Les fonds CCP III, géré par Tristan Capital Partners, et EPISO, co-géré par Tristan Capital Partners et AEW Europe, ont vendu un portefeuille immobilier logistique et de terrains constructibles situés en France, en Allemagne et en Pologne, à une joint-venture constituée entre SEGRO et le groupe canadien PSP. Le montant de l’opération est d’environ 472 millions d’euros,. Le portefeuille cédé qui génère actuellement un revenu annuel net d’environ 31,6 millions d’euros comprend 25 entrepôts logistiques d’une superficie totale d’environ 666.000 m², un immeuble en cours de construction et 51 hectares de terrains constructibles. Deux de ces entrepôts, d’une surface totale d’environ 130.000 m², sont situés en France, à Saint-Martin de Crau (près de Marseille) et sont loués à Maisons du Monde.

Lyxor Asset Management annonce la cotation sur Nyse Euronext Paris de 3 ETF indexés sur les marchés émergents. Ces 3 fonds, chargés à 0,55%, offrent une exposition à la performance des pays émergents membres de l’OCDE, des marchés émergents à l’exclusion des pays BRIC et du Mexique. LYXOR UCITS ETF MSCI EM BEYOND BRIC (ISIN : FR0011637925 ) permet aux investisseurs d’accéder aux actions de sociétés de pays émergents de petite taille et à croissance rapide. Cet ETF exclut les pays BRIC (Brésil, Russie, Inde et Chine), qui représentent généralement une proportion importante au sein des indices des marchés émergents, mais sont confrontés à des difficultés spécifiques : croissance plus faible, inflation plus élevée ou dépendance à l'égard du secteur de l'énergie. L’exclusion des BRIC permet ainsi de capter le potentiel de performance de pays qui devraient à terme devenir des relais de croissance importants dans les zones émergentes. L’indice MSCI EM BEYOND BRIC a généré des rendements supérieurs à ceux du traditionnel MSCI Emerging Markets au cours des trois dernières années, pour un niveau de volatilité moindre, améliorant ainsi sensiblement le ratio risque/rendement d’un investissement sur les marchés émergents. LYXOR UCITS ETF MSCI SELECT OECD EMERGING MARKET GDP (ISIN : FR0011645605 ) est le premier ETF à répliquer cet indice, qui exclut également les pays BRIC et se concentre plus spécifiquement sur les Etats émergents membres de l’OCDE. Certains investisseurs institutionnels européens sont soumis à des restrictions réglementaires pour les investissements en dehors de l’OCDE. Cet ETF répond à ces contraintes tout en procurant aux investisseurs un accès simplifié aux pays émergents faisant partie de l’OCDE. LYXOR UCITS ETF MSCI Mexico ( ISIN : FR0011614114 ) réplique la performance ajustée du flottant de sociétés mexicaines de moyennes et de grandes capitalisations. L’indice se compose de 25 actions et couvre environ 85% du marché. Le Mexique affiche actuellement un potentiel de croissance non négligeable : en effet, le cycle économique mexicain est hautement corrélé à celui de son voisin américain. (Source : SG Research, décembre 2013). Le lancement de cet ETF conforte le statut de Lyxor comme leader européen des ETF indexés sur un seul pays émergent, avec un encours sous gestion de 3,9 milliards de dollars.

