p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 115%; } The portfolio management firm Alderan, founded in 2015, on 7 March announced that it has obtained an extension to its AMF license to manage real estate investment companies (société civile de placement immobilier, or SCPI). Alderan, an affiliate of the Ojirel group, currently manages a real estate portfolio valued at EUR250m. Alderan will now offer retail investors the opportunity to invest in corporate real estate (offices, activities, logistics, commercial, etc.) “We are delighted to be able to offer our institutional expertise to private investors, to make their investments profitable, with constant attention to transparency, ethics, and efficiency,” says Rémy Bourgeon, chairman of Alderan, in a statement. Alderan will soon offer two SCPIs, in the themes of activity parks and logistics (licenses pending). Alderan, which has a team of 11 people, primarily serves institutional investors, realtors, and family offices. The asset management firm currently manages three real estate collective investment professional bodies (Organisme professionnel de placement collectif immobilier, OPCCI), and seven dedicated funds.

Tobam, Paris-based research driven quantitative asset manager, and China Asset Management Company (ChinaAMC), a Chinese asset manager, announced a strategic partnership to develop a Anti-Benchmark China A-shares equity investment strategy. «The announcement that China’s A Shares will be included in the MSCI Emerging Markets benchmarks by June 1st, 2018 has increased investors’ needs for core strategies in Chinese equities», explain a press release.The Anti-Benchmark China strategies will seek to maximize diversification across the CSI indexes (CSI 300, CSI 500 & CSI 800 universes) by applying TOBAM’s patented Maximum Diversification approach, which is designed to avoid the risk biases that more traditional allocation methods such as market-cap weighting can lead to.ChinaAMC will leverage their expertise and privileged access to the Chinese A-Shares equity markets and complement this with TOBAM’s research capabilities and unique Anti-Benchmark approach.Like in other markets, the implementation of the Maximum Diversification® approach in the China A-Shares equity investment universe aims at delivering the risk premium of the asset class via diversification, which seeks to translate into both excess return and reduced volatility vs. the corresponding market cap-weighted index.

Natixis Asset Management, an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers, will be renamed Ostrum Asset Management from April 3, 2018, announced the company. It is a part of Natixis’ strategic plan ‘New Dimension’, for wich Natixis Investment Managers has begun a process of aligning its brands. Jean Raby, Chief Executive Officer of Natixis Investment Managers, commented: “Ostrum Asset Management is our largest affiliate, and its distinct brand name re-affirms its key role in Natixis Investment Managers’ multi-affiliate structure. Ostrum Asset Management’s leading active investment solutions are an integral part of our Active Thinking℠ approach, helping clients to build portfolios to meet their long-term goals. Ostrum Asset Management will rely on Natixis Investment Managers global distribution platform, as well as the Groupe BPCE retail banking networks, to drive its growth. The asset management company will focus on its core investment capabilities, fixed income, equity and insurance.

p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 115%; } Roche-Brune Asset Management (Roche-Brune AM) on 6 March announced that it has appointed Olivier Fitoussi, 40, as associate director for institutional distribution. In this position, he will be responsible for relationships with pension funds, retirement planning institutions, multi-management and banks. The appointment “reaffirms the independence and the ambitions of Roche-Brune AM with the internationalisation of the Distribution & Innovation unit, which is composed of three people,” the asset management firm, which was spun off from Primonial last year, says in a statement. In early Janyary 2018, Cyril Grinblat, 36, formerly of Tocqueville Finance, joined Roche-Brune AM as associate director for external distribution (see NewsManagers of 13 February 2018). He is responsible for relationships with wealth management advisors, asset management firms and life insurance and distribution platforms. Antonio Celeste, 46, also joined Roche-Brune AM in February as associate director responsible for innovation and distribution (see NewsManagers of 22 February 2018).

p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 115%; } Fidelity International has announced the launch of a new multi-asset class fund, Fidelity Fonds Multi Asset Target Income 2024. The strategy will allow investors to benefit from a net distribution rate of 2% per year before taxes, with few risks in an environment of continuing low interest rates. The fund, which is aiming for total volatility of 2% to 5% per year, may if needed use alternative asset classes to generate additional returns. The subscription period runs from 5 March 2018 until 22 May 2018.

