P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Mirabaud Asset Management on 10 January announced the launch of a new dynamic multi-asset allocation strategy for asset allocation products and diversified mandates (see Newsmanagers of 11 January 2013). As part of the new strategy, the asset management firm will launch the Mirabaud – Asset Allocation fund, which offers flexible management of all traditional asset classes. The management process is based on indicators of financial, marcoeconomic and price trends. Asset allocation can diversify the benchmark index, so as to offer moderate correlation with traditional financial indices. Mirabaud – Dynamic Allocation is invested exclusively in instruments which “offer very good liquidity and transparency conditions,” a statement says. The special quality of this approach, says Mirabaud, is “the very close collaboration between macro and quantitative specialists” within the investment team. Characteristics Caetgory I ISIN code: LU0862032199 TER: 0.6% including taxes Curreny: euro Investors targeted: institutional investors Category A ISIN code: LU0862031894 Management fees: 1.2% TER Currency: euro Investors targeted: all investors

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The BlackRock Energy & Resources fund (USD773m) and the BlackRock All-Cap Energy & Resources (USD384m) are now managed by Robin Batchelor and Poppy Allonby, who replace Denis Walsh and Daniel Neumann, the firm has announced in an SEC notification relayed by Bloomberg. The managers of the BlackRock Small Cap Growth Equity Portfolio (USD1.4bn), Andrew Thut and Andrew Leger, and Eilen Leary, who manages the BlackRock Mid-Cap Growth Equity Portfolio (USD286m), will be replaced. A spokesperson for BlackRock has confirmed that Walsh, Neumann, Thut, Leder and Leary will be leaving the firm. BlackRock is disappointed in underperformance or losses from funds managed by these five people.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The French public pension fund Etablissement de retraite additionnelle de la fonction publique (ERAFP) has announced that it has awarded an active mandate and two stand-by SRI real estate asset management mandates in France. The mandate was awarded to AEW Europe SGP. Amundi Immobilier and La Française Real Estate Managers have been retained as supplementary managers. The sum invested in three years’ time is estimated to be about EUR310m. The duration of the tender is 10 years. Investments will primarily be made in office and commercial properties, as well as in residential and student dormitory properties. The fund may potentially invest in other categories of real estate assets, such as activity locations and warehouses, residential and service properties. ERAFP has nearly EUR14bn in active investments, all within an SRI investment programme.

Vincent Aguado and Pierre-Edouard Bonenfant joined Carmignac Gestion as traders bringing the Trading department headed by Nicolas Courbon, to 5 members.Before coming to Carmignac Gestion, Vincent Aguado, 35, was fixed income sales at JP Morgan. Prior to Carmignac Gestion, Pierre-Edouard Bonenfant was a derivatives structurer within the Systematic strategies team at THEAM (BNP Paribas IP&CIB).

