Selon Henri de Castries, le président directeur général d’Axa, l’assureur n’a pas vocation à participer à un éventuel tour de table de place dans le capital d’Euronext, rapporte L’Agefi. Le Trésor a sondé plusieurs institutions en vue de leur entrée au capital d’Euronext si l’option d’une introduction en Bourse de l’opérateur européen était retenue dans le cadre du rachat de Nyse-Euronext par ICE. Pour Henri de Castries, l’ensemble des mesures qui viennent d'être prises (TTF, hausse des taxes sur les salaires) montrent que les pouvoirs publics, soit ne veulent pas d’une place de Paris, soit sont incohérents.
Le volume des transactions engagées par Amundi Immobilier en France et à l’international pour l’année 2012 a atteint 1,5 milliard d’euros, ce qui porte le total des encours gérés à 7 milliards d’euros, en hausse de 10 %. Selon la société de gestion, Opcimmo, son organisme de placement collectif immobilier «grand public» a contribué à ce résultat, ce produit ayant bénéficié des réseaux du groupe (Caisses régionales, LCL et CA Assurances) pour atteindre 75% de parts de marché en terme de collecte, indique l'établissement. En 2013, Amundi Immobilier va diversifier ses investissements à l’international pour offrir plus largement l’accès au marché européen à ses clients.
Le bénéfice net du pôle gestion d’actifs de JP Morgan s’est inscrit à 487 millions de dollars au premier trimestre, en progression de 101 millions de dollars ou 26% par rapport au trimestre correspondant de 2012, selon des chiffres publiées le 12 avril.Les actifs sous gestion se sont accrus de 101 milliards de dollars soit 7% pour s'établir à 1.500 milliards de dollars, en raison de la collecte nette sur les produits de long terme et d’un effet marché positif. Les autres encours, notamment sous conservation ou administration, ont augmenté de 57 milliards de dollars ou 9% pour s'établir à 688 milliards de dollars.
Oddo Asset Management affiche une collecte de 400 millions d’euros depuis le début de l’année. «Les investisseurs reviennent dans les marchés actions depuis janvier. «Cette classe d’actif représente 80% des 400 millions d’euros collectés depuis début de l’année», a indiqué à L’Agefi suisse Lorenzo Gazzoletti, directeur général délégué de Oddo AM. Oddo vient par ailleurs d’ouvrir un bureau à Genève, rapporte le quotidien. «Nous avons un bureau à Zurich depuis 2011 et avons depuis peu ouvert un autre bureau à Genève. La Suisse fait partie de notre stratégie d’internationalisation. Edouard Vallette Viallard est notre country manager et est en charge de la partie francophone et italienne de la Suisse. Deux autres personnes sont dévolues à la partie suisse allemande et aux relations avec les gestionnaires indépendants», explique au quotidien Lorenzo Gazzoletti.
Selon BarclayHedge et Trimtabs, les 3.434 hedge funds qui ont fourni leurs résultats à fin février ont drainé 11,4 milliards de dollars en net en février soit 0,6 % de leurs encours, après 4,3 milliards en janvier. Pourtant leur performance a été seulement de +0,4 % en février, alors que le S&P 500 a augmenté de 1,1 %. Sur les douze derniers mois sous revue, la performance des hedge funds a été de seulement +5,8 % alors que le S&P 500 affichait une hausse de 10,9 %.Par ailleurs, sur la base des résultats à fin mars de 1.360 fonds, BarclayHedge estime que les hedge funds ont enregistré en moyenne une performance de 1,16 % en mars, ce qui porte le total à 4 % depuis le début de l’année.Seules trois stratégies ont été en perte le mois dernier : equity short bias (- 3,20 %, 5 fonds), marchés émergents (- 0,49 %, 219 fonds) et technologies (-0,39 %, 16 fonds). Les meilleures performances ont été affichées par les 24 fonds biotechnologies et hygiène (3,11 %), les 21 fonds Asie-Pacifique (2,83 %) et les 169 fonds equity long bias (2,24 %).Sur l’ensemble du premier trimestre, la plus forte performance est enregistrée par les actions Asie-Pacifique (8,81 %) et la plus forte perte concerne l’equity short bias (- 9,38 %).
