake in Pepsico since last year, and has already requested that the less profitable beverages unit be spun off.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } According to a message to clients sent Tursday by CEO James Hirschmann, Steve Walsh, CIO of Wamco (USD461.9bn in assets as of the end of December) will be retiring in March 2014, Reuters reports, as relayed by Mutual Fund Wire. Walsh has been CIO since 2008; his successor will be Ken Leech, who becomes co-CIO of Wamco. Leech had previously been CIO of the Legg Mason affiliate from 1998 to 2008. He is currently chairman of the global strategy committee for bond portfolios.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Pablo Cohen, associate director at the Australian firm Access Capital Advisers, has been recruited by First State Investment as a senior analyst in its infrastructure team.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The British asset management firm Ignis Asset Management has reported a decline of 6% for 2012 to its operating profits, to GBP43m, from GBP46m the previus year, according to a statement released on 22 March. Assets under management at the firm fell 6.6% to GBP66bn, from GBP70.7bn as of the end of 2011. Ignis states that its operating profits were affected largely by a decline in performance commissions generated by one of its joint ventures, and a renegotiation of its joint venture agreements. The statement adds that administrative back office functions at Ignis have been outsourced to HSBC.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The UK asset management firm Schroders, which had GBP212bn in assets under management as of the end of 2012, on Friday confirmed in a statement to the markets that «it is in discussions regarding a possible cash offer, with loan note alternative, for the entire issued ordinary share capital of Cazenove Capital.» The latter firm is an independent asset management firm based in London, with GBP18.7bn in assets under management, GBP12.9bn of it in wealth management, and GBP5.8bn in funds (as of the end of February). By regulation, Schroders will have until 5 p.m. on 19 April 2013 to announce either a firm intention to make an offer for Cazenove Capital or that it does not intend to make an offer for Cazenove Capital. This deadline will only be extended with the consent of the Takeover Panel in accordance with the Code on Takeovers and Mergers.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Assets under management by the Liechtensteinische Landesbank (LLB) rose 3.7% in 2012, to a total of CHF49.9bn, compared with CHF48.1bn as of the end of December 2011. Inflows were satisfactory on the bank’s traditional markets: Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Austria, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Middle and Near East, but activities on other markets saw outflows of CHF392m. Consolidated profits totalled CHF97.9m, a spectacular increase compared with the previous year, when they totalled only CHF15.4m. This development is largely due to a steep fall in spending, which was down 7.3% to CHF298.1m.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Mutual Fund Wire relays reports in Bloomberg that Manhattan US District Judge William Pauley has admitted a lawsuit filed by a group of investors in mutual funds against the providers Smith Barney Fund Management and Citigroup Global Markets as eligible for hearing. The plaintiffs claim that they suffered damages between 11 September, 2000 and 24 June, 2004, due to a system of kickbakcs by which Citigroup pocketed savings on commissions instead of passing them on to Smith Barney clients.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } BlackRock has announced that it has listed a target-date bond ETF for trading on NYSE Arca, the iShares 2018 S&P AMT-Free Municipal Series ETF (ticker: MUAG), which comes as an addition to the iShares 2013-2017 Muni Series range, launched in 2010.The portfolio is invested in a basket of municipal bonds that are exempt from AMT tax, which are investment grade and cannot be redeemed before maturity in 2018. The fund replicates the evolution of the S&P AMT-Free Municipal Series 2018 Index. The TER is set at 0.30%.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } On 19 March, WisdomTree Trust filed an N-1 A license application for the WisdomTree Brazil Low Volatility Equity Fund, an ETF which will replicate a house index of the 50 best-rated Brazilian companies for three factors: volatility track record, returns on owners’ equity (ROE) and return on assets (ROA). The basic universe includes all companies listed in Brazil and included in the BM&FBOVESPA index.To date, WisdomTree has not yet announced the TER or ticker for the product.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } On 22 March, Van Eck Global announced that the Market Vectors Treasury-Hedged High Yield Bond ETF (ticker: THHY), an ETF whose objective is to combine potential earnings from high-yield corporate bonds with a way to hedge for currency risks by shorting Treasury notes, has been admitted to trading on NYSE Arca.The fund replicates the performance of the Market Vectors® U.S. Treasury-Hedged High Yield Bond Index (MVTHHY), before fees and expenses.The total expense ratio is capped to 0.50% until 1 September 2014.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Munich-based quantitative asset management firm Aquantum has retained Frankfurt-based Universal-Investment for the launch of the Luxembourg-registered absolute return fund Aquantum – Global Systematic, which relies on the expertise of Aquantum in the area of systematic strategies on managed futures. The investment process is designed so that the fund dcan make profits as well during times of steep rises or declines as on markets with no clear trends.The portfolio for the new fund is widely diversified over 50 futures markets, in the equity, bond, currency, credit and volatility asset classes, and various periods and trading systems. So far, the portfolio is not invested in commodities. The portfolio is managed so as to achieve a volatility objective of 12%. In addition, before each order is executed, the management team runs the planned deal through a risk management filter.CharacteristicsName: Aquantum – Global SystematicISIN codes:LU0821053013 (P/retail share class)LU0821053443 (I/institutional share classes)Front-end fee: 3% (P share class)Management commissions:2.34% (P share class)1.80% (I share class)Performance commission: 20% with high watermark