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Assets under management at the cantonal bank of Basel (BKB) as of the end of 2012 totalled CHF29.1bn, compared with CHF30bn one year previously, according to a statement released on 28 February. Following a net outflow of CHF2.2bn in first quarter, second quarter brought net outflows of CHF1bn, the bank says. Net profits for the group rose by nearly 24% to CHF255.7m.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The asset management firm DNCA Finance on Thursday, 29 February announced the arrival of Jacques Sudre as a bond specialist, He will aim to assist Philippe Champigneulle in the fixed income management of the diversified fund Eurose, and its clone DNCA Invest Eurose, as well as the bond product range from the firm. When approached by Newsmanagers, the asset management firm explained Sudre’s arrival as a result of the significance bonds have taken on. In terms of assets, these securities now represent 49% of assets at the asset management firm (EUR5.6bn), or EUR2.74bn. The Eurose fund has assets under management of EUR2.235bn. By comparison, in 2007, fixed income products represented 15%, and equities 85% of assets. Sudre, 36, began his career in London at the LBO department of Natexis Banques Popularies. Before joining DNCA, he served as principal manager of bond funds at the asset management firm Anaxis AM. He also directed the credit team, and belonged to the board and the investment committee at the firm.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } On 28 February, the Alternative Investment Solutions unit of State Street Corporation has announced that it has successfully finalised the integration of fund servicing activities at Morgan Stanley Real Estate, in a process which was initiated in February 2012, and which involved more than 150 people at Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing (MSREI) specialised in accounting for operations and technical (who have joined State Street), who continue to use the exclusive administration technologies of MSREI for real estate. State Street provides complete account and administration services to MSREI worldwide for investment vehicles representing total assets of USD36bn.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } CPR Asset Management last year posted net inflows of EUR2.3bn, the ECO of CPR AM, Jean-Eric Mercier, announced on 28 February, adding that all areas of expertise contributed to these good results. Inflows to money markets represented EUR1.1bn, and inflows to mid- to long-term totalled EUR1.2bn. The contribution of asset allocation totalled EUR700m, while fixed income and credit brought in about EUR400m, and equities, EUR100m. Assets under management rose 20% last year to EUR20.6bn, of which 51% are in dedicated funds. CPR AM won 9 mandates and dedicated funds in 2011 and 2012. CPR AM has also released a new study of the advantages of diversified management and the practices of French institutionals in this area.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } With the First Trust High Yield Long/Short ETF, First Trust is releasing a 130/30 type actively invested strategy investing in speculative grade US and non-US bonds, bank loans and convertible securities, while the short portion is composed primarily of US Treasury and investment and/or specualtive grade bonds, Invex Universe reports. The TER For the fund, whose acronym on Nasdaq is HYLS, is 1.19%. The objective is to outperform the Bank of America Merrill Lynch U.S. High Yield Master II Constrained Index, with short positions focused on securities which First Trust expects to underperform the index. The average duration will be about 5 years.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Assets under management at the Raiffeisen group last year increased by CHF27.8bn, or 18.6% to CHF173.15bn, according to a statement released on 1 March. The development is largely due to the acquisition of Notenstein Banque Privée SA last year, into which non-US assets of the Wegelin private bank acquired by Raiffeisen have been transferred. Assets under management by Notenstein totalled CHF21bn in 2012. The group has also reported an increase of 6.6% in its profits to CHF634.8m.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The BATS platform on 28 February admitted to trading the ProShares Global Listed Private Equity ETF (acronym: PEX), which charges total fees of 2.54%, and which will invest in publicly-traded private equity firms, Index Universe reports.

Pour 2012, Man Group affiche une perte «statutaire» avant impôt de 745 millions de dollars contre un bénéfice de 193 millions en 2011. Les dépréciations sur la survaleur (goodwill) de GLG se montent à 746 millions de dollars, en plus des 233 millions rapportés à fin juin (91 millions pour GLG et 142 millions pour Man Multi-manager). En revanche le bénéfice ajusté avant impôt a augmenté à 278 millions de dollars contre 262 millions, dont 223 millions liés aux commissions de gestion nettes et 55 millions résultant des commissions de performance nettes.Au 25 février 2013, les encours ressortaient à 55 milliards de dollars contre 57 milliards fin décembre 2012 et 58,4 milliards fin 2011. Sur ce total, les actifs gérés par AHL représentaient 14,4 milliards de dollars fin décembre contre 21 milliards un an plus tôt. Pour GLG Alternatives, l’encours ressortait à 15,2 milliards contre 15,5 milliards. Les actifs long-only représentaient 11,4 milliards de dollars contre 10,7 milliards et FRM (acheté le 17 juillet 2012) pesait 16 milliards contre 11,2 milliards.Man Group a subi pour 2012 des sorties nettes de 7,3 milliards de dollars.

Pour 2012, St. James’s Place déclare un bénéfice IFRS avant impôt en hausse de 23 % à 134,6 millions de livres et un bénéfice net de 91,7 millions de livres, ce qui représente un gonflement de 37 % sur les 67 millions de 2011.Pour la troisième année consécutive, le gestionnaire britannique va majorer son dividende de 33 %, à 10,64 pence contre 8 pence et le CEO David Bellamy s’attend à une augmentation d’importance similaire au titre de 2013.Les encours ont progressé l’an dernier de 22 % à 34,8 milliards de livres et les souscriptions nettes sont ressorties à 3,35 milliards de livres contre 3,21 milliards.

