AEW Europe SGP, vient d’acheter pour le compte d’un de ses clients institutionnels via l’OPCI NAMI Investment, le centre Marques Avenue situé en centre ville de Romans-sur-Isère. Ce centre développe aujourd’hui une surface de 17.000m² et comprend 72 boutiques.

L’Association Française des Conseils en Gestion de Patrimoine Certifiés (CGPC) a annoncé, vendredi 19 juillet, le lancement de trois certifications spécialisées afin de répondre à la demande des banques, des assurances, des professionnels de l’immobilier, des réseaux spécialisés en protection sociale et des mutuelles, indique un communiqué. Les trois certifications spécialisées sont :- Conseil Financier certifié CGPC- Conseil en Protection Sociale certifié CGPC- Conseil en Investissement Immobilier certifié CGPCLes Certifications seront obtenues à l’issue de la réussite à un examen qui comporte 2 épreuves écrites (un quizz et une étude de cas) et 1 épreuve orale, portant sur la conduite d’entretien et la méthodologie du Conseil, indique un communiqué.Après la réussite à l’Examen, la Certification spécialisée sera reconduite annuellement, sous réserve de remplir les obligations de formation continue, d’adhérer à un code d’éthique et de déontologie et de régler la cotisation à l’association.

3i Debt Management, filiale dédiée à la dette non cotée de 3i Group, souhaite monter ou racheter une équipe asiatique, rapporte Asian Investor. La première étape a été franchie avec le recrutement de Lisa Johnson au poste de directrice des investissements. Elle est basée à Singapour et vient de Parker Global, où elle était en charge de la levée de fonds et du marketing. Elle s’adressera aux clients institutionnels asiatiques pour développer l’activité dans la région. Elle vise principalement les fonds de pension, les assureurs et les fonds souverains.

Julius Baer a déclaré le 22 juillet un encours de 217,7 milliards de francs suisses au 30 juin, ce qui représente un gonflement de 15 % par rapport à fin décembre. Ce total comporte les 24 milliards de francs de la gestion de fortune internationale de Merrill Lynch (International Wealth Management ou IWM), consolidée depuis février. Les souscriptions nettes ont représenté 3,4 milliards de francs. Après la fin juin 2013, 22 milliards de francs des actifs d’IWM ont encore été transférés à Julius Baer, portant le total des encours d’IWM transférés à 47 milliards de francs.Quant au bénéfice net ajusté du groupe suisse, il a opéré un bond en avant de 26 % à 261 millions de francs contre 208 millions pour la période correspondante de l’an dernier. Cependant, aux normes IFRS, le bénéfice net a chuté de 30 % à 114 millions de francs contre 162 millions, à cause de 99 millions de charges d’intégration et de restructuration d’IWM et d’une charge de 28 millions de francs (22 millions en net) liée à l’accord sur l’impôt à la source entre la Suisse et le Royaume-Uni.

Aviva France, assureur vie, épargne, retraite, santé, dommages et prévoyance, investit dans les fonds de prêts à l'économie, destinés à faciliter le financement des Petites et Moyennes Entreprises et des Entreprises de Taille Intermédiaire. Aviva France abondera à hauteur de 50 millions d’euros dans les fonds de place NOVO 1 et NOVO 2 qui souscriront aux émissions obligataires de ces entreprises. Nicolas Schimel, directeur général d’Aviva France: « Notre engagement dans les fonds de prêts destinés à financer les PME et les ETI nous est apparu comme une évidence. En effet, cette initiative nous permet désormais d'élargir notre mission de financement de l'économie française au tissu économique local dont la dimension de proximité nous est chère. Notre contribution au développement de ces entreprises renforce notre positionnement sur la cible stratégique des professionnels.» Aviva France s’est engagé dès octobre 2012 dans le projet destiné à orienter davantage d'épargne financière vers le financement des entreprises moyennes et intermédiaires à la condition du rendement et de la sécurité des investissements. La Caisse des dépôts et dix-sept compagnies d’assurance y sont désormais associées, avec la FFSA, des participations du Fonds de Réserve pour les Retraites (FRR) et de l’Etablissement de retraite additionnelle de la fonction publique (ERAFP). Au total, vingt investisseurs ont réuni près d’un milliard d’euros pour le lancement des fonds d’investissement Novo destinés au financement de ces entreprises. Ce dispositif vise à ouvrir le marché des emprunts obligataires aux entreprises moyennes et intermédiaires qui disposeront ainsi d’un financement complémentaire au crédit bancaire. Les investisseurs interviendront sur un segment d’actifs nouveau, dont la durée correspond au profil d’investisseurs de long terme. La mise en place d’un outil d’intermédiation était incontournable et a nécessité une réforme du code des assurances permettant de créer une catégorie de fonds de prêts à l'économie qui donne la possibilité aux assureurs de financer les PME-ETI. Les premiers fonds seront les fonds de prêts obligataires Novo destinés à financer ces entreprises. La gestion de ces fonds est confiée à deux sociétés de gestion, BNPP Investment Partners et Tikehau Investment Manager, choisies pour leur compétence en la matière. Les caractéristiques des fonds Novo sont : montant de la dotation : près d'1 milliard d’euros durée de vie : 10 ans date de mise à disposition des fonds Novo aux entreprises : octobre 2013. durée d’investissement : 2 ans taux de rendement : 3,8 % (aux conditions actuelles du marché) durée du prêt : 5 à 7 ans, remboursable in fine taux moyen des prêts : 4 à 6 % (aux conditions actuelles de marché) ticket d’entrée-montant des prêts : 10 à 50 millions d’euros moyenne estimée d’entreprises financées à terme : entre 30 et 40 100 % du projet peut être financé