Le 17 avril, BlackRock annoncera officiellement en France et dans le restant de l’Europe le lancement des compartiments Emerging Market Corporate Bond Fund et Emerging Market Investment-Grade Bond Fund de la sicav luxembourgeoise BlackRock Global Funds (BGF), ce que le gestionnaire n’est pas habilité à confirmer jusqu'à présent, mais qui a été révélé par Fondsnieuws.Le premier doit être investi à au moins 70 % en obligations d’entreprises catégorie investissement des pays émergents.Ces fonds sont gérés de Londres par une équipe que dirige Sergio Trigo Paz, qui était CIO marchés émergents chez BNP Paribas Investment Partners.
Le 25 avril, annonce Aberdeen Immobilien KAG, le fonds immobilier offert au public DEGI International distribuera à ses porteurs 3,50 euros par titre, ce qui représentera au total 125,9 millions d’euros ou presque 10 % de l’encours résiduel de 1.277 millions d’euros.Aberdeen précise que, sur le montant de 3,50 euros par titre, 1,7071 euro correspond au dividende 2012 et le reliquat de 1,7929 euro à une redistribution des actifs. En effet, la société de gestion a décidé le 25 octobre 2011 de liquider le fonds d’ici au 15 octobre 2014. A l’époque l’encours était de 1,56 milliard d’euros.La prochaine distribution interviendra en octobre. Son montant sera fonction pour l’essentiel du produit de la vente d’autres actifs.DEGI International : Code Isin : DE0008007998
EQT, le principal groupe de capital investissement de Suède soutenu par la famille Wallenberg, réorganise ses équipes d’investissement pour lancer un fonds ciblant les petites et moyennes entreprises en Europe du Nord et en Asie, rapporte le Financial Times. La nouvelle équipe, issue de la fusion de deux, sera dirigée par le directeur général adjoint d’EQT et co-fondateur Jan Stahlberg. Elle cherche à lever environ 1 milliard d’euros.
Claudia Stanghellini a été nommée comme nouvelle responsable de la gestion externe du fonds de pension suédois AP3, rapporte realtid.se. Elle succède à Mattias Bylund, qui a été nommé directeur des risques, business support et contrôles.
Responsable de la sélection des fonds dans le cadre de la gestion en architecture ouverte de CNP Assurances, Vincent Damas, qui assure à la fois le référencement des OPCVM, des sociétés de gestion et leur suivi, revient pour Newsmanagers sur les dernières évolutions en matière d'offre de produits et sur les mouvements au sein des équipes de gestion...
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } More than 80% of European fund distributors are planning to reorganise their internal processes in the next three years, in order to reduce their costs, according to a survey released by Cerulli Associates, Funds Europe reports. Consolidation of funds (61.9%) takes second place among measures considered by distributors, far ahead of staff reductions (28.6%). Without saying that they are planning to reduce their distribution contracts, 19% of the 100 asset management firms surveyed by Cerulli did say that they are planning to launch fewer funds, and 19% are considering lowering the commissions they charge to distributors.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } The situation in Cyprus is not worrying retail investors in Europe. According to the most recent European survey by Binck of stock market invetors, since December 2012, the level of confidence of investors has been recovering, and in April 2013 totals 2.5. This is a stable rating compared with the previous month, when the index set a record at 2.6. The survey finds that 23 of investors are optimistic in April: 66% of respondents have a confidence level equal to or higher than 0 (neutral). Half of respondents say they are highly confident, with a level equal to or higher than +4, or 2.5 times more than at the end of 2012.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } Man Group is continuing to bleed money, despite aggressive attempts to stem its outflows, revitalise its quantitative management activities, and reduce its costs, Financial Times Fund Management reports. In first quarter, the hedge fund firm posted net outflows estimated at USD3.6bn, the worst result since 2005, according to Peter Lenardos. In 2012, Man had outflows of more than USD7bn.
