Le fonds d’investissement Gottex Fund Management a indiqué le 5 juillet dans un communiqué avoir finalisé l’acquisition de Frontier Investment Management, dont les actifs sous gestion s'élèvent à 550 millions de dollars dans divers produits Multi-Asset avantageux au niveau des coûts. L’opération avait déjà été annoncée au mois de mars.A cette date, Gottex avait précisé que le prix de l’acquisition combinait des actions Gottex et une somme au comptant, qui sera payée sur les deux prochaines années, en fonction des recettes futures de Frontier. Le communiqué du 5 juillet ne comporte pas plus de détails financiers.Le fondateur et directeur général (CEO) de Frontier, Michael Azlen, conserve une part conséquente du capital ainsi que la direction de sa société. Il viendra également grossir les rangs des dirigeants de Gottex.
James Dilworth, le directeur général d’Allianz Global Investors Europe, indique dans un entretien que sa société n’est pas intéressée par des acquisitions. En revanche, elle souhaite recruter des talents, notamment dans le haut rendement et la dette émergente. Le dirigeant, qui ne voit pas les ETF comme des concurrents, réaffirme également le positionnement d'AllianzGI, qui gérait à fin mars 316 milliards d'euros à fin mars, en tant que société de gestion active.
Torkell Eide quitte la société de gestion norvégienne Skagen où il était gérant de portefeuilles depuis quatre ans. Suite à ce départ, Kristian Falnes restera gérant principal du fonds actions mondiales Skagen Global, aux côtés de Søren Milo Christensen et Chris-Tommy Simonsen. Skagen Global représente aujourd’hui un encours de 5,2 milliards d’euros.Torkell Eide va retourner chez son ancien employeur Ako Capital, une société basée à Londres.
Le Greenwich Global Hedge Fund Index a reculé de 1,15% au mois de juin, selon les premières estimations. L’indice a ainsi fait mieux que le S&P 500 qui perdu 1,34% sur le mois ou encore le MSCI World Index (-2,61%).Les stratégies equity market neutral et event driven ont été les seules dans le vert durant le mois sous revue avec des gains de respectivement 0,03% et 0,58%. Sur l’ensemble du semestre, la stratégie event driven affiche d’ailleurs une progression de 7,74%.
La Deusche Bank envisagerait de créer jusqu'à 1.000 emplois à Dublin où elle est en train de mettre en place un nouveau centre international qui proposera des services d’administration aux hedge funds, rapporte le quotidien Irish Independent.Le quotidien précise que la Deutsche Bank emploie déjà un peu plus de 300 personnes dans la capitale irlandaise. Les services d’administration de la Deutsche Bank à destination des hedge funds existent depuis 1998 dans la capitale mais c’est en 2011 que l’activité a pris un nouvel essor avec la mise en place d’un «centre d’excellence» pour les hedge funds.
Le 4 juillet, Moody’s Inverstors Services a placé la note de la dette long terme et des dépôt Ba1 du Banco Sabadell sous surveillance en vue d’une dégradation, de même que la note D de solidité financière de cet établissement espagnol. En même temps, l’agence a placé sous surveillance avec implication négative la note Ba3 de la dette subordonnée senior ainsi que le B3 des actions préférentielles. La note court terme du Sabadell demeure «not prime».Cette mise sous surveillance a été occasionnée par la détérioration des actifs du Banco Sabadell, particulièrement dans le secteur entreprises non immobilières.Par ailleurs, Moody’s a abaissé les notes de la dette et des dépôt du Banco Popular Español à Ba3/Not Prime contre Ba1/Not Prime, la note de solidité financière étant dégradée à E+ contre D. Toutes les notes sont assorties d’une perspective négative.La décision s’explique selon Moody’s par la détérioration du profil financier et de la qualité des actifs dans la plupart des segments.