L’assureur britannique Aviva a fait part de la nomination, effective au mois de janvier prochain, d’Euan Munro en tant que directeur général de sa division de gestion d’actifs. Euan Munro occupe actuellement chez Standard Life Investments le poste de responsable mondial des gestions diversifiée et obligataire.

Qatar Holding pourrait faire équipe avec le groupe immobilier Hines pour reprendre des actifs du promoteur italien, à savoir des immeubles de prestige à Paris et certains immeubles du projet du quartier Santa Giulia à Milan, selon le quotidien Il Sole 24 Ore. Le fonds souverain du Qatar aurait contacté plusieurs actionnaires de Risanamento à ce sujet. La valeur totale du portefeuille n’est pas connue mais le Qatar devrait débourser plus de 1,3 milliard d’euros rien qu’à Paris.

Les propriétaires du spécialiste allemand de l’équipement de la salle de bains, TPG Capital et la division de private equity de Credit Suisse, ont selon Reuters reçu six offres préliminaires à la clôture du premier tour d’enchères vendredi, pour une valeur d’entreprise allant jusqu’à 4 milliards d’euros. Quatre offres émanent de concurrents industriels. TPG et Credit Suisse pourrait également choisir l’entrée en Bourse cet automne.

Le compromis trouvé sur MIF renvoie à plus tard des questions cruciales comme les détails des exemptions au principe de transparence

Un plan en quinze points est censé donner aux Etats les instruments permettant d’empêcher les grandes entreprises de se soustraire à l’impôt

L'équipementier automobile a émis un «PIK toggle» record pour refinancer une partie de l'énorme dette héritée de son OPA sur Continental en 2008

Pour Thierry Francq, en mission pour le gouvernement, la Bourse devrait trouver des alliés en Europe

Pour Thierry Francq, en mission pour le gouvernement, la Bourse devrait trouver des alliés en Europe

La Réserve Fédérale, la CFTC et le Sénat s’intéressent au devenir de ce lucratif filon pour les grandes banques américaines

La dynamique enclenchée en juin à 3.575 points devrait conduire l’indice à 4.170 points au moins

A l’approche de la trêve estivale, l’Espagne et l’Italie ont réalisé respectivement 74 et 70% de leur programme de levée de dette à moyen et long terme sur le marché pour 2013, selon les estimations de RBS. Madrid a levé sans encombre 3 milliards d’euros la semaine dernière et Rome proposera encore 5 milliards ce vendredi.

Selon RBS, l'Espagne et l'Italie ont réalisé respectivement 74 et 70% de leur programme de levée de dette sur le marché pour 2013