Early April saw investors around the world digesting the implications of the Bank of Japan’s decision to double the country’s monetary base in an effort to banish deflation by 2015. The BOJ’s program has raised hopes for Japan’s economic growth, fueled expectations of stronger Japanese investor demand for asset classes ranging from Eurozone debt to US real estate and rekindled fears that European and emerging Asian exporters will see their export competitiveness eroded by a weaker yen.Flows for EPFR global-tracked funds during the week ending April 10 mirrored these expectations and concerns. Europe bond funds posted their biggest weekly inflow since early December, real estate sector funds took in fresh money for the 13th time in the 15 weeks year-to-date and YTD flows into Japan equity funds climbed over the USD11 billion mark while redemptions from Germany equity funds hit a 49 week high and Asia ex-Japan equity funds recorded outflows for the second time in the past three weeks.Overall, a net USD3.13 billion flowed into equity funds – with half of that total going to dividend equity funds – and bond funds took in USD3.52 billion. Alternative Funds absorbed another USD953 million as they extended their current inflow streak to 14 consecutive weeks.It is also notable that balanced funds continued to attract USD1bn so that inflows since the beginning of the year total over USD21bn.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } Alberto Ridaura, who had been head of wealth management activities, has been appointed as deputy director of the Santander private bank, alongside Eduardo Suárez (see Newsmanagers of 9 April), who has been selected as CEO of the unit, which has assets of EUR100bn, of which EUR65bn come from the wealth management division, Funds People reports.Santander has also appointed the 17 territorial heads in its private bank.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } According to a document obtained by Funds People, Santander will be taking the occasion of the absorption of its affiliates Banif and Banesto to rationalise its investment fund ranges, which include a total of 197 products under the Santander, Banif, Banesto, Citibank and Openbank brand names. By June, the group will be merging bond funds so as to eliminate 12 products. The new funds will be divided into several share classes, with varied commission levels. Nine equity funds will also be eliminated through merger-absorption.In September, the wave of rationalisation will be extended to profiled funds, the Santander “Select” range, whose assets will increase from EUR1bn currently to EUR2.4bn. The absolute return range will include only two funds, with assets of EUR800m.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } The Allfunds Bank platform (Santander and Intesa Sanpaolo) has appointed Jaime Pérez-Maura as head of development and planning of sales. He will be responsible for new activities in Europe and Asia. In addition, he will be responsible for overseeing key global accounts, Funds People reports.Pérez-Maura, who will report to Gianluca Renzini, head of sales, will retain responsibility for communications and market intelligence, but he will abandon direction of investment solutions, a position he had held for 13 years.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } JP Morgan Asset Management has recruited Anthony Ho, from China Asset Management, for the newly-created position of managing director of the global multi=asset class unit in Hong Kong, Asian Investor reports. The new position is an extension of the Asian multi-asset class unit, which had previously been based in London. The reason for this decision is the continuing growth of Asian multi-asset class portfolios. Ho will be responsible for overseeing the development of this activity in the region. Assets managed by the multi-asset class unit total over USD100bn. Figures for Asia have not been provided.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } Claudia Stanghellini has been appointed as the new head of external management at the Swedish pension fund AP3, realtid.se reports. She succeeds Mattias Bylund, who has been appointed as director of risk, business support and controls.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } To prevent their gains on foreign equities being cut off by an unfavorable turn on the currency markets, US investors are increasingly turning to ETFs hedged for currency risks, the Wall Street Journal reports.The largest beneficiary of this trend is the WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund (ticker: DXJ), whose assets have quintupled since the beginning of this year, to USD6.42bn. The WisdomTree Europe Hedged Equity Fund (HEDJ) has also seen its assets more than quintuple this year, to USD198m, while the db x-trackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity Fund (DBEF) has doubled in size in the same period, to USD30m.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } For January-March, Wells Fargo & Company has posted a record net profit of USD5.2bn, compared with USD5.1bn in October-December, and USD4.2bn in the corresponding period of 2012.Net profits for the wealth management, brokerage and retirement unit totalled USD337bn in first quarter 2013, compared with USD143.4m in the three months from October-December, and USD296m in the corresponding period of last year.