La Française a annoncé mardi 11 février la signature d’un partenariat stratégique avec Tages Capital dans le domaine de la multi-gestion alternative. Concrètement, La Française prend 40 % du capital de la branche de gestion d’actifs du groupe Tages (2,1 milliards de dollars d’actifs). Pascale Auclair, directrice générale de La Française des Placements, et deux autres responsables de La Française seront nommés au comité exécutif de Tages Capital, dont les encours s'élèvent à environ 1 milliard de dollars. Par ailleurs, deux gérants de La Française intègreront Tages Capital à Londres pour créer une nouvelle équipe qui gérera par délégation la gamme de fonds de hedge funds de La Française et assurera les services auprès des investisseurs français clients. En France, c’est La Française qui sera distributeur exclusif des fonds de gestion alternative de La Française et de Tages. En dehors des frontières hexagonales, les deux groupes collaboreront en s’appuyant sur leurs propres réseaux de distribution. Cette nouvelle participation fait suite à un certain nombre de partenariats noués en France et à l’international par le groupe La Française au cours de l’année passée, comme celui avec Inflection Capital Management (IPCM) sur la gestion actions. Le pôle La Française AM couvre ainsi à l’heure actuelle les gestions fixed income, diversifiée et multi-asset avec La Française des Placements, s’appuyant pour la partie recherche crédit sur S&P Capital Q, la multigestion alternative au travers de Tages Capital, la gestion actions avec La Française Inflection Point et les expertises actions asiatiques grâce à son partenariat avec JK Capital Management. Une prise de participation dans une société de gestion indienne est également à l'étude. Le pôle immobilier La Française Global Reim, a pour sa part signé en septembre 2013 un partenariat avec Forum Partners, concrétisé en janvier par le rachat de Cushman & Wakefield Investors. L’acquisition permet à La Française de se renforcer dans l’immobilier direct européen. Parmi les projets dans le cadre de ce partenariat, un fonds paneuropéen de dettes immobilières senior et un fonds luxembourgeois de foncières cotées sont dans les cartons. A fin décembre, le groupe La Française affichait un encours de 41,9 milliards d’euros, en progression de 12,5 % sur un an, pour une collecte brute long terme de plus de 5,7 milliards d’euros, alimentée par une collecte immobilière de 1,8 milliard d’euros et une forte contribution de l’international pour plus de 1 milliard d’euros. En net, la collecte s’est élevée à 1,5 milliard d’euros. Les ambitions à l’international, qui s’appuieront sur tous les partenariats signés, sont fortes. «L’international devrait peser d’avantage que les 9 % actuels dans les mois à venir. La collecte à l’international devrait pouvoir monter à 1,5 milliard d’euros pour 2014", anticipe Xavier Lépine, président du directoire de La Française. La développement international passera par des pays comme le Japon «où notre offre immobilière et fixed income correspond bien aux demandes du marché», estime-t-il. La commercialisation des fonds de la filiale JKC et des fonds d’obligations à échéance à destination de la clientèle d’Amérique du Sud sera poussé à partir de Madrid. Enfin, La Française compte se pencher sur le marché du retail en Italie. L’ambition est claire, le groupe La Française compte être «un des leaders à l’international parmi les asset managers multi-spécialistes».

Natixis AM va modifier le calcul de la valeur liquidative de son fonds BP Valeurs du Japon Couvert (*). A partir du 14 février 2014, le calcul en question s’effectuera chaque jour d’ouverture d’Euronext Paris, à l’exception des jours fériés légaux en France au sens du code du travail et des jours de fermeture de la bourse de Tokyo. (part C EUR : FR0007085733)

La société de gestion CamGestion a indiqué sur son site qu'à compter du 14 février, le fonds CamGestion Euroblig pourra voir son exposition globale représenter jusqu’à 110% de l’actif net. Cette surexposition a pour objectif d’optimiser les investissements ou d’ajuster les investissements lors de mouvements de souscriptions et de rachats, indique la société de gestion.

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) on February 11 published a consultation paper setting out the draft Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) required for the implementation of the CRA3 Regulation (Regulation).The draft RTS, which complements the existing regulatory framework for credit rating agencies (CRAs), cover: disclosure requirements on structured finance instruments (SFIs); the European Rating Platform (ERP); and the periodic reporting on fees charged by CRAs.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The Investment Management Association, the association of asset management professionals in the United Kingdom, will launch a global call to review the way in which asset management firms pay for financial research, Financial News predicts. The move comes at a time when the association is concerned that the United Kingdom may be isolated by plans by the Financial Conduct Authority to shake up the research sector in the country. The recommendation will be part of a report on commissions paid for financial research which the IMA is expected to publish in the coming weeks.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Bestinver may soon be changing hands. According to several sources in the Spanish media, its largest shareholder, Acciona, is disposed to consider potential bids for its asset management affiliate. For good reason. The Spanish firm, specialised in infrastructure and services, has a lot of debt and is suffering the brunt of the most recent electricity reforms, which require the Entrecanales family, a shareholder in Acciona, to look at various options to unload non-strategic assets, including the asset management firm Bestinver. The challenge is far from easy: Acciona needs to unload several assets or affiliates to make up the gap of EUR350m related to recent regulatory changes in Spain. Although Acciona refuses all comment, several sources close to the Entrecanales family, cited by El Confidencial, confirm that the sale, as well as the real estate management firm, would be part of a restructuring plan announced in mid-2013, which aimed for EUR500m to EUR1bn in divestment. Bestinver, whose assets under management total EUR9bn, could be valued at EUR250m to EUR530m on the basis of an operating profit of EUR75m, according to El Confidencial. According to market sources cited by other Spanish media sources, the potential buyer of Bestinver could be a foreign private equity fund. Regardless of the valuation of the asset management firm and its potential buyer, the operation will have to be approved by the current managers and directors of Bestinver, key agents in the success of the asset management firm.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The British Schroders group is planning to build its presence in significant proportions on the Swiss market, where it already has more than 250 employees, the head of Schroders, Michael Dobson, has told the newspaper NZZ. The development of activities in Switzerland is already a consequence of the acquisition of Cazenove in July 2013, as the administrative services from Cazenove will now all be executed in Switzerland. Dobson has also emphasized that unlike what is being done in many other countries, Schroder Investment Management in Switzerland has not only a distribution team, but also eight investment desks, from which it is possible to manage funds.

Les fonds de long terme (c’est-à-dire hors fonds monétaires) commercialisés en Europe ont enregistré en décembre une collecte nette de 16,9 milliards d’euros, ce qui porte la collecte sur l’ensemble de l’année à 274,8 milliards d’euros, selon des statistiques communiquées par Lipper.Les fonds d’actions et les fonds diversifiés ont mené la danse en décembre, avec des collectes nettes de 10,2 milliards d’euros et 6,2 milliards d’euros respectivement. les premières estimations pour janvier montrent que les fonds d’actions ont continué de fortement collecter, relève Lipper. Les fonds obligataires ont attiré en décembre 2,4 milliards d’euros alors que les fonds monétaires subissaient une décollecte nette de 8,3 milliards d’euros.L’examen par pays montre un tableau contrasté, avec des collectes en décembre de 3,3 milliards d’euros en Italie, de 3,1 milliards d’euros au Royaume-Uni et de 2,4 milliards d’euros en Suède. En revanche, la Belgique affiche une décollecte nette de 2,6 milliards d’euros, devant la Suisse (-2,2 milliards d’euros) et la France (-2,1 milliards d’euros).BlackRock arrive en tête des collecteurs de fonds en décembre, avec des souscriptions de 2,2 milliards d’euros, devant Nordea AB (1,3 milliard d’euros) et Vanguard Group (1,2 milliard d’euros).Sur l’ensemble de l’année, les fonds obligataires ont collecté 96,4 milliards d’euros, les fonds d’actions 92,4 milliards d’euros et les fonds diversifiés 85,1 milliards d’euros. Les fonds monétaires ont en revanche terminé l’année sur une décollecte nette de 93,9 milliards d’euros.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Hermes Fund Managers has hired Johan Strömberg as head of development for Northern Europe, Fondbranschen reports. Strömberg previously worked for the hedge fund firm Prosperity Capital. He replaces Jakob Nilsson, who is appointed as head of sales for Asia.

Asset managers in the United States are shifting away from salesforce channelization, according to new research from Cerulli Associates. More than 50% of asset managers have reported moving away from organizing their salesforce by channel, compared to more than 30% in 2011. «For two decades, firms were organizing their salesforces by segmenting the industry into distribution channels, and assigning territories to wholesalers based on a combination of geographic factors and channel attributes,» Pamela DeBolt, associate director at Cerulli, explains. «Industry consolidation, technology, and the rise of fee-based platforms have created a new landscape in which firms are trending away from a channelized view of distribution.» «Firms are no longer able to rely on the classification of their clients into neat groups of channels that share similar characteristics,» DeBolt continues. «Firms are organizing their sales efforts around their key accounts and most promising client relationships, with key account managers playing an increasingly important role and wholesalers relying on them more.»