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Aberdeen Asset Management Deuschland has announced that its semiannual distribution in July 2013 to shareholders in open-ended real estate funds DEGI Europa, whose liquidation was decided in October 2010, and which must complete by 30 September 2013, has been postponed to September.The delay comes due to the fact that payment for properties being sold will extend until September. Some revenues will be used to pay off debt.The fund (ISIN code: DE0009807800) as of the end of May still had assets of EUR691.6m.As of 30 September, the remainder of the fund will be transferred to the depository bank, Commerzbank.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Funds People reports that Banco Mediolanum has launched Mediolanum Camignac Strategic Selection, a global investment fund of funds from the French asset management firm, which is intended to offer a mid- to long-term solution with volatility control through active management. The product comes as an addition to the BlackRock Global Selection and Morgan Stanley Global Selection funds of funds, which are a part of the Mediolanum Best Brands range.The portfolio is composed of 11% international equity funds, 7% European equity funds, 19% global diversified funds, 19% Euorpean diversified funds, and 44% international bond funds.Mediolanum makes a selection of flexible funds from Carmignac Gestion. Front-end fees vary from 0% to 5.5%, depending on the total invested and the asset class. The management commission may vary from 1.65% to 1.95%, depending on the share class.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } On 18 July, Liechtensteinische Landesbank AG (LLB), whose assets as of 30 June totalled CHF50.5bn, provided preliminary indications regarding its semiannual accounts, which will officially be published on 29 August, indicating that several one-time factors reduced its profits in Janary-June 2013 to CHF14bn (compared with CHF61.6m in the corresponding period of 2012). Excluding these one-time charges, net profits are estimated to have been CHF72m.LLB, which has reported net subscriptions of CHF210m in first half, says tat it has made a provision of CHF31m to cover its ongoing legal action with the US tax authorities. The conflict has also driven LLB to defer the sale of swisspartners Investment Network AG until further notice, which has resulted in a one-time charge of CHF14m. The closure of LLB Switzerland has led to a charge of CHF10m, and provisions for restructuring total CHF4m.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } From 1 October, Christoph Mauchle will become a member of the executive managaement group at VP Bank, where he will be responsible for the newly-created “client business” unit. The Liechtenstein-based bank is reorganising the client business unit, following the merger of the Banking Liechtenstein & Regional Markets division with the Private Banking International division on 1 July. Mauchte joins from Credit Suisse, where he had been head of private banking for German, Luxembourg and Austrian markets. In the new organisation which will be in place at the beginning of fourth quarter, the group executive management will be composed of four people: Alfred W. Moeckli (CEO), Mauchle (client business), Juerg W. Sturzenegger (COO), and Siegbert Näscher (CFO). Fredy Vogt remains chairman of the board of directors.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } A team of 13 people based in Hong Kong and Shanghai, including portfolio managers, analysts and traders, has been made responsible for the launch and management of the Neuberger Berman Greater China Equity Fund (tickers: NCEAX, NCECX and NCEIX), which will invest in equities in businesses based in continental China, Hong Hong, Taiwan and Macau. The two lead portfolio managers are managing directors Yulin (Frank) Yao and Lihui Tang.The objective is to generate attractive total returns with a portfolio of 30 to 50 positions, large and mid-cap equities, selected according to a bottom-up, “research driven” approach, with a value bias, and the ability to invest in securities which do not belong to the benchmark (MSCI China Index).Yao, who is also vice chairman of Neuberger Berman for Asia-Pacific, directs a team which already manages USD1.7bn for institutional and retail investors in other Neuberger Berman products as well as some private funds and managed accounts, ranging from Chinese A-class equities to greater China equities.The two major investment themes are related to economic growth. They are, on the one hand, sectors which depend on consumer spending, such as agriculture, automotive, leisure, food and beverage, hygiene and retail commerce, and on the other, infrastructure, with equipments, machinery and utilities.Neuberger Berman had USD214bn in assets under management as of the end of June.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The European Securities Markets Authority (ESMA) on 18 July announced that it has approved seven co-operation agreement between securities commissions and their counterparts worldwide responsible for the surveillance of hedge funds, private equity funds and real estate funds. At a meeting in July, the Council of Supervisors at ESMA approved memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with authorities in the Bahamas, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico and the United States. Negotiations are continuing with the Chinese regulator. ESMA has now negotiated a total of 38 agreements on behalf of the 31 national securities commissions in the European Union and the European Economic Area. The agreements allow for exchanges of information, cross-border on-site visits, and mutual assistance with enforcement of respective supervision laws. In May, ESMA approved 31 memoranda of understanding with other regulators outside Europe.All of these agreements represent preconditions set by the alternative investment fund management directive (AIFMD) to allow asset management firms in third-party countries to access markets in the European Union or manage funds through outsourcing from managers in EU countries, after 22 July 2013. Memoranda are signed with:  Commodity Futures Trading Commission, United States of America;  Financial Services Agency of Japan;  Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan  Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan;  Securities Commission, Malaysia;  National Banking and Securities Commission of the United Mexican States; and  Securities Commission of the Bahamas.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Mike Gould, who had been director of compliance at Russell Investments, has been recruited as director of retail strategy for the Investment Management Association (IMA), Fundweb reports. Gould will be responsible for strategy concerning fund distribution and the retail market, including pensions.