To replace Rui Mota Guedes, who has left the firm, the Spanish asset management firm Siitnedif, led by Ricardo Seixas, has recruited Álvaro Llanza as manager of the Tordesillas fund, Funds People reports. He had previously been at JB Capital markets, after serving at Banif, Schroders and Citi. In 2001, he founded the asset management firm Dux Inversores.

Varma, the largest investor in Finland, with EUR34bn in assets under management, sold its Greek government bonds in 2008 and 2009, due to concerns over the country’s debt levels, the Wall Street Journal reports. The following year, the institution responsible for the retirement savings of 870,000 Finns decided to cease investing in high-risk countries. As a result, Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Italy and Spain have been banned from the investment universe. This summer, more investment guidelines for sovereign debt were set: only countries rated AAA will be allowed, meaning only three countries: Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland.

The London Stock Exchange is now listing the iShares Barclays Capital Euro Corporate Bond Interest Rate Hedged Fund, which charges fees of 0.25%, Fundweb reports. It is a physical replication ETF, which according to the issuer, is the fist to offer exposure to corporate bonds with mitigated interest rate risk, using futures on German government bonds as a hedge.

BlackRock has announced that it has registered a level of GBP65m in assets, primarily from institutional investors and wealth managers, for its new BlackRock North American Income Trust. The asset management firm has applied for the product to be listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), where its first day of listing would be 24 October, under the acronym BRNA. Investment Week reports that BlackRock was originally aiming for GBP100m in assets for the fund.Initially, BlackRock intends for the fund to generate returns on dividends of 4% after fees, with a quarterly coupon. The benchmark index will be the Russell 1000 Value, and the fund will be managed by the US equities team at BlackRock, based in Princeton (which managed USD38bn as of the end of August), led by Bob Shearer and Kathleen Anderson.

Following the Royal European Corporate Bond Fund in August, Royal London Asset Management (RLAM) has announced the launch of the Royal London Duration Hedged Credit Fund on 24 September. The product is a UCITS IV-compliant fund which is particularly well-suited to retirement savings plans, with the objective of earning outperformance of the Libor 3-month by 200 basis points regardless of market conditions, by investing in corporate bonds of various maturities, with the ability to retain British government bonds and other debt instruments.The management team (Paola Binna and Shalin Shah) may use derivatives to reduce interest rate risks, shortening the duration to a near-zero level. The portfolio includes 100 to 200 holdings.CharacteristicsName: Royal London Duration Hedged Credit FundISIN code: GB00B4K6P774Minimal initial subscription: GBP1mManagement commission: 0.50%

Assets under management at GAM Holding as of the end of September totalled CHF116.8bn, up 5% compared with 30 June 2012, according to a statement released on 23 October. This development is related to net inflows and positive market effects for the two wealth management units. The GAM unit as of the end of September had CHF48.2bn in assets under management, compared with CHF45.4bn at the end of second quarter 2012. In addition to net subscriptions and positive market effects, this 6% increase is also the result of the integration of CHF742m in assets related to the acquisition of a majority stake in the Arkos Capital company in July 2012 for the first time. Assets under management at Swiss & Global Asset Management, for their part, totalled CHF87.4bn, up 6% compared with the end of June, due largely to net inflows “in line with objectives,” a statement says, without offering more details.

Mirabaud on 23 October announced the appointment of Patrick Stauffer, from 1 October, as director of distribution for funds and mandates aimed at financial intermediaries and institutional clients in German-speaking Switzerland. Stauffer’s mission, in cooperation with Matthias Schroedter, who joined Mirabaud in 2010, will be to continue the development and consolidation of services and fund and mandate distribution for Mirabaud Asset Management aimed at financial intermediaries and institutional clients in German-speaking Switzerland. This mission will particularly target equity funds and institutional mandates. Stauffer previously worked at Pictet & Cie, where he spent 12 years in charge of organization and distribution of asset management services in various European countries.