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } J.P. Morgan Asset Management (AM) has appointed Paula Stibbe in the position of head of global liquidity sales in Asia-Pacific, replacing Travis Spence, who has recently taken the position of head of global strategic relationships for the group in the region (excluding Japan), Asia Asset Management reveals. Stibbe had previously served in New York as senior client portfolio manager in the global short-term fixed-income group of the company. She will now be based in Hong Kong, where she will be in charge of sales and services of short-term fixed-income solutions along with development across the Asia-Pacific region.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }Lyxor recorded an increase in its assets under management of EUR +5 billion in 2013, to EUR 80 billion, according to Societe Generale’s annual results. This was due to « a positive inflow, underpinned by the extension of its product range in 2013, and a positive performance effect ». Lyxor’s revenues were up +8.6% at EUR 214 million in 2013, representing an increase in the gross margin to 28 basis points vs. 26 basis points in 2012. Amundi’s contribution to Group net income came to EUR 106 million in 2013 vs. EUR 115 million in 2012 and EUR 31 million in Q4 13 vs. EUR 28 million in Q4 12.The Asset and Wealth Management business line’s contribution to Group net income of EUR 271 million in 2013 was higher than in 2012, which incurred a EUR -200 million goodwill write-down in respect of TCW in Q2 12. Revenues totalled EUR 1,100 million, up +16.1% year-on-year, driven by Private Banking and Lyxor. Operating expenses of EUR -858 million increased +12.2% vs. 2012. They included EUR -30 million in respect of the transformation plan. The cost to income ratio improved by +5 points vs. 2012, to 78%. Gross operating income of EUR 242 million was higher year-on-year (EUR 218 million in 2012).

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } By opening an office in London, Axiom Alternative is hoping to kill two birds with one stone. Firstly, its presence in the European capital of finance permits direct confrontation with the heavyweights in the sector. “We wanted to play in the big leagues. But we needed to reach a certain size,” David Benamou, managing partner at Axiom AI, on 11 February told Newsmanagers at a debate and conference about the banking sector. With assets under management that now well exceed EUR500m, the firm claims that it has reached critical mass to envision a new step in its growth. That is another reason to set up in London. After massive changes in the past few years, in the City there is now a rich supply of talent that can be drawn on to build solid and well-performing teams. The London office may have four or five people by the end of the year. In addition to Benamou, who will direct the London office, the team may also include an analyst and a salesperson. There may also be some research activity in London, such that the team of 12 people in Paris may reach a total size of 17 to 18 employees by the end of 2014. The United Kingdom may be home to the firm’s largest foreign outpost, but it is not the only one. Axiom AI also has a large client base in Luxembourg, Belgium, Switzerland, and to a lesser extent in Southern Europe, in Spain and Italy. Axiom AI is planning to set up a sales office in Italy. Last but not least, the firm is also working to add to its product range, with the forthcoming launch of a strategy dedicated to banking sector equities. This is an asset class that the firm does not offer yet, but a sector which it knows well due to its specialisation in subordinate banking sector debt.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } La Française on Tuesday, 11 February announced that it is signing a strategic partnership with Tages Capital in the area of alternative multi-management. La Française will be acquiring 40% of capital in the asset management arm of the Tages group (USD2.1bn in assets). Pascale Auclair, CEO at La Française des Placements, and two other heads from La Française will be appointed to the executive board at Tages Capital, whose assets total about USD1bn. Two managers from La Française will also join Tages Capital in London to create a new team, which will be managing the range of funds of hedge funds from La Française, and will also provide services to French clients. In France, La Française will be the exclusive distributor of alternative management funds from La Française and Tages. Outside the borders of France, the two groups will collaborate with the support of their own distribution networks. This new participation follows a series of partnerships signed in France and internationally by the La Française group in the past year, including one with Inflection Capital Management (IPCM) in equity management. As of the end of December, the La Française group had assets of EUR41.9bn, up 12.5% year on year, for gross long-term inflows of over EUR5.7bn, driven by real estate inflows of EUR1.8bn and a strong contribution from international, totalling over EUR1bn. Net inflows totalled EUR1.5bn. International ambitions are strong. “International is expected to account for more than the current 9% in the next few months. International inflows are expected to be brought up to EUR1.5bn for 2014,” predicts Xavier Lépine, chairman of the board at La Française.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The shift bell is ringing at Brevan Howard Capital Management. The hedge fund management firm has decided to close a fund oriented to emerging markets with assets of USD2.3bn, effective immediately, due to its weak performance related to the purchase of bond assets and other securities, according to a source familiar with the matter cited by Reuters. The vehicle concerned, entitled Emerging Markets Strategies Fund, lost 15% last year, and another 1.6% since the beginning of 2014. The manager of the portfolio, Geraldine Sundstrom, is also expected to leave the firm, according to the same anonymous source.