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } BaFin has issued a sales license for Germany to the Sparinvest Emerging Markets Value sub-fund of the Luxembourg Sicav of the Danish firm Sparinvest (see Newsmanagers of 3 May 2012). The fund, launched on 1 June 2012, is invested in equities listed on emerging markets, companies that are headquartered in emerging countries, or businesses who realise a large part of their activities in these countries.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } First quarter 2013 will go down in history as one of the best ever for some hedge funds, despite ongoing concerns on the economic front, the Financial Times reports. Some are even predicting that it may bring a return to grace for the sector. For example, Lansdowne Partners, the largest equity hedge fund in Europe, has seen a 7.75% increase for its flagship fund in the first two months of the year. The flagship fund by Crispin Odey, head of Odey Asset Management, has gained 11% this year.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The US group William Blair (investment banking and asset management) has announced that it has opened a new office in continental Europe, in Frankfurt. The new office will initially focus on investment banking activities.The office employs five experienced bankers led by Philipp Mohr, managing director, global head of industrials. Mohr had most recently been global head of M&A at Commerzbank.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Evelyn Muth, who joined Oddo Asset Management in May 2012, to direct the activities of the French firm in German and Austria, is leaving the firm, Fondsprofessionell reports. The separation is said to be due to differences of opinion as to ways to develop the brand in the markets concerned. The duties of Muth (who spent 17 years at Fidelity Germany, until the end of 2011) will provisionally be handled from Paris until a successor can be found.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Due to institutional withdrawals of USD16.75bn, Nuveen Investments in 2012 underwent net redemptions of USD14.24bn, compared with net subscriptions of USD13.83bn in 2011. Structured products, however, generated USD4.94bn in net inflows last year, compared with USD1.48bn in 2011.As of 31 December, total assets came to USD218.55bn, compared with USD220.1bn one year previously.

Fears that a bailout package for Cyprus that called for a one-off levy on existing depositors might prompt bank customers in Spain, Italy and Portugal to head for the exits gave investors and markets pause for thought in mid-March. Flows into EPFR Global-tracked Equity Funds slipped to less than a fifth of the previous week’s level.Overall, EPFR Global-tracked Equity Funds took in a net USD2.5 billion during the week ending March 20 as they extended their longest inflow streak in over a decade. US Equity Funds took in over USD2 billion.Japan Equity Funds extended their recent run as the latest inflows pushed the year-to-date total past the USD7.5 billion mark and kept this fund group on track for its biggest quarterly inflow since 4Q05. Bond Funds took in USD3.68 billion while Money Market Funds posted outflows for the eighth time in the past 10 weeks as their flows follow a pattern remarkably similar to the one they established between 4Q11 and 2Q12.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The US private equity investor Apollo Global Management on Friday bought FinanMadrid, the unit of the nationalised Spanish bank Bankia dedicated to lending for the purchase of automobiles and consumer credit, for an undisclosed amount, Handelsblatt reports. Apollo says the transaction includes a portfolio of over 18,000 client accounts, and EUR873m of loans.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The UK equity fund manager Ed Meier will be leaving Schoders to join Richard Buton and Errol Francis at Old Mutual, Fundweb reports. Buxton resigned form his position as director of UK equities recently. He had spent 12 years at the firm. Meier will join Old Mutual in mid-June, and will report to Buxton.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } If remuneration rules passed by the monetary affairs committee (ECON) of the European Parliament on 21 March were applied as they are to managers of UCITS-compliant mutual funds, UK asset management firms would be disproportionately affected by rules limiting bonuses, as bonuses at these firms tend to represent a larger percentage of remuneration, says Jon Terry, a partner in the reward team at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).The specialist claims that many British asset management firms would be obliged to completely overhaul the way in which they pay their fund managers and management personnel, due to the large proportion of remuneration which would be affected by the new rules. In fact, says Terry, asset management firms are said to be concerned by the fact that the monetary affairs commission is proposing a much more explicit definition of the individuals subject to the rules than the one which is applicable to banks or hedge fund managers. If the proposals are passed in their initial form, it would significantly increase the number of people affected by the new rules in senior management, as well as front, middle and back offices.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Cotizalia reports that since the beginning of the year, 37 Spanish guaranty funds have lowered their management commissions, which currently stand at an average of 1.35%, a level which is closer to actively-managed products. In addition, several guaranty fund managers are now offering 1% to 2% rewards on sums transferred in fund trades.The turbulence is due to the fact that market conditions are currently unfavourable for guaranty funds. Those with a large proportion of equities have seen net outflows of EUR401m in the first two months of the year.