B-class shares in Banque Sarain which are still in the hands of third parties following the firm’s acquisition by Safra will be cancelled and withdrawn from public trading. Safra on 22 October petitioned the competent court in Basel to declare the remaining B-class shares in Sarasin null and void, the bank announced in a statement on 23 October. A request to withdraw Sarasin shares from listing on the SIX Swiss Exchange has also been submitted, the statement says. This withdrawal from listing would take place at the same time, or slightly after the shares would be declared null. Safra controls 99.47% of voting rights in Sarasin, following the recent finalisation of its takeover bid.

The alternative asset management firm Ramius (Cowen Group) has announced a partnership agreement in Japan with GreensLedge Capital Markets and GreensLedge Asia, HedgeWeek reports.Ramius, which has been present on the Japanese market since 2002, is hoping to develop its presence serving Japanese institutionals.

Cesar Gueikian, previously director of special situations at UBS alongside Theo Constantinidis, will be leaving the bank to create a hedge fund with his former colleague, Andres Scaminaci. Constantinidis will remain in his position.

The Chinese sovereign fund China Investment Corporation (CIC), which has USD410bn in assets under management, is in talks to buy the headquarters of Deutsche Bank in the City of London, for GBP250m, the Financial Times reports. According to sources familiar with the matter, Invesco will acquire the roughly 95,000 square metre property on behalf of the Chinese investor. The seller is KanAm.

Stephen Hayes, who was recruited in August as head of property securities, has lost no time in strengthening his team. First State Investments on 23 October announced the recruitment of three senior portfolio managers and one analyst.Two of the new portfolio managers joins from Perennial Real Estate: Tuan Pham, who has been head of Asia at his former employer, and who joins from First State to focus on Asian assets, and Boudewijn van Loen (head of Europe/UK at Perennial RE). The third portfolio manager is Daniela Lungu, who previously worked for CBRE Investments.The analyst is Josef Dagulo, who joins from First State as investment analyst for the Asia-Pacific region, and who will be based in Sydney, as will Pham.

The British press reports that Scottish Widows Investment Partnership (SWIP) has announced the recruitment of Lynda Shillaw as director of real estate, replacing Malcolm Naish, who has retired.Shillaw will join SWIP on 1 January from Lloyds Banking Group, where she had been managing director of corporate real estate for private and institutional banking since October 2010, and previously managing director of estates at the Co-operative Group.Shillaw will report to Dean Buckley, managing director, and will lead a team of 50 people with assets under management of about GBP8bn.

Tradeweb Markets on 23 October announced the launch of an electronic trading platform dedicated to ETFs listed in Europe via its MTF operator, Tradeweb Europe Limited. This is an unprecedented initiative in Europe, which may give a new impetus to the ETF segment, which has already seen growth of nearly 40% per year over the past ten years, and whose assets under management as of third quarter totalled USD309bn, according to the research agency ETFGI. A significant proportion of these assets are traded over the counter due to the fragmentation of this market. Tradeweb is launching a dedicated platform in order to provide privileged access to a consolidated liquidity pool for all ETFs listed in Europe. Eleven dealers are already offering liquidity to the market. The new framework will also allow better price formation for over-the-counter transactions. Adriano Pace, head of equity derivatives at Tradeweb, says the platform offers an integrated trading process and several functions which reduce the risk of errors and improve the efficiency of the market substantially.

Stefano Calvi, former executive director and head of private banking at Vontobel in Italy, is joining Cassa Lombarda, Bluerating reports. Calvi is already working at the firm as a private banker.