Depuis le 1er janvier, 123Venture annonce avoir collecté 175 millions d’euros, dont 65 millions d’euros au titre de la campagne ISF (loi TEPA). Le solde, soit 110 millions d’euros, a été levé sur des fonds de private equity thématiques axés sur la dette mezzanine, les actifs tangibles ou les énergies renouvelables, précise un communiqué.«C’est une collecte historique. Nous avons plus collecté au cours de ces 6 premiers mois qu’au cours de n’importe quelle année complète depuis notre création et pour la première fois les FCPR ont pris le pas sur la collecte fiscale» souligne Olivier Goy, président d'123Venture.Selon Xavier Anthonioz, directeur général délégué, «cette collecte est le fruit notamment de la montée en puissance des family offices dans le non coté. Au-delà des clients qui viennent pour les qualités intrinsèques de la classe d’actifs, nous avons également de plus en plus de clients chefs d’entreprise qui utilisent nos solutions pour optimiser la fiscalité de leurs plus-values de cession dans le cadre des régimes de remploi et d’apport cession».La dynamique enclenchée au cours du premier semestre permettra à 123Venture de dépasser le milliard d’euros sous gestion avant la fin de l’année. Le groupe gère actuellement 980 millions d’euros.
A compter du 9 juillet 2013, des modifications interviennent sur le portefeuille du fonds Ecureuil Technologies (*). Il pourra être investi en titres de créance négociables et instruments monétaires émis par des émetteurs ayant leur siège social dans un pays de la zone euro ayant une notation minimale A- (Agence Standard & Poor’s ou Fitch) ou A3 (Agence Moody’s). Il pourra également être composé d’OPCVM monétaires et obligataires dans la limite de 15 % de l’actif net. De fait, le fonds sera désormais exposé au risque de taux dans la limite de 15% de l’actif net. (*) Part C : FR0010083519 / Part D : FR0010089391
82 % des sociétés du S&P 500, soit 410 entreprises, ont versé un dividende au deuxième trimestre 2013, le niveau le plus élevé depuis 1999, rapporte Les Echos. Hors S&P 500 aussi, les entreprises récompensant leurs actionnaires sont de plus en plus nombreuses (47,3 %). Au total, sur l’ensemble des groupes américains cotés, 591 augmentations de dividendes ont été comptabilisées ce trimestre, contre 505 il y a un an, note le quotidien.
Pour un assureur-vie, il n’y a rien de pire qu’une période prolongée de taux d’intérêt bas, rapporte Les Echos. Une telle situation bride leurs revenus financiers tandis que, pour les banquiers, la période actuelle est synonyme de ressources financières bon marché sur les marchés comme sur les dépôts des épargnants, qu’elles peuvent se permettre de moins rémunérer. Banquiers et assureurs peuvent donc avoir intérêt à une remontée des taux, à condition toutefois qu’elle ne soit pas trop brutale. Une hausse trop rapide des taux pourrait tourner au scénario catastrophe. Compte tenu des circonstances de marché, certains franc-tireurs pourraient en profiter pour ouvrir de nouveaux fonds plus rémunérateurs. Les épargnants pourraient alors être tentés de fermer leurs contrats pour y placer leur épargne, indique le quotidien. Côté bancaire, une hausse brutale «se répercuterait notamment au bilan via un risque de défaillance accru des créanciers compte tenu de la faiblesse de l’activité».
Selon des données de Mercer, les actifs des fonds de pension des entreprises du S&P 1500 couvrent 88 % des engagements, soit le ratio de couverture le plus haut depuis octobre 2008. Il est en hausse de 14 points de pourcentage depuis le début de l’année, note le Financial Times. «Ces chiffrent prouvent que les fonds de pension sont exposés à une forte volatilité et que leur situation peut rapidement évoluer», souligne Richard McEvoy, responsable du groupe stratégie financière de Mercer.
Déjà basé à Singapour, où il était senior vice president, head of sales & client service, Asia-Pacific ex-Japan chez Capital international, Mark Speciale rejoint BNY Mellon dans la même ville comme head of institutional distribution, Asia Pacific (APAC).L’intéressé est subordonné d’une part à Alan Harden, CEO de BNY Mellon Investment Management pour la région APAC, et à PeterPaul Pardi, head of global distribution de BNY Mellon Investment Management à Londres.
A l’occasion du cinquième anniversaire du premier indice européen de fonds actions ISR et de son fonds associé, Alteane Responsible Fund, Ellipsis AM (groupe Exane) et Cedrus AM ont réitéré leur volonté de poursuivre ensemble, en France et en Europe, la promotion active de ce support d’investissement long terme.Alteane Responsible Fund est constitué à 50% de fonds actions ISR Best in Class et à 50% de fonds actions exposés aux thématiques du développement durable les mieux notés par Cedrus AM. Le fonds a dégagé une performance annualisée de + 4,64% sur 3 ans glissants.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The commodity specialist Diapason Commodities Management has launched a smart beta investment platform for commodities, “Virtuoso,” which will be aimed at institutional investors and consultants in the United States and Europe from July 2013, Hedgeweek reports. Virtuoso is present as a completely custom investment platform, designed to generate alpha compared with investments in indices, including the Diapason Commodity Index or other indices such as the Dow Jones-UBS Community Index. The platform aims for returns 4% to 6% above the index selected according to the constraints on the portfolio. It is aimed at pension funds, insurers and other institutional investors who are exposed to the commodity asset class through benchmark indices.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Spanish banks at this time may not need additional Euorpean funds, according to a document prepared by the European Commission and the European Central Bank (ECB) which Reuters obtained on Friday.The European Union last year made EUR100m available to the Spanish government, which was used to assist financial establishments hit by five years of virtually uninterrupted recession and the collapse of a real estate bubble.Madrid used only EUR41.3bn of the credit line offered to it. “At this stage, there is no reason to consider other uses of the programme,” the document states. Euorpean funds were used to recapitalise nationalised banks and to provide capital for FROB, the country’s bank bailout fund.According to the document seen by Reuters, a return to profitability in the sector represents a major challenge due to the low interest rates and an increase in non-performing loans. “If these negative trends with respect to jobs, real income and the solvency of businesses extends beyond what is projected, that would increase risks, especially for the most fragile banks,” it says.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The Greenwich Global Hedge Fund Index is down 1.15% in the month of June, according to initial estimates. The index has performed better than the S&P 500, which lost 1.34% in the month, and the MSCI World Index (-2.61%). Equity market neutral and event-driven strategies were the only ones to show gains in the month under review, with gains of 0.03% and 0.58%, respectively. For the half as a whole, the event-driven strategy has gained 7.74%.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Deutsche Bank may create up to 1,000 new jobs in Dublin, where it is in the process of creating a new international centre which will offer hedge fund administration services, the Irish Independent newspaper reports. The newspaper states that Deutsche Bank already has slightly over 300 employees in the Irish capital. Administration services for hedge funds at Deutsche Bank have existed since 1998 in the capital, but in 2011, the firm took off again with the creation of a centre of excellence for hedge funds.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } A growing number of wealth managers are entering the mobile app space aimed at high net worth clients. The best products are currently said to be those from Credit Suisse and Société Générale, according to a study undertaken by the website “My PrivateBanking” (“Mobile Apps for Wealth Management.”) On a scale of 60 points, Credit Suisse scores a total of 52, followed by Société Générale (49 points), ABN Amro (48 points, JP Morgan (46 points), and US Trust (46 points). The authors of the study point out the efforts shown by wealth management firms to offer easy-to-use apps. However, integration of content is highly variable according to the app. Social networks are still among the channels that are not yet well taken into account in applications.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Institutional Money reports that Simon Klein, head of sales ETFs & ETCs for Europe and Asia, has announced that Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management (DeAWM) is adapting its passively-managed product range to current and future demand on the part of investors. This will result in the liquidation of ETFs and ETCs for which inflows have been inadequate, but particularly for the launch of new products in segments which DeAWM feels will sustain major demand from clients. Applications for sales licenses have already been submitted for some of these. Among the future ETFs and ETCs will be currency-hedged products based on equity indices, inflation-linked bonds worldwide, government bonds worldwide and Spanish and Italian government bonds, and lastly on equity indices of some countries and regions. The funds may use physical or synthetic replication.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Mark Speciale, who is already based in Singapore, where he had been vice president, head of sales & client service, Asia-Pacific ex-Japan at Capital International, is joining BNY Mellon in the same city as head of international distribution, Asia Pacific (APAC).Speciale will report to Alan Harden, CEO of BNY Mellon Investment Management for the APAC region, and PaterPaul Pardi, head of global distribution at BNY Mellon Investment Management in London.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Lee Yun Kyu, the new head of the Korean asset management firm LS Asset Management, would like to increase the firm’s international exposure and exposure to the retail market, Asian Investor reports. LS AM is planning to launch co-branded solutions in partnership with foreign asset management firms. LS AM would also like to increase its international exposure through alternative products, including hedge funds, funds of hedge funds, real estate funds, and private equity funds. In its own market, the firm estimates that it is excessively dependent on institutional clients, and would like to increase its presence on the retail segment with new products, including co-branded vehicles. The firm is hoping to increase its assets under management to USD3.2bn by the end of the year, compared with USD2.6n currently.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } On the fifth anniversary of the first European SRI equity fund index and its associated funds, Alteane Responsible Fund (ISIN code: FR0010632398), Ellipsis AM (Exane group) and Cedrus AM have opted to discontinue their collaboration, in France and Europe, to actively promote this long-term investment support.Alteane Responsible Fund is 50% invested in Best in Class SRI equity funds, and 50% in equity funds exposed to the bustainable development themes rated best by Cedrus AM. The fund has earned annual returns of +4.64% over a sliding three years.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Since 1 January, 123Venture has announced inflows of EUR175m, of which EUR65m were for the ISF campaign (TEPA law). The remaining EUR110m were raised for themed private equity funds focused on mezzanine debt, tangible assets and non-renewable energies, a statement says.“This is a historic inflow. We have posted more inflows in the past 6 months than in any complete year since our creation, and for the first time, FCPRs have taken the lead on tax revenues,” says Olivier Goy, chairman of 123Venture. Xavier Anthonioz, deputy CEO, says “This inflow is primarily the fruit of the rise in influence of family offices in private equity. In addition to clients who come for the intrinsic qualities of the asset class we also have a growing number of corporate clients who use our solutions to optimise taxation on capital tains from sales within re-employment and job creation regimes.” The dynamic initiated for first half will allow 123Ventures to top EUR1bn in assets under management by the end of the year. The gorup currently has EUR980m in assets under management.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The head of ESR and SRI development at BNP Paribas Investment Partners, Eric Borremans will “soon” join Pictet Asset Management as a “sustainability expert.” In this role, he will replace Christoph Butz, who will now dedicate himself exclusively to the management of the Pictet-Timber fund, alongside Gabriel Micheli.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The investment fund Gottex Fund Management on 5 July announced in a statement that it has finalised the acquisition of Frontier Investment Management, whose assets under management total USD550m in various advantageously priced Multi-Asset products. The operation was announced in March. On that date, Gottex stated that the acquisition price combined Gottex shares and an amount in cash, which would be paid over the next two years, depending on future earnings at Frontier. The statement released on 5 July does not include further financial details. The founder and CEO of Frontier, Michael Azlen, retains a significant stake in capital as well as management of the firm. He has also enlarged the management at Gottex.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Enough investors have been won over by the European and British central banks, which are supporting members of the Fed claiming that the end of quantitative easing may not be as imminent as markets suggest, EPFR Global estimates.As a result, in the week ending on 3 July, bond funds posted net inflows of USD2.11bn, while equity funds took in USD5.98bn, after outflows of USD57.9bn in four weeks to bond funds, and USD22n to emerging market equities and high yield bonds.Net subscriptions to high yield equities have reached their peak in the past five weeks, while inflows to European equity funds are at their highest level since the beginning of the year. European bond funds have seen the largest inflows since the beginning of May.However, hedge funds have seen their sixth consecutive week of net redemptions, while money market funds, particularly European funds, have experienced redemptions of over USD16bn.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } For the first time in more than two years, ETFs and other ETPs worldwide in June saw net outflows totalling USD3.98bn, according to ETFGI, with bond products seeing net redemptions of USD7.8bn, while commodity products saw net outflows of USD3.8bn. However, equity ETFs saw net inflows of USD4.8bn.Since the beginning of the year, net subscriptions have totalled USD103.9bn, compared with USD107.2bn in first half 2012.Vanguard, the third-largest provider in the world by asset volumes, has seen net inflows of USD28.9bn since the beginning of 2013, and was the only one of the top five providers in the rankings to post net subscriptions in June.iShares (BlackRock), the largest in the world by assets under mangement, suffered net outflows of USD7.9bn in June, but has seen net inflows of USD23bn in January-June.For its part, State Street, with its SPDR branded ETFs, has seen net outflows of USD2.4bn in June, which reduced its net subscriptions in first half to USD6bn.PowerShares, in fourth place by assets, experienced net outflows of USD586m in June, but inflows of USD7.16bn in the first six months of 2013.Lastly, db x-trackers (Deutsche Bank) has seen net outflows of USD751m last months, but net subscriptions of USD9bn in January-June.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The implementation of a taxation agreement signed with the United Kingdom is proceeding as planned, but the first indications from some banks in Switzerland suggest that the proportion of British non-tax compliant assets in Switzerland are lower than had initially been expected, according to a statement released on 5 July by the Swiss Bankers’ Association (ASB). As part of the agreement, British clients were required to decide by the end of May 2013 whether they would like to chose a single tax charge to pay for the past, or rather disclose assets to the British tax authorities, the association says. The lower level of non-compliant assets is primarily due to the fact that many clients have the status of “non-domiciled” resident in the United Kingdom. These clients are not taxable in the United Kingdom and are therefore not affected by the agreement. However, many British clients have opted for spontaneous declaration, which is less surprising in light of recent developments in Switzerland concerning the announced passage of a global standard for automatic exchange of information. “These two developments are now resulting in the fact that tax revenues sent to the United Kingdom through the single payment are lower than expected. It is therefore not ruled out that the guarantee amount paid by banks, of CHF500m, may not be recovered, or only partly recovered,” the professional association concludes.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Lorenzo Goldberg is joining Zebra Capital as head of development for Europe and Latin America. He will be based in Madrid, Funds People reports. Goldberg, who had been deputy CEO of the Corporate Finance Boutique, after teaming up with Alpha One Partners and managing director of Russell Investments, is responsible for overseeing the arrival in Europe of Zebra Capital, an asset management firm founded in 2001 by Roger Ibbotson, founder of Ibbotson Associates, which was acquired by Morningstar.The first UCITS-compliant fund is the SIG Zebra Global Equity Fund, a long/short absolute return equity fund managed with a behavioural approach. Net exposure to the market will total 100% to 150% with a beta of 0.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } On 1 September, Dirk Schoenmaker, dean of the Duisenberg School of Finance, will become chairman of the Netherlands self-regulation body for financial services, the Dutch Services Institute (DSI). He will replace Rudolf De Korte, who had been president for 12 years.The DSI is an independent foundation whose objective is to promote and monitor the reliability and integrity of all financial service providers and compliance professionals.