Robeco has decided to exclude investments in the tobacco industry from its mutual funds. Robeco currently excludes tobacco from its Sustainable fund range, said a press release. This exclusion will now be extended to the mainstream Robeco funds, including sub-advised funds. The exclusion does not apply to client-specific funds and mandates.The tobacco industry is increasingly seen as socially disadvantageous. In 2017, the UN Global Compact excluded tobacco companies from participating in the initiative. Although Robeco takes its responsibility as a shareholder seriously and actively engages with companies it invests in, engagement with the tobacco industry will not lead to fundamental change. Therefore, for Robeco, investing in tobacco is no longer compatible with the company’s commitment to SI.Peter Ferket, Head of Investments: “Robeco has been at the forefront of SI since the 1990s and sees sustainability as a long-term force for change in markets, countries and companies. Given the significant international concerns about the risks posed by tobacco and in view of recent developments, such as the UN Global Compact’s decision, we think the time is ripe for excluding tobacco.”The exclusion applies to all listed companies that are involved in the production of tobacco or significant components of cigarettes. The process of excluding tobacco stocks will be completed by the end of Q3 2018.

p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 115%; } Swedish women have far less self-confidence than men in terms of savings and personal finance, a survey by Fondbolagens Förening, the Swedish asset management association, has found. In response to a question asking how they estimate their knowledge of savings and personal finance (retirement, taxes, and various forms of savings) compared with people of the same gender, 26% of women say they have less good knowledge than average, compared with 18% for men. Only 9% of women say they have better than average knowledhe, compared with 23% for men. In saving money, there are differences between men and women also. Women save less, but more often, and take fewer risks in their investments. With respect to the choice of fund, 21% of women choose Swedish equities and diversified funds, while 37% of men prefer Swedish equity funds.

p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 115%; } The Swiss asset management firm GAM has signed an agreement with the Venetian association Fondazione di Venezia to manage and administer its financial resources. GAM (Luxembourg) SA, the Luxembourg-based company of the group, has been mandated by the foundation to create a dedicated strategy, to which the financial assets of the investor will be channeled. An absolute return management mandate with a multi-management portfolio of liquid alternative solutions has been assigned to the multi-asset team at GAM (Italia) SGR, led by Massimo De Palma.

p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 115%; } The Italian asset management firm Azimut in February posted net subscriptions of EUR391m, bringing inflows since the beginning of the year to EUR800m. Assets under management total EUR40.6bn. Including assets under administration, assets total EUR51.3bn.

p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 115%; } The Italian banking group Mediobanca on 7 March announced that it has completed the acquisition of a 69% stake in the capital of the Swiss firm RAM Active Investments (RAM AI), a European systematic asset management firm, after obtaining the necessary permission from the supervisory authorities. The operation was announced in November 2017. As a part of the transaction, the founding partners of RAM AI, Thomas de Saint-Seine, Maxime Botti and Emmanuel Hauptmann, will retain large stakes in the capital of the firm, and will continue to be involved in its development for at least ten years, the Italian bank says in a statement. Moreover, “each of them will reinvest a significant part of the proceeds of the transaction into RAM AI funds,” Mediobanca adds. Additionally, as an institutional investor and historic shareholder in RAM AI, the Reyl group will retain 7.5% of capital in the firm. “This transaction comes as part of the strategy at Mediobanca to continue its development in the asset management profession,” the banking group says. In the past few years, Mediobanca has made four acquisitions in this sector, including the former Barclays activity in Italy in the Affluent & Premier segment, the acquisition of a 50% stake in Banca Esperia, and a takeover of the activities of Cairn Capital in alternative management. RAM AI, which will be integrated into the Mediobanca books from 1 March 2018, makes “a very positive contribution” to the results at the group, with net revenues of EUR57.1m. RAM AI also contributes EUR4.3bn in assets under management, and net profits of EUR19.6m. With the consolidation of RAM AI, the Wealth Management division of the Mediobanca group now represents 25% of earnings at the Italian group, 45% of commission revenues, and 10% of gross operating surplus for the group. Mediobanca has also announced that the group will contribute CHF200m in seed capital to allow RAM AI to launch new investment products and add to its product range.

The legal troubles at Natixis Asset Management (Natixis AM) are not improving. As the asset management firm yesterday morning revealed a new brand identity (Ostrum AM read the story elsewhere today on NewsManagers), UFC-Que Choisir chose the same day to draw the attention of the press to the regulatory issues at Natixis AM, and to announce that it has initiated a class-action lawsuit. As the record fine levelled against the firm by the sanctions commission of the French regulator, the Commission des Sanctions de l’Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), has been extended against Natixis AM as a result of shortfalls in the management of 133 formula funds, and in the absence of a satisfactory response from Natixis AM to its cooperative approach, the UFC-Que Choisir association has announced that it is engaging a class action before the high court in Paris to reimburse consumers who subscribed to one or more of these funds via the Banques Populaires or the Caisse d’Epargne. “Although the verdict of the AMF in July 2017 had strong sanctions for the hidden fees scandal at Natixis which UFC-Que Choisir denounced repeatedly, the association still wishes for the victims of this practice to be indemnified,” the association says in a statement. The association admits that “the individual damages vary strongly depending on the fund concerned and the investment made, and for funds which generate excess management fees, may be as much as several hundreds of euros per consumer.”“In the interests of obtaining indemnity for the victims, and for them to retain their documentary evidence during the procedure,” UFC-Que Choisir is making a frequently-asked questions document available on its website, where consumers can learn more about the action, and to verify that they are potentially affected, and a form, by which they may make themselves known to the association if required.Natixis AM contests the verdict of the AMF, which is currently under appeal to the French Conseil d’Etat.

Une récente étude de Natixis revient sur les styles qui permettraient la meilleure sélection d’actions dans le « bear market » obligataire annoncé.

A l’approche du Conseil européen des 22 et 23 mars, la position britannique est plus incertaine que jamais.

Muriel Heitzmann, directrice du front-office et de l’ingénierie financière à la direction des investissements et du financement, AG2R La Mondiale

Lucette Yvernault, directeur de la gestion obligataire institutionnelle, Fidelity International,

La parole à... Patrice Gautry, économiste en chef d’Union Bancaire Privée

On connaissait la bonne vieille technique du double comptage entre gestion d’actifs et banque privée pour gonfler les encours communiqués au public par certains assets managers. La Banque Postale AM a trouvé un moyen encore plus malin afin d’atteindre « le trillion » dans trois ans : enrôler 100 % des encours de ses partenaires. Ageon détient 25 % de LBP AM ? Voilà cette dernière désormais riche de 600 milliards d’euros, grâce aux masses gérées par l’assureur néerlandais. C’est Rémy Weber lui-même, patron de La Banque Postale, qui l’a expliqué en présentant ses résultats annuels. Ne reste plus qu’à nouer un partenariat avec BlackRock ou Vanguard, et notre gestionnaire pourra se hisser sur le podium mondial de l’industrie.

L’avis d’expert de... Sofiane Messaoudi, consultant senior chez Julhiet Sterwen

Leur qualité et leur niveau de professionnalisation doivent accompagner et garantir la transformation de ces plans de retraite.

C’est le taux de chômage (de la population active) au Japon en janvier pour 2,7 % attendu par le consensus. Il n’avait été jamais aussi bas depuis avril 1993. Le manque de main-d’œuvre se fait cruellement sentir dans l’économie nippone. On décèle 1,59 offre d’emploi pour 1 demande.

Dépollution. Le troisième fonds de réhabilitation emmené par le gestionnaire Brownfields ambitionne 250 millions de collecte. Le gestionnaire, qui développe dans la commune de Seine-Saint-Denis un projet sur les anciennes friches industrielles Westinghouse, a annoncé avoir levé 165 millions d’euros dans le cadre du premier closing pour son nouveau fonds Brownfields III. En détail, 80 millions d’euros ont été levés auprès d’investisseurs historiques : la Banque européenne d’investissement et la Caisse des dépôts (40 millions d’euros chacun). Une dizaine d’investisseurs institutionnels dont La Banque Postale et AG2R apportent de leur côté 85 millions d’euros pour porter le montant global à 165 millions d’euros. Positionné sur une frange alternative de la gestion immobilière, Brownfields s’emploie à dépolluer et reconvertir des sites industriels, tertiaires ou commerciaux au cœur des villes.

Les employeurs américains ont fait part d’une accélération de la hausse des salaires depuis le début de l’année, indique le Livre Beige publié par la Réserve fédérale (Fed) mercredi, signe que les tensions du marché du travail contraignent les entreprises à augmenter leurs rémunérations. Dans plusieurs des 12 régions sur lesquelles porte l’enquête, la progression des salaires a accéléré à un rythme modéré. Le Livre Beige fait également état de signes d’une accélération de la hausse des prix, la plupart des régions constatant une inflation modérée, après l’avoir qualifiée de modeste il y a quelques mois.

Chaque jeudi, L’Agefi livre ses indicateurs clés de crédit pour suivre l'évolution des marchés. Cette semaine : la dette non financière.

L’UFC-Que Choisir a assigné la société de gestion juste avant l’annonce de sa nouvelle marque, Ostrum AM, qui acte son changement de stratégie et sa dépendance à Natixis IM.

Mediobanca a annoncé hier la conclusion de l’acquisition de 69% du capital de RAM Active Investments (RAM AI), gérant d’actifs systématique français à vocation européenne, après avoir obtenu les autorisations nécessaires des autorités prudentielles. Comme prévu dans l’accord préliminaire signé en novembre, les associés fondateurs de RAM AI resteront impliqués dans son développement pendant au moins dix ans, tandis que le groupe REYL conservera 7,5% du capital. RAM AI sera consolidé dans les comptes de la banque italienne à compter du 1er mars 2018. «RAM AI apporte une contribution très positive aux résultats du Groupe, avec un revenu net de 57,1 millions d’euros, des avoirs sous gestion de 4,3 milliards et un bénéfice net de 19,6 millions sur une base annuelle», précise Mediobanca.

Selon le Chancelier de l’Echiquier, un deal punitif pour la City serait néfaste aux sociétés européennes et à leurs clients.

La sortie en capital se trouverait fortement limitée, sauf pour les petits contrats.

La Grande-Bretagne et l’Arabie saoudite ont exprimé mercredi leur ambition d'établir un partenariat de relations commerciales et d’investissements qui pourraient atteindre 65 milliards de livres (72,8 milliards d’euros) dans les prochaines années. Le gouvernement britannique a jugé que cette perspective constituait un signe de confiance dans l'économie du Royaume-Uni avant le Brexit. Cette annonce a été faite à l’issue d’une rencontre entre la Première ministre britannique Theresa May et le prince héritier saoudien Mohamed ben Salman en visite à Londres.

Dans le cadre de sa participation aux Coupoles Distrib Invest 2018, Stéphane Corsaletti (photo), président d’ABN AMRO Investments Solutions, détaille la nouvelle stratégie de la société en matière d’architecture ouverte. Une stratégie reposant notamment sur le développement de sa plateforme de délégation de gestion et se concentrant sur la mise en place de fonds de mandats. Au total, la société conseille 45 milliards d’euros au travers de sa sélection de fonds classique et 15 milliards d’euros via sa plateforme de délégation de gestion.

L’AFG (Association Française de la Gestion financière) et France Invest (Association des Investisseurs pour la Croissance) ont publié les résultats de l’enquête annuelle France Invest - AFG sur le niveau et la nature de la collecte réalisée en 2017 par les gestionnaires de FCPI (fonds communs de placement dans l’innovation) et de FIP (fonds d’investissement de proximité), instruments dédiés au financement des entreprises innovantes et des PME régionales.