A cause de retraits institutionnels pour 16,75 milliards de dollars, Nuveen Investments a supporté en 2012 des remboursements nets de 14,24 milliards de dollars, contre des souscriptions nettes de 13,83 milliards pour 2011. Les produits structurés ont néanmoins généré 4,94 milliards de rentrées nettes l’année dernière, contre 1,48 milliard pour 2011.Au 31 décembre, l’encours total ressortait à 218,55 milliards de dollars contre 220,1 milliards un an auparavant.

BlackRock a annoncé l’admission à la négociation sur la plate-forme électronique NYSE Arca d’un ETF obligataire à horizon, le iShares 2018 S&P AMT-Free Municipal Series ETF (acronyme : MUAG), qui vient compléter la gamme iShares 2013-2017 Muni Series lancée en 2010.Le portefeuille est investi dans un panier d’obligations municipales exonérées de la taxe AMT, de catégorie investissement et non remboursables avant échéance, qui arrivent à maturité en 2018. Le fonds réplique l'évolution du S&P AMT-Free Municipal Series 2018 Index. Le taux de frais sur encours est fixé à 0,30 %.

Le 19 mars, WisdomTree Trust a déposé une demande d’agrément N-1A pour le WisdomTree Brazil Low Volatility Equity Fund, un ETF qui répliquera un indice maison couvrant les 50 sociétés brésiliennes les mieux classées sur la base de trois facteurs combinés : la volatilité historique, le rendement des fonds propres (ROE) et le rendement de l’actif investi (ROA). L’univers de base se compose de toutes les sociétés cotées au Brésil et faisant partie de l’indice BM&FBOVESPA.Pour l’instant, WisdomTree n’a annoncé ni le montant du TFE ni l’acronyme prévu pour ce produit.

Le 22 mars, Van Eck Global a annoncé l’admission à la négociation sur NYSE Arca du Market Vectors Treasury-Hedged High Yield Bond ETF, un ETF dont l’objectif consiste à combiner le potentiel de revenu des obligations d’entreprises à haut rendement avec la possibilité de couvrir le risque de change en vendant à découvert des Treasury notes.Le fonds réplique avant frais l'évolution et la performance du Market Vectors® U.S. Treasury-Hedged High Yield Bond Index (MVTHHY).Le taux de frais sur encours est plafonné à 0,50 % jusqu’au 1er septembre 2014.

Selon un courrier adressé aux clients jeudi par le CEO James Hirschmann, Steve Walsh, le CIO de Wamco (461,9 milliards de dollars d’encours fin décembre), prendra sa retraite en mars 2014, rapporte Reuters relayé par Mutual Fund Wire. Le successeur de Steve Walsh, qui était CIO depuis 2008, sera Ken Leech, qui prend le titre de co-CIO de Wamco. De fait, Ken Leech avait déjà été CIO de cette filiale de Legg Mason entre 1998 et 2008. Il est actuellement président du comité stratégique mondial pour les portefeuilles obligataires.

AXA a annoncé vendredi que sa filiale de gestion d’actifs, AXA Investment Managers a reçu «une offre irrévocable portant sur l’intégralité de sa participation dans AXA Investment Managers Private Equity SA de la part d’un groupe d’investisseurs». Cette transaction dont la finalisation devrait intervenir avant la fin du troisième trimestre 2013 valoriserait AXA Private Equity à 510 millions d’euros. La vente de l’intégralité de la participation d’AXA IM permettrait à la société de gestion de l’assureur de recevoir jusqu’à 488 millions d’euros, un montant réparti d’une part en un paiement comptant de 348 millions d’euros, et d’autre part en un paiement différé pouvant s’élever jusqu’à 140 millions d’euros, payé sous conditions en plusieurs échéances.Concrètement, les investisseurs prenant part à l’acquisition seraient composés de l’équipe de direction de AXA Private Equity, dirigée par Dominique Senequier, un groupe d’institutions et de family offices français et le groupe AXA. Les 298 employés d’AXA Private Equity auraient la possibilité de participer à la transaction au travers d’un véhicule d’investissement dédié, précise un communiqué qui note qu'à la suite de cette transaction, AXA continuerait d’investir dans des fonds de private equity gérés par AXA Private Equity.Dans le détail, une fois finalisée l’opération qui reste soumise aux conditions habituelles, le capital d’AXA Private Equity portant droit de vote serait détenu par l'équipe de direction et les employés d’AXA Private Equity à hauteur de 40%, les investisseurs externes à concurrence de 33,14%, et le groupe AXA pour 26,86%. AXA Private Equity gère et conseille 31 milliards de dollars en Europe, en Amérique du Nord et en Asie. Elle propose à ses 255 clients plusieurs classes d’actifs via des fonds de fonds – primaires, early secondaires et secondaires – fonds Directs (comprenant 160 sociétés en portefeuille) – infrastructure, small et mid market enterprise capital, innovation & croissance, co-investissement et private debt.