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } RBC Wealth Management, an affiliate of the Royal Bank of Canada, has appointed Daniel Ellis as chief investment officer for the British isles, Investment Week reports. He will begin in his new role from 1 October. He will be based in London, and will oversee management teams for the British isles, while making additions to the wealth management product range.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } A survey by Cerulli Associates of US asset management firms finds that 42% estimate that institutional clients are their largest class of clients, while 24% feel that this category is larger than the others.Despite the fact that these asset management firms admit that there is a secular shift in favour of beta strategies these professionals are aware that institutional managers also need alpha. These strategies have higher margins, and can help asset management firms to combat pressure on commissions in passive strategies.Cindy Zarker, director of Cerulli Associates, says that asset management firms feel that demand from institutional investors as from retail clients for liquid alternative products is continuing to drive increases in mutual fund assets. They estimate that in ten years, the percentage of alternative mutual funds as a percetage of total mutual fund assets will reach 13.6%, compared with 2.2% as of the end of 2012.Cerulli also observes that the competition is leading asset managers to adopt a more flexible approach in order to satisfy the needs of each institutional client, in order to win new mandates. And when they set up net products in order to adapt to demand from institutional investors, product developers use a wider range of structures.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } For second quarter 2013, the wealth management division of Morgan Stanley (formerly Global Wealth Management Group) has reported pre-tax profits of USD655m, compared with USD597m in first quarter and USD410m in the corresponding period of 2012. Meanwhile, pre-tax profits from asset management (investment management, ex asset management) fell to USD160bn in April-June, from USD187bn in the first three months of the year. However, it has nearly quadrupled compared with USD43bn in the corresponding period of 2012.For wealth management, assets totalled USD1.8trn as of the end of June, but client assets in fee-based accounts totalled USD629bn. In this area, net inflows totalled USD10bn in the quarter under review.In asset management, assets under management or administration as of 30 June totalled USD347bn, compared with USD311bn one year earlier. During second quarter 2013, net subscriptions totalled USD9.8bn.Across the Morgan Stanley group, net profits in April-June totalled USD980m, compared with USD962m in the previous three months, and USD591m in second quarter 2012.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Schroders has today announced the appointment of Thomas Guyot as Head of Property Investment for France. He joins the Paris-based team, and will direct the expansion of Schroders Property on the Frech real estate market. Schroders has been managing real estate funds since 1971, and now has EUR12.4bn in real estate assets under management (as of 31 March 2013). Guyot will be responsible in particular for investing pan-European funds managed by Schroders in France. He will join the European investment team, within which he will report to Tony Smedles, head of pan-European funds at Schroders. Thomas Guyot began his career as a consultant at Boston Consulting Group in Paris in 1997, and then worked in the real estate unit at Morgan Stanley, before becoming director of acquisitions and CEO of the Compagnie La Lucette. Following its acquisition by ICADE in 2010, he will continued to work for ICADE as head of commercial real estate.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } For January-June, BlackRock on 18 July reported net profits by US-GAAP accounting standards of USD1.361bn, of which USD729m were in second quarter, and USD554m in first quarter, comapred with USD1.126bn in first half 2012.Assets as of the end of June totalled USD3.875trn, down 2% compared with USD3.93641trn as of the end of March, but up 8% compared with 30 June 2012.For long-term products, retail funds attracted a net USD5.076trn (to USD414.38bn as of the end of June), while iShares has seen a net outflow of USD963m, for assets of USD774.4bn. For its ETF brand, BlackRock states that net outflows over the long term are the result of outflows of USD7.2bn from emerging market equity funds, USD2bn from bond funds, and USD2.1bn for commodity funds. These outflows more than offset net subscriptions of USD3.6bn attracted to the Core Series product range, USD2bn attracted to minimal volatility equity funds in the United States, and USD2.2bn attracted to iShares European equity products.Long-term institutional products attracted USD7.794bn, and as of 30 June have total assets of USD2.37568trn.Lastly, the report states that assets in money market funds in second quarter fell 3%, or USD8.8bn, to USD252.6bn, and that total assets under advisory fell 13%, to USD40bn, due to planned liquidations from portfolios.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } According to a survey carried out in March and April by NMG Consulting of about 400 British financial advisers, the percentage who are diassatisfied with RDR regulations has declined slightly, to 43% from 51%, ahead of the introduction of the system which will put an end to kickbacks and require that advising be paid for. Meanwhile, 48% of respondents are of the opinion that they were correct to predict that the introduction of the RDR would be difficult, and 38% say that it proved more onerous than they had predicted. Despite the challenge which compliance with the RDR may have presented, the reaction from clients is reassuring so far, NMG Consulting claims. Although the real impact of RDR on clients will take more time to become clear, 26% of advisers already report that the reaction from their clients has been positive, while 20% report a negative reaction. And 67% say that they have not lost clients following the introduction of the RDR, while only 7% say they lost more than 10 clients.Lastly, NMG Consullting notes that among advisers and paraplanners, 10% have changed their activities due to the introduction of RDR. In this segment, 58% of professionals are now providing mortgage advising, general insurance or protection contracts, but they have ceased to offer advising in wealth management, in order to avoid adopting the adviser charging system, and bringing themselves into compliance with the other requirements of RDR.