La société de gestion britannique Jupiter a fait état pour l’exercice 2012 d’une croissance de ses actifs sous gestion de 3,5 milliards de livres à 26,3 milliards de livres à fin décembre contre 22,8 milliards de livres fin 2011, selon un communiqué publié le 28 février. La collecte nette s’est élevée l’an dernier à 1 milliard de livres contre 700 millions l’année précédente. Le bénéfice net de l’exercice s’est inscrit à 73,6 millions de livres contre 70,3 millions de livres pour 2011.

Mirabaud Asset Management avait annoncé le 10 janvier le lancement d’une nouvelle stratégie multi-actifs d’allocation dynamique pour les produits d’allocations d’actifs et les mandats diversifiés. Dans le cadre de cette nouvelle stratégie, la société de gestion vient de lancer le fonds Mirabaud – Dynamic Allocation, qui propose une gestion flexible sur toutes les classes d’actifs traditionnelles. Le processus de gestion se base sur des indicateurs de tendances financières, macro-économiques et de prix. L’allocation d’actifs permet de diverger de l’indice de référence, offrant une corrélation modérée avec les indices financiers traditionnels. Mirabaud – Dynamic Allocation est investi exclusivement dans des instruments «offrant de très bonnes conditions de liquidité et de transparence», souligne un communiqué. La spécificité de cette approche repose selon Mirabaud sur «la collaboration très étroite entre les spécialistes macro et quantitatifs» au sein de l’équipe d’investissement. Caractéristiques Catégorie I Code Isin : LU0862032199 Frais de gestion : 0,6% TTC Devise : euro Investisseur concerné : investisseurs institutionnels Catégorie A Code Isin : LU0862031894 Frais de gestion : 1,2% TTC Devise : euro Investisseur concerné : tout investisseur

