28/10/2013
Unigestion posts inflows to equities and private equity
Unigestion shows net inflows since the beginning of this year, Jean-François Hirschel, director of global marketing at the Swiss asset management firm, tells Newsmanagers. He did not, however, reveal the scale of the net subscriptions, preferring to wait for the end of the year. In 2012, the firm showed slight outflows, and as of 30 June, it had EUR10.2bn in assets under management. Unigestion has primarily been successful with equities and private equity. Concerning funds of hedge funds, its third unit, Hirschel sees a regain in interest on the part of clients. “In the first 8-9 months of 2013, we have registered twice as many requests for proposals as in all of 2012. They are coming primarily from England, Switzerland and Germany,” he says. Commercially, Unigestion has “recruited” five to 10 new clients, primarily institutional, which corresponds to its annual objective. The firm has signed up its first clients in Canada. This success is driving Unigestion to consider a local office there. The Swiss firm is also continuing to grow in Europe, its historic market. It has recently recruited the Finnish Jussi Louekoski as head of institutional clients for Northern Europe. It is continuing its efforts in Germany, France and England. However, Unigestion does not cover Southern Europe, and for the moment, has no intention to do so. In Asia, Unigestion is taking its first steps, and in Singapore recently obtained a license which allows it to sell some funds locally.