Schroders launched on 7th February a new fund, Schroder ISF QEP Global Value Plus. This long/short global equity fund is managed by the QEP Investment Team, for Quantitative Equity Products, and represents the new vehicle for investors wishing to access its QEP Global Value Extension strategy, launched in 2008. With the flexibility to invest up to 150% long value stocks and up to 50% short low quality stocks, the strategy targets +5% vs. benchmark. With existing clients transferring to the new fund, Schroder ISF QEP Global Value Plus opened with over USD500 million of assets under management. The QEP Investment Team was established in 1996 and currently manages in excess of USD35 billion.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Gad Amar is taking a new step at BlackRock. At a client conference held on 11 February, the head of retail in Paris announced that he is moving to London, where he will in March take over as head of product development for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region at BlackRock. Amar joined BlackRock Paris in September 2010. He previously worked at JPMorgan Asset Management in Paris.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The British asset management firm Jupiter has appionted Simon Hynes as global head of distribution, replacing Maarten Slendebroek, who will succeed Edward Bonham Carter as CEO of the company. Hynes, who has been at Jupiter since 2002, had previously served as head of client coverage for the United Kingdom, overseeing sales to retail, institutional and wealth management clients.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } In January, funds on sale in Sweden enjoyed net inflows of SEK11.1bn, or EUR1.25bn, the latest statistics from the Swedish investment fond association, Fondbolagens Förening, show. Inflows were primarily driven by money market funds, which took in SEK4.9bn. Bond, equity and balanced funds posted respective inflows of SEK2.8bn, SEK2bn and SEK1.6bn. In equity funds, inflows were primarily driven by global equity funds, with nearly SEK4bn. European and Swedish equity funds also posted inflows, while other geographical regions show outflows. At the end of January, assets in Swedish funds totalled SEK2.442bn, or EUR276.55bn, of which 55% are in equity funds.