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } Net profits at the asset management unit of JP Morgan totalled USD487m in first quarter, up by USD101m, or 26%, compared with the corresponding quarter of 2012, according to figures released on 12 April. Assets under management increased by USD101bn, or 7%, to a total of USD1.5trn, due to a net inflow to long-term products and a positive market effect. Other assets, including assets under custody or administration, increased by USD57bn, or 9%, to a total of USD688bn, due to positive market effect and net inflows.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } The volume of trades engaged in by Amundi Immobilier in France and internationally in the year 2012 totalled EUR1.5bn, which brings total assets under management to EUR7bn, up 10%. According to the asset management firm, Opcimmo, its most recent collective real estate investment organism contributed to this result, as the product received investments from the group’s networks (regional savings banks, LCL and CA Assurances), giving it 75% market share in terms of inflows, the firm says. In 2013, Amundi Immobilier will diversify its international investments to offer its clients a wider range of access to the European market.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The Chinese firm CIBC has announced that it has acquired Atlantic Trust Private Wealth Management (USD20bn in assets) from Invesco for USD210m in cash, equivalent to 1.05% of assets under management. Atlantic Trust PWM provides integrated wealth management solutions to high net worth retail clients, familiies, and foundations. The firm has 235 employees.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } Oddo Asset Management has opened an office in Geneva, Agefi Switzerland reports. “We have had an office in Zurich since 2011, and have recently opened another office in Geneva. Switzerland is a part of our internationalisation strategy. Edouard Vallette Viallard is our country manager, and is responsible for the French and Italian-speaking portions of Switzerland. Two other people have been appointed for the German-speaking part of Switzerland, with independent managers,” Lorenzo Gazzoletti, deputy CEO of Oddo am, tells the newspaper.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } On 25 April, Aberdeen Immobilien KAG announced, the open-ended real estate fund DEGI International (ISIN code: DE0008007998) will distribute EUR3.500 per share to its shareholders, which will represent a total of EUR125.9m, or nearly 10% of remaining assets of EUR1.277bn.Aberdeen states that, of this total of EUR3.500 per share, EUR1.7071 corresponds to dividends for 2012, and the remaining EUR1.7929 is a redistribution of assets. The asset management firm on 25 October 2011 decided to liquidate the fund by 15 October 2014. At the time, assets totalled EUR1.56bn.The next distribution will take place in October. Its amount will largely depend on the proceeds from sales of other assets.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } On 17 April, BlackRock will officially announce the launch of the Emerging Market Corporate Bond Fund and Emerging Market Investment-Grade Bond fund sub-funds of its Luxembourg Sicav BlackRock Global Funds (BGF) in France and the rest of Europe, which the asset management firm is not yet able to confirm, but which has been reported by Fondsnieuws.The first of these products will invest at least 70% in emerging market investment grade corporate bonds.The funds are managed in London by a team led by Sergio Trigo Paz, who had been CIO for emerging markets at BNP Paribas Investment Partners.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } EQT, the largest private equity group in Sweden, supported by the Wallenberg family, is reorganising its investment teams, to launch a fund targeting small and mid-sized businesses in Northern Europe and Asia, the Financial Times reports. The new team, born of the merger of two teams, will be led by the deputy CEO and co-founder of EQT, Jan Stahlberg. The firm is hoping to raise about EUR1bn.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } According to BarclayHedge and TrimTabs, the 3,434 hedge funds which had reported results up to the end of February had attracted a net USD11.4bn in February, or 0.6% of their assets, after inflows of USD4.3bn in January. However, their returns were only 0.4% in February, while the S&P 500 gained 1.1%. In the twelve months under review, the performance of hedge funds has been only 5.8%, at a time when the S&P 500 has gained 10.9%.On the basis of results for 1,360 funds as of the end of March, BarclayHedge estimates that hedge funds have posted average returns of 1.16% in March, bringing the total since the beginning of the year to 4%.Only three strategies showed losses last year: equity short bias (-3.20%, 5 funds), emerging markets (-0.49%, 219 funds), and tehnologies (-0.39%, 16 funds).The best performance was for the 24 biotechnology and healthcare funds (3.11%), the 21 Pacific Ri funds (2.83%) and the 169 equity long bias funds (2.24%).For first quarter as a whole, the strongest performance has been for Pacific Rim equities (8.81%), while the heaviest loss has been for equity short bias (-9.38%).
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } Marc Faber will advise the first multi-manager investment fund of a firm based in Toronto, Sprott Asset Management, Citywire reports. The fund, dedicated to institutional investors, will invest in eight in-house funds investing in various asset classes.