The independent asset management firm Amaïka Asset Management is adding to its asset management product range with the addition of two new FCP funds: Optimum and Maxima, which are in fact adaptations of the management of the “EFG Optimum” and “EFG Maxima” funds previously managed by the two founders of Amaïka, David Kalfon and Christophe Berger, at EFG AM France.The asset management firm, which has just celebrated its first birthday, now offers private clients and wealth management professionals four different mutual funds: Optimum, Amaïka 60, Altiflex and Maxima.Optimum (ISIN code: FR0010813329) is a multi-strategy, multi-manager diversified fund of funds. It offers preferred access to investment strategies that seek absolute returns, while offering increased transparency and daily liquidity, and limiting exposure to equity risk to 20%. Optimum offers access to diversified strategies such as portage and portable alpha.Maxima (ISIN code: FR0010148007) is a diversified FCP which invests primarily in European equities, and which is eligible for investment from PEA savings schemes. Its exposure to equity markets varies from -20% to 150%. The objective is to offer subscribers returns on their capital over a minimum investment horizon of five years of over 6% per year. The FCP will be at least 75% invested in financial instruments eligible for PEA savings schemes at all times.

Assets under management by the wealth management unit of the Nordea group as of the end of September totalled EUR210.9bn, up by EUR11.1bn or 6% compared with second quarter, according to statistics released on 24 October at the publication of the group’s quarterly results. Net inflows totalled EUR2.7bn, and market appreciation represented EUR8.4bn. All segments contributed to the good results during the quarter, except Life & Pensions. Inflows from institutional investors alone totalled EUR1.7bn.

On 19 October, the Spanish regulator, the CNMV, issued sales licenses for the Spanish funds Altan III Global and Foncaixa Objectivo Rantas, as well as to the foreign products Amundi Treso Corporate, Exane Funds 1, LFP S&P Capital IQ Fund and Seeyond Volatilité Actions.

Barclays has announced the launch of share classes that comply with RDR regulations for its full range of actively0 and passively-managed funds. Annual management fees for these new share classes will total between 0.6% and 0.9% for equity funds and funds dedicated to bonds from developed countries. For risk-adjusted funds of the GlobalMarkets range, annual management fees have been set at 50 basis points.

According to a study by the German Sustainable Business Institute (SBI) relayed by the Börsen-Zeitung, assets in 380 open-ended sustainable development funds in Germany, Austria and Switzerland now total about EUR34bn, or EUR4bn more than at the end of 2011. In first half 2012, 40 funds were launched, while 17 others were liquidated. Overall, 205 equity funds have EUR21bn in assets under management.

Katherine Seymour, who has more than 20 years of experience in the management of funds and superannuations, has been recruited as head of institutional clients at BNP Paribas Securities Services in Australia, Funds People reports. She will report to Ken Shaw, director of sales.

L’agence de notation chinoise présente aujourd’hui à Pékin une alliance avec l’américaine Egan-Jones Ratings et la russe RusRating, rapporte L’Agefi. Objectif: créer une nouvelle agence indépendante, Universal Credit Rating, qui s’attachera à «ne représenter les intérêts d’aucun pays ou groupe en particulier». Le système actuel aurait en effet «prouvé son incapacité à produire des notations responsables et fiables».

Fundweb rapporte que Source a fermé quatre ETP qui n’ont pas suffisamment collecté depuis leur lancement en 2009, à savoir: Cyclicals European Source, Consumer Discretionary European Source, Defensives European Source ETF et Consumer Staples European Source ETF.

Tradeweb Markets a annoncé le 23 octobre le lancement d’une plate-forme électronique de négociation dédiée aux ETF cotés en Europe par le biais de son opérateur de MTF, Tradeweb Europe Limited.Une initiative inédite en Europe qui pourrait donner un nouveau coup de pouce au segment des ETF qui a déjà connu une croissance de près de 40% par an au cours des dix dernières années et dont les actifs sous gestion s'élevaient au troisième trimestre à 309 milliards de dollars, selon le cabinet de recherche ETFGI.Une part significative de ces actifs sont négociés de gré à gré en raison de la fragmentation de ce marché. Tradeweb lance une plate-forme dédiée afin de fournir un accès privilégié à un pool consolidé de liquidités pour l’ensemble des ETF cotés en Europe. Onze dealers proposent d’ores et déjà de la liquidité au marché. Le nouveau dispositif devrait notamment permettre une meilleure formation des prix des transactions de gré à gré.Selon Adriano Pace, responsable des dérivés actions de Tradeweb, la plate-forme propose un processus intégré de négociation et un certain nombre de fonctions qui réduisent le risque d’erreur et améliorent le bon fonctionnement du marché dans des proportions substantielles.

