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11/03/2011

Loomis Sayles launches an absolute return bond fund

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Loomis, Sayles & Company, an affiliate of Natixis Global Asset Management based in Boston, has launched the Loomis Sayles Absolute Strategies Bond Fund, to meet demand from investors for absolute return bond strategies in the United Kingdom and Europe. The all-weather product may invest in several asset classes and categories of shares, in order to manage market risks (bonds, equities, currencies, securitisations), and will use long/short positions and derivatives. The Loomis Sayles Absolute Strategies Bond Fund is co-managed by Matthew Eagan, a bond portfolio manager, Kevin Kearns, senior bond portfolio and derivative strategies manager, and Todd Vandam, a bond portfolio manager and credit strategist. The fund, registered in the United Kingdom on 2 March, is a sub-fund of the UCITS III-compliant Natixis International Funds I Sicav, and is available in euros and pounds Sterling.
11/03/2011

Strong growth for Standard Life in 2010

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } As of the end of December, assets under administration by the Standard Life group totalled GBP196.8bn, up 16% year on year. Net inflows excluding British and Indian money market funds rose by 46% to GBP8.3bn, while long-term savings inflows rose 77% to GBP4.7bn. Assets under management for third parties at Standard Life Inestments (SLI) increased by 26% to a record GBP71.6bn.
11/03/2011

Henderson to slough off some funds and managers at Gartmore

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } According to reports in Citywire, the managers Dan Roberts, John Anderson and Leigh Himsworth and their teams will not be joining Henderson when the firm completes its acquisition of Gartmore. Their funds will be merged into other products over the summer. In total, Citywire reports, 14 Gartmore funds will be closed down. However, John Bennett, Charlie Awdry, Chris Palmer, Ben Wallace and Luke Newman will be joining Henderson.
11/03/2011

Schroders doubles net inflows in 2010

In 2010, Schroders had net new business inflows of GBP27.1 billion (2009: GBP15.0 billion) taking funds under management at the year end to an all time high of GBP 196.7 billion (2009: GBP 148.4 billion). Net revenue was GBP 1.16 billion (2009: GBP 749.8 million) and profit before tax was GBP 406.9 million (2009: GBP 137.5 million).Net inflows into fixed income were particularly noteworthy at GBP 9.8 billion taking fixed income assets under management to GBP 33.8 billion, almost double the level of two years ago. Schroders also had GBP 5.0 billion of net inflows in multi-asset with major new mandates from UK and international clients.
11/03/2011

Clariden Leu gets a new CEO

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Clariden Leu on 10 March announced the appointment of Olivier Jaquet, doctor of law, as CEO with immediate effect, specialised in tax and insurance law. The former CEO, Hans Nützi, will become senior advisor to the chairman of the board of directors at Clariden Leu, Peter Eckert, former CEO for insurance operations at the Zurich group. Eckert has spoken explicitly of a new growth phase, with a concentration on selected regions and client segments. Last year, assets under management at Clariden Leu fell from CHF103bn to CHF96bn.Jaquet began his career at SBS before joining Credit Suisse in 1999. Jaquet has served in various management roles in private banking and Winterthur Assurances, which was then owned by Credit Suisse. He was appointed CEO of the Credit Suisse trust in 2006. The Credit Suisse affiliate, founded in 1910, is active in the area of inheritance planning, and manages over USD100bn in assets.
11/03/2011

Mirabaud recruits a head for its alternative investment marketing unit

Bertrand Bricheux is joining Mirabaud to boost the marketing of alternative investments. He has been appointed head of hedge funds marketing and business development, with the task of seeing through the development strategy for funds of hedge funds and strengthening institutional distribution of the full Mirabaud product offering.As a specialist in the world of alternatives, Bertrand Bricheux has worked in hedge fund and fund of hedge fund marketing and distribution for a range of institutional investors, including Citigroup, UBP and Allianz Hedge Fund Partners, where he was a founding partner.
11/03/2011

European pension funds planning to adopt more dynamic management

European defined-benefit pension plans are seeking new solutions to manage their portfolios more actively in 2011, according to a study by Pyramis Global Advisors of 160 European pension funds (British, Dutch, Swiss and Scandinavian), representing a total of EUR880bn.Among the major themes cited by pension funds are dynamic allocation strategies and portfolio diversification. The Pyramis study also finds that the major lesson from the financial crisis for pension funds is that their portfolios were not as diversified as they through.European pension funds are also prepared to return to higher-risk asset classes. They are planning to increase their exposure to emerging markets, which they understand will be the most volatile asset class.p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }
11/03/2011