Nikko Asset Management has hired Alex Shaw in London as head of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) sales and marketing, a newly created position. Alex Shaw was most recently at Cambridge Strategy, and previously was managing director EMEA at Arden Asset Management. Prior to that, he held senior positions at firms such as GAM and Mercury Asset Management.The creation of this new role “is in line with Nikko AM’s ambition to expand its presence across the EMEA region, and is intended to capitalize on the growing interest toward investment opportunities in Japan and Asia”, according to a press statement.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Towers Watson is overhauling its teams. The firm, which has over 14,000 employees worldwide, on 10 February appointed Chris Ford as global head of its investment business. He replaces Carl Hess, who is promoted to the executive board for the group as managing director for the Americas region. Ford, who has been present at Watson for 23 years, was previously in charge of the investment business for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In his new role, he will oversee an activity from London which will have over 800 employees worldwide, and which has over USD2trn in assets advised, and nearly USD60bn in assets under management.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } A cold front is moving in at Barclays. The Wealth and Investment Management division at the British banking group has seen a pre-tax loss of GBP19m in 2013, after a pre-tax profit of GBP274m in 2012. This severe loss is primarily due to the costs of transformation and restructuring, which totalled GBP158m last year. At the same time, earnings have remained stable year on year, at GBP1.83bn in 2013, compared with GBP1.82bn in 2012. The only bright spot is that client assets increased 10% in 2013, to GBP204.3bn, and client savings increased 18%, to GBP63.4bn. For the year 2013 as a whole, the banking group has posted a pre-tax profit of GBP5.16bn, down 32% due to the negative impact of its transformation plan, while earnings fell 4% to GBP28.15bn.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Paul Emerton has joined Old Mutual Global Investors as head of UK stewardship and governance, where he joins his old colleague from Schroders, Richard Buxton. He will work with the UK equity team to improve corporate governance. Emerton was previously head of governance for the United Kingdom at Schroders. At OMGI, he will report to Buxton, head of British equities.

Over the course of the year 2013, the European fund industry enjoyed net inflows of EUR277.4bn into long term mutual funds, according to Lipper. These flows were driven by net inflows into bond funds (+EUR96.4bn), equity funds (+EUR92.4bn) and mixed asset funds (+EUR85.1bn). Money market funds showed outflows of EUR93.9bn.For December, the European mutual fund industry enjoyed overall net inflows of EUR16.9bn for long-term mutual funds. BlackRock, with net sales of EUR2.2bn, was the best selling group of long-term funds for December, ahead of Nordea AB (+EUR1.3bn) and Vanguard Group (+EUR1.2bn).

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The product range from BNY Mellon Asset Management (AM) in Japanese equities is winning out on the French market. The two funds investing in Japanese equities, the BNY Mellon Japan All Cap Equity and the BNY Mellon Japan Small Cap Equity Focus, which are already available in most major European countries (see Newsmanagers of 3 February 2014), have received a license from the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) for sale in France. The two vehicles, domiciled in Dublin, are sub-funds of BNY Mellon Global Funds plc. They are managed directly by BNY Mellon Japan, the local affiliate of the US group based in Tokyo. The structure was created last year following the recruitment of a team of 5 people from ING in April 2013, who report to Miyuki Kashima, head of Japanese equity management at BNY Mellon AM Japan. While the BNY Mellon Japan All Cap Equity Fund invests in a diversified portfolio of equities in all sectors of the Tokyo Stock Price (TOPIX) index, the BNY Mellon Japan Small Cap Equity Focus Fund, for its part, is primarily exposed to securities, whose market capitalisation is less than GBP3bn (JPY500bn).

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } iShares on 11 February listed the iShares Euro Stoxx 50 ex-Financials Ucits ETF on Euronext Amsterdam, according to a statement released by Euronext. The product, which charges 0.20%, and whose underlying index is the Euro Stoxx 50 ex Fins, is the first ETF in continental Europe to use an international transaction settlement structure, specifically Euroclear Bank, an international central securities depository (ICSD), which substitutes for traditional national central securities depositories (CSD). Euronext now has 661 listings of 571 ETFs listed on European markets.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The asset management market in Spain is promising a bright future. According to estimates published on 10 February by Inverco, the Spanish asset management association, unveiled by Funds People, assets under management in funds on sale in the Iberian peninsula are expected to rise by 13.5% in 2014 to EUR284.5bn, compared with EUR250.74bn at the end of 2013. Foreign funds on sale in Spain alone are expected to grow by 15.4% of their assets, to a total of EUR75bn, while domestic funds may see their assets increase by 14.3% to a total of EUR180bn, Lastly, Inverco is anticipating growth of 3.3% in assets under management in pension funds in 2014, increasing from EUR92.4bn to EUR95.5bn.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The asset management sector service provider Bi-Sam has appointed Richard Irons as executive director for Europe. In his new role, Irons will direct the development of the activities of the firm in Europe. Irons previously worked at Nyse Euronext, where he was director of sales for Nyse Technologies.