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is planning to ease regulations of derivatives. In a document obtained by the Financial Times, one of the members of the CFTC likely to swing the vote, Mark Wetjen, recommends modifications to the terms on places of execution for derivative transactions. Wetjen proposes to no longer require instituitonal investors to solicit listings from five different operators. This proposal has excited the anger of the major banks, but would increase price transparency and a larger participation in a market dominated by a very small number of operators.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Total capital allocated by US money market funds to euro zone banks have reached their highest levels in over a year, in a sign that foreign investors are in the process of modifying their point of view on the region, the Financial Times reports. As of the end of January, the exposure to euro zone banks of the largest US money market funds represented 14.5% of their assets under management, a level not seen since October 2011, and an increase of 90% in dollars since a low point in June 2012. For the seventh consecutive month, money market funds have increased their allocations to French banks.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } For 2012, Man Group has announced a “statutory” pre-tax loss of USD745m, commpared with profits of USD193m the previous year. Goodwill at GLG totals USD746m, in addition to USD233m written down at the end of June (USD91m for GLG and USD142m for Man Multi-manager). However, adjusted pre-tax profits increased to USD278m, from USD262m, of which USD223m are related to net management commissions, and USD55m are from net performance commissions. As of 25 February 2013l assets totalled USD55bn, compared with USD57bn in December 2012, and USD58.4bn at the end of 2011. Oc this total, assets managed by AHL represented USD14.4bn at the end of December, compared with USD21bn one year previously. For GLG Alternatives, assets total USD15.2bn, fown from USD15.5bn, Long-only assets represented USD11.4bn, compared with USD10.7bn, and FRM (acquired on 17 July 2012) had USD16bn, compared with USD11.2bn. Man Group has posted net outflows for 2012 of USD7.3bn.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The financial ratings agency Fitch Ratings has awarded a Real Estate Asset Manager rating of M3+ to Fabrica Immobiliare SGR. Fabrica Immobiliare has signed a strategic alliance with CBRE Global Investors, which opens up possibilities to diversify geographically, but which also presents a few executional risks.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The British asset management firm Jupiter has reported an increase in its assets under management in 2012 of GBP3.5bn, to GBP26.3bn as of the end of December, compared with GBP22.8bn as of the end of 2011, according to a statement released on 28 February. Net profits in the fiscal year totalled GBP73.6m, compared with GBP71.3m in 2011.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } In 2012, St. James’s Place has announced pre-tax IFRS profits up 23%, to GBP134.6m, and net profits of GBP91.7bn, which represents an increase of 37% over GBP67m in 2011. For the third consecutive year, the British asset management firm will increase its dividend by 33%, to 10.64 pence, from 8 pence, and CEO Davia Bellamy predicts a similar increase in 2013. Assets increased by 22% last year, to GBP34.8bn, and net subscriptions totalled GBP3.35bn, compared with GBP3.21bn.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The designer of international accounting standards IASB on 29 February published a report describing a series of amendments to the IAS39 standard for financial instruments. The amendments will then be integrated into the chapter dedicated to hedge accounting in IFRS 9 on financial instruments (which will replace IAS 39). The objective for the improvements is to introduce an exception to planned discontinuation of hedging in IAS39. More precisely, it is proposed that an exception will be made whenever a derivative presented as a hedging instrument loses its original counterparty in order to become a contract with a central counterparty (CCP). Participants can present their comments during a shortened 30-day period, due to the forthcoming introduction of new regulations on OTC trading in some countries, required by the G20 to improve transparency and to provide better surveillance of this market segment.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } As of the end of January, total assets at Italian asset management firms set a new all-time record of EUR1.2061trn, compared with EUR1.1946trn one month previously. Of this total, collective management firms account for EUR529.57bn, compared with EUR525.31bn, and portfolio management accounts for nearly EUR676.34bn, compared with EUR669.29bn, Assogestioni reports. In January, net subscrptions totalled EUR6.574m, compared with net outflows of EUR4.341bn in December. The Italian association of asset management firms says that net inflows to collective management represented EUR3.193bn, comapred with EUR233m in December, while portfolio management posted net inflows fo EUR3.381bn, compared with net ouflows of EUR4.573bn the previous month. For collective funds (EUR529.37bn), Italian-registered funds (EUR150.11bn) attracted EUR138m, compared with EUR51m in December, while foreign-registered funds (EUR336.36bn) posted inflows of EUR3.03bn, compared with EUR154m.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The European Securities Markets Authority (ESMA) and the European Banking Authority (EBA) on 28 February published a warning for retail investors about the risks related to investment in contracts for difference (CFD). In the current period of low interest rates, the two authorities say they are concerned by the temptation for inexperienced retail investors to invest in complix financial products, which they may not really understand, and which could cause them considerable losses. The warning is followed by a practical guide for retail investors, which provides information on the forex and trading via an online platform.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The Bundestag on 28 February passed a German federal law to regulate the practice of high-frequency trading, which represents 40% to 50% of trading on the market, and which is accused of producing high fluctuations in prices, Les Echos reports. Brokers launching high-frequency orders will be required under the law to obtain a licence from the market regulator, BaFin. The market operator, Deutsche Börse, welcomed the bill, but raised questions about the negative effects which it may have on the financial markets if Germany goes it alone in this area.

Avec le First Trust High Yield Long/Short ETF, First Trust commercialise une stratégie de type 130/30 géré activement investissant en obligations catégorie spéculative américaines et non-américaines, en crédits bancaires et en valeurs convertibles, la partie courte étant constituée principalement de Treasurys américaines et d’obligations d’entreprises en catégorie investissement et/ou spéculative, rapporte Index Universe.Le TFE de ce fonds dont l’acronyme sur le Nasdaq est HYLS se situe à 1,19 %. L’objectif consiste à surperformer le Bank of America Merrill Lynch U.S. High Yield Master II Constrained Index, les positions courtes se focalisant sur les valeurs dont First Trust s’attend qu’elles vont sous-performer cet indice. La duration moyenne devrait se situer aux alentours de 5 ans.

Malgré un environnement «difficile et morose», BNP Paribas Real Estate poursuit son développement un peu partout sur la planète. Après avoir recruté outre-Manche une cinquantaine de brokers en 2012 pour renforcer ses positions notamment en transaction à Londres, la société vient de lancer deux plateformes en Asie et envisage d’en lancer une troisième au Moyen-Orient, à Dubai, dans le courant du deuxième trimestre, a indiqué le président du directoire, Philippe Zivkovic, à l’occasion de la présentation de ses résultats annuels. Il s’agit dans les deux cas de proposer toute l’expertise de BNP Paribas Real Estate à une clientèle de grands investisseurs, family offices et fonds souverains notamment, qui sont de plus en plus présents sur les trois principaux marchés européens (France, Allemagne et Royaume-Uni) et qui offrent l’avantage, dans le contexte actuel, de signer de gros tickets. La société réfléchit également au développement de ses activités de gestion d’actifs et de property management en Allemagne. Il pourrait être question d’une structure dédiée, avec constitution d’une équipe sur place, mais BNP Paribas Real Estate n’a pas souhaité dans l’immédiat en dire plus. L’an dernier, le chiffre d’affaires de la ligne de métier Investment Management au sein de BNP Paribas Real Estate a progressé de 9% par rapport à 2011 à 61 millions d’euros. La collecte nette s’est élevée l’an dernier à 900 millions d’euros contre 700 millions l’année précédente et les actifs sous gestion sont passés de 12,7 milliards d’euros fin décembre 2011 à 13,1 milliards d’euros à l’a fin de l’année 2012, dont 6 milliards en France et 1,9 milliard en Belgique et au Luxembourg. Au niveau de BNP Paribas Real Estate dans son ensemble, le résultat opérationnel est demeuré stable à 156 millions d’euros pour un chiffre d’affaires en très légère hausse à 662 millions d’euros contre 658 millions d’euros..

Les fonds BlackRock Energy & Resources (773 millions de dollars) et le Balckrock All-Cap Energy & Resources (384 millions) seront désormais gérés par Robin Batchelor et Poppy Allonby en remplacement de Denis Walsh et de Daniel Neumann, indique la société dans une notification à la SEC relayée par Bloomberg. De même les gérants du BlackRock Small Cap Growth Equity Portfolio (1,4 milliard de dollars), Andrew Thut et Andrew Leger, et Eilen Leary, qui gère le BlackRock Mid-Cap Growth Equity Portfolio (286 millions), vont être remplacés.Une porte-parole de BlackRock a confirmé que Denis Walsh, Daniel Neumann, Andrew Thut, Andrew Leger et Eileen leary vont quitter la société.BlackRock est déçu par la sous-performance ou les pertes des fonds gérés par ces cinq personnes.

Carmignac Gestion a annoncé jeudi 28 février, l’arrivée de Vincent Aguado et Pierre-Edouard Bonenfant en tant que traders. Ils rejoignent le département Trading dirigé par Nicolas Courbon, qui porte de fait son effectif à cinq membres.Avant de rejoindre Carmignac Gestion, Vincent Aguado travaillait chez JP Morgan au sein de la force de vente «fixed income», où il occupait le poste de vice-président. Pour sa part, Pierre-Edouard Bonenfant, exerçait auparavant la fonction de derivatives structurer chez Theam.

Le cabinet d’avocats international Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP dont le bureau de Paris conseille les clients du cabinet en matière de fusions et acquisitions, capital investissement, banque et finance, fiscalité, contentieux et arbitrage international vient de recruter Jean-Claude Najar en tant qu’International Counsel au sein de son équipe d’arbitrage international. Basé à Paris, il sera plus particulièrement en charge du développement de l’activité arbitrage commercial et de la compliance.Avant de rejoindre Curtis, Jean-Claude Najar directeur juridique France & Senior Counsel Europe chez General Electric Co (GE).