Allianz Global Investors streamlines legal structures in Europe

In a continuation of its integration of its various entities in Europe (EUR400bn in assets) and a simplification of its structures, Allianz Global Investors (EUR1.5trn) on 10 March announced the absorption of Allianz Global Investors Deutschland GmbH, which includes all activities in the German market, into Allianz Global Investors Europe Holding GmbH by the end of the month.AllianzGI Product Solutions GmbH, which provides development and management of products, will be absorbed into Allianz Global Investors Europe GmbH, which will also take on Allianz Global Investors Advisory GmbH by the end of the year.Due to the increasing internationalisation of its activities and the forthcoming introduction of the UCITS IV directive, Allianz Global Investors has also decided to adopt a single title of «managing director» for all of its high-level directors in Europe. In addition, the board of directors of the German-registered management firm Allianz Global Investors Kapitalanlagegesellschaft has been increased to five members, in order to bring the affiliate into compliance with regulations.The list of managing directors at Allianz Global Investors Europe is as follows (EEC= European Executive Committee):Giovanni Bagiotti (EEC),Oliver Clasen,Jose Maria Concejo,Elizabeth Corley (EEC),Wolf Diederichs,James Dilworth (EEC),Franck Dixmier,Tomaso Giorgetti,Michel Haski (EEC),Martin Keil,Nina Klingspor;Claudia Kock,Michael Korn,Daniel Lehmann,Thomas Linker,Markus Lohmann,Fabrice Neyroumande,Michael Peters (EEC),Tobias Pross,Wolfgang Pütz (EEC),Livio Raimondi,Ernst Riegel,Nick Smithand Thomas Wiesemann (EEC).The board of directors at Allianz Global Investors KAG is composed of:James Dilworth (chairman)Andrew Bosomworth,Michael Hartmann,Daniel Lehmannand Andreas Utermann.
11/03/2011

Commodities: the best defence against inflation

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Asian Investor reports that Peter Kerger, head of DG Advisors for Asia-Pacific in Singapore, claims that inflation-linked products, which are theoretically the ultimate defence against inflation, are not the best solution to gain from inflationary trends. From this point of view, it’s a better idea to look to real assets such as commodities.The price of commodities rises in crises, he explains, while inflation-linked bonds are only attractive if prices rise further.Peter Kerger adds that Deutsche Asset Management, of which DB Advisors is the institutional unit, is seeking new solutions to cover against inflation, as part of its plans to become a niche player in Asia. It is planning to offer an unusual vehicle (other than an Asian equities product), which would be a complement to a fund of fund portfolio.In first quarter, Asian pension funds were widely demanding multi-asset class absolute return investments, in mandates totalling USD50m to USD500m, he says.
11/03/2011

Julius Baer scales up range of yuan-denominated services in Hong Kong and Singapore

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The Swiss private bank Julius Baer, which has ambitions to make Asia its second home market, announced in Hong Kong on 10 February that it is adding to its range of products denominated in Chinese yuan to meet growing demand from its clients. It is now offering CNY conversion services, current and fixed deposit accounts, CNY-denominated trusts, currency-linked investments and bonds. As the market grows, Julius Baer is also planning to offer other products, such as shares in investment funds.Julius Baer, the only private bank with a QFII license in China, which it received in December, obtained a complete banking license in Hong Kong late last year (see Newsmanagers of 4 November). It is also planning to open a representative office in Shanghai this year, and to create a trust company in Singapore, as previously announced (see Newsmanagers of 13 September 2010).
11/03/2011

Jean-Luc Eyssautier joins Martin Currie

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The UK investment firm Martin Currie has recruited Jean-Luc Eyssautier as director of sales and client services for Asia. In this position, he replaces Chen Ee-Fang, who joined Northern Trust last October. In his new role, Eyssautier will be in charge of institutional investors and private banks, largely in Hong Kong and Singapore. Eyssautier was previously head of fund distribution in Asia at Axa Investment Managers.
11/03/2011

Aviva Investors obtains a license in Taiwan

Aviva Investors has announced that it has received a Securities Investment Consulting Enterprise (SICE) licence for Taiwan from the Financial Supervisory Commission. The licence allows the asset manager to open its own subsidiary and offer a broad range of products in Taiwan to both retail and institutional clients. Since entering Taiwan market in 2008, the licence means that Aviva Investors will have an official presence in Taiwan that allows it to provide on the ground services to local distributors and clients. Aviva Investors has two segregated mandates - Global High Yield and Emerging Market Bonds - and 13 registered SICAV funds in Taiwan.Aviva Investors also recently received its Capital Markets Services licence in Fund Management for Singapore.
11/03/2011

Assets up at Legg Mason and Invesco

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Legg Mason has announced that its assets as of the end of February totalled USD672.7bn, compared with USD671.8bn two months earlier. Equities assets totalled USD188.7bn, compared with USD185.6bn at the end of January, and USD184.2bn at the end of December, while bond assets totalled Usd353.4bn, compared with USD352.9bn and USD355.8bn, respectively. Money market funds, meanwhile, were down to USD130.6bn, compared with USD133.3bn at the end of January, and USD131.8bn as of the end of December.The fund manager explains that its assets were set back by the exit of an Asian equities manager, which reduced the total by about USD2.2bn.At Invesco, total assets as of 28 February totalled USD641.1bn, compared with USD623.1bn one month earlier, and USD616.6bn as of the end of December, while equities products accounted for USD304bn, compared with USD300bn at the end of January, and USD294.1bn two months earlier. Assets in UIT ETF and passive funds totalled USD88.7bn, compared with USD85.5bn and USD80.8bn, respectively.February’s increases are due to market appreciation, institutional investment subscriptions, and appreciation of other currencies against the US dollar.
11/03/2011

Russell recruits a head of defined contribution from AllianceBernstein

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Richard Davies, senior managing director, defined contribution & sub-advisory relationships at AllianceBernstein, will be joining Russell Investments on 1 June as managing director, defined contribution. He will become the new head of Russell’s activities in the area of defined contributions, which as of the end of December represented USD67bn in advisory assets and USD20bn in assets under management worldwide.
11/03/2011

Franklin Templeton appoints a head of sales to RFAs

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Franklin Templeton has announced the appointment of Pierre Caramazza as head of sales to Registered Financial Advisers in the United States. Caramazza has several years of experience at the firm, most recently as head of the Fixed Income Product Management division.
11/03/2011

Former McKinsey partner testifies in Galleon trial

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Anil Kumar, a former partner at McKinsey, has testified in the trial of Raj Rajaratnam, the founder of Galleon, that he shared confidential client information with Rajaratnam, because he felt indebted due to personally receiving USD500,000 per year in consulting fees from him, the Financial Times reports. He told of how Rajaratnam advised him to open a Swiss bank account and an offshore account invested with Galleon, using the name of his housekeeper in order to avoid detection.
11/03/2011

UIRE acquires Casal Bertone project in Rome

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } For about EUR48m, the German management firm Union Investment Real Estate (UIRE) has acquired the Casal Bertone gallery shopping centre under construction in Rome (9,830 square metres, 56 shops) from the Italian promoter Immobiliare Europea. The property will be added to the EUR4.5bn commercial real estate portfolio, and will belong to the open-ended real estate fund ImmoInvest: Europa.The Casal Bertone gallery is a part of a 21,000 square metre shopping centre, in which the largest space will be an Auchan hypermarket.
11/03/2011

Foreign UCITS IV funds will be tax-exempt in Ireland

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The Irish government has stated its position on the adoption of the UCITS IV directive, Fund Strategy reports. According to the most recent proposals, a foreign UCITS IV vehicle managed by an Irish management firm would not be considered subject to Irish tax. Luxembourg, the largest competitor to Ireland, stated in December that funds domiciled in Luxembourg will be taxed. The Irish market is home to about EUR759bn in UCITS funds, representing 79% of all funds as of 31 December, out of EUR964bn in funds domiciled in Ireland.
11/03/2011

Solit releases a silver mine fund in Germany

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The Hamburg-based wealth management firm Solit Management GmbH on 11 March will unveil the Liechtenstein-registered, UCITS-compliant fund FS Gold & Silver Reserve Fund, founded on 22 June last year, which has received a sales license for Germany. The product will be denominated in Swiss francs, and will specialise in shares in companies that operate silver mines (which represent 70% of the portfolio). The product is managed by Adrian Morgen at Everest Wealth Management (Liechtenstein). As of 3 March, the performance of the fund was 73%. Characteristics Name: FS Gold & Silver Reserve Fund ISIN code: LI0112163931
11/03/2011

RidgeWorth to shutter three 130/30 funds

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Mutual Fund Wire reports that the board of trustees at RidgeWorth Funds last week granted its approval for the liquidation of three 130/30 funds. They are the RidgeWorth International Equity 130/30 fund (USD133.15m), Real Estate 130/30 (USD12.3m), and US Equity 130/30 (USD14.1m).
11/03/2011

FRR has earned 3% returns since 2004

The French pension fund Fonds de réserve pour les retraites (FRR)'s annualised performance net of expenses (determined as at 31st December 2010) since it commenced investment operations in June 2004 is +3%1. The Fund’s performance over the year 2010 is +4.2%.As at 31 December 2010, the FRR’s assets totalled 37 Bn euros : - performance assets represented 38.8% of net assets (of which 32.3% equities, 3.2% commodities, 2.1% real estate and 1.2% emerging markets debts); - liability hedging assets accounted for 61.2% of net assets. Pension reforms in 2010 clarified the FRR’s liabilities which now entail 14 annual payments of 2.1 billion euros to the Caisse d’amortissement de la dette sociale –CADES– (2011 to 2024) and confirmed the lump sum contribution owed by CNIEG to the CNAV in 2020. The FRR therefore adopted its strategic allocation plan on 13 December 2010 with a view to meeting its liabilities and achieving as high as possible a return on its investments by 2024. The search for performance will be driven by its assets (equities and bonds of developed and emerging economies, high yield bonds, real estate and commodities) which represent 40% of its portfolio (37.5 Bn euros) as at the beginning of March 2011.
11/03/2011

Dexia AM launches Dexia Global Opportunities

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Dexia Asset Management has announced the launch of Dexia Global Opportunities, its 25th UCITS III-compliant hedge fund, with the objective of outperforming the Eonia over a recommended investment period of 3 years, with average volatility of about 6%. The mutual fund will rely on arbitrage strategies (long/short) and directional strategies (either long or short), investing in various asset classes (equities, fixed income, credit, currencies, commodities), either in European or international financial markets.
11/03/2011

GAM launches a “catbonds” fund

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } GAM has announced the launch of the GAM FCM Catastrophe Bond Fund, which offers investors a way to gain from natural disasters such as earthquakes or tornadoes. The investment firm has formed a partnership with Fermat Capital Management, a specialist in catbonds. Minimal subscription for the fund is USD25,000.
11/03/2011

Pension fund and BNY Mellon in disagreement

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } According to documents obtained by the Wall Street Journal under the California Public Records Act, the Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association pension fund is accusing BNY Mellon, its custodian, of failing in its fiduciary duty by making money on currency transactions initiated to facilitate the fund’s investments in foreign securities. The bank contests the conclusion, and claims that it was acting as a counterparty for the fund and its managers.
11/03/2011

AMF issues a warning over activities of Altanus

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The French financial market watchdog, the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), issued a warning on 10 March over the activities of the company Altanus Limited, whose headquarters are located in the Netherlands, and its websites, swissmoneyreport.net and smr-news.com.The firm sends faxes to machines at businesses, as well as the phone numbers of private individuals, entitled “Swiss Money Report,” which contain highly optimistic views of the financial situation of companies listed on foreign markets (with limited market capitalisation), and predicting potential returns on very large investments, with predictions that share prices will rise by more than 50% in the short term, and over 200% in the mid-term.The AMF has warned investors that “such potential gains also presuppose significant potential losses, which may be accompanies by very high price volatility.” The AMF also states that the Swiss Money Report mentions a conflict of interest, as the publishers of the Swiss Money Report reserve the right to buy or sell shares in the businesses contained in the reports at any time. As a result, “the AMF recommends a high level of caution on the part of investors, and in general, invites the public to examine suggested investments which promise high returns, and not to pass these on to others in any form.”
11/03/2011

Investment firms increase spending on lobbying

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } A wave of regulation now washing over the asset management industry in the wake of the financial crisis is leading major players in the United States, who are generally quiet in political matters, to make their voices heard, the Wall Street Journal reports. OpenSecrets.org reports that BlackRock spent nearly USD1.7bn on lobbying activities in 2010, compared with USD390,000 in 2009, and nothing in 2006. Fidelity Investments has increased its spending from 21% last year to USD3.5m. Legg Mason, for its part, spent USD1.07m last year, compared with USD580,000 in 2009. Vanguard Group spent USD1.2m last year, which remains stable compared with 2009, but more than double its lobbying spending in 2006.
11/03/2011

Le FRR s’adapte à son nouveau modèle

Face à ses engagements envers la Cades, le fonds articule sa stratégie autour de deux poches, de couverture (60% de l’actif net) et de performance.

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