Amundi ETF a annoncé le 23 octobre le lancement sur NYSE Euronext à Paris d’Amundi ETF Topix Eur Hedged Daily qui offre une solution innovante aux investisseurs souhaitant s’exposer aux actions japonaises tout en bénéficiant d’une couverture quotidienne contre le risque de change. Cet ETF est offert avec un TER de seulement 0,48%. La couverture du risque de change est gérée et ajustée au quotidien au sein de l’indice de stratégie TOPIX Euro Daily Hedged (Total Return) grâce à l’utilisation de contrats « forward » d’échéance fin du mois courant. Cette réévaluation quotidienne permet de réduire l’influence de la volatilité des taux de change, en optimisant la couverture du risque de change. Principales caractéristiques Dénomination : Amundi Topix HDG Code ISIN : FR0011314277 Indice sous-jacent : Topix Euro Daily Hedged TER : 0,48%

OFI Infravia a annoncé le 23 octobre le premier closing de son nouveau fonds, InfraVia European Fund II, d’environ 150 millions d’euros auprès d’investisseurs institutionnels français et européens. Le fonds vise une taille cible d’environ 400 millions d’euros.Le fonds propose aux investisseurs une stratégie d’investissement diversifiée dans les secteurs du transport, de l’énergie, des infrastructures sociales, des utilities et des infrastructures de communication. Cette stratégie « core » est centrée sur le midcap européen (particulièrement sur la zone euro) et sur des actifs réels « brownfield » (i.e. en exploitation) générant du rendement courant.

La société de gestion indépendante Amaïka Asset Management renforce son offre de gestion avec deux nouveaux FCP : « Optimum » et « Maxima », en fait la reprise de la gestion des fonds «EFG Optimum» et «EFG Maxima», précédemment pilotés par les deux fondateurs d’Amaïka AM, David Kalfon et Christophe Berger, au sein d’EFG AM France. La société de gestion, qui vient de fêter son premier anniversaire, propose désormais à la clientèle privée et aux professionnels de la gestion de patrimoine quatre OPCVM distincts : Optimum, Amaïka 60, Altiflex et Maxima.Optimum [code ISIN : FR0010813329] est un fonds de fonds diversifié, multi- stratégie et multi-gestionnaire. Il offre un accès privilégié à des stratégies d’investissement recherchant une performance absolue, tout en offrant une grande transparence, une liquidité quotidienne et en limitant l’exposition au risque actions à 20%. Optimum propose notamment l’accès à des stratégies diversifiées telles que des stratégies de portage et lesstratégies d’ « alpha portable ».Maxima [code ISIN : FR0010148007] est un FCP diversifié investi principalement en actions européennes et éligible au PEA. Son exposition aux marchés actions varie de -20% à 150%. L’objectif est d’offrir à ses souscripteurs sur un horizon minimum de placement de cinq ans une valorisation du capital supérieure à 6% annualisée. Le FCP sera à tout moment investi pour au moins 75% de son actif en instruments financiers éligibles au PEA.

Le Groupe Tikehau et Société Générale ont annoncé le 23 octobre la conclusion d’un accord définitif en vue de la prise de contrôle de Salvepar par Tikehau Participations & Investissements, société d’investissement dont l’objectif est d’investir en fonds propres dans des sociétés cotées et non-cotées, nouvellement créée par le Groupe Tikehau.Salvepar est une société d’investissement cotée sur le marché réglementé Euronext Paris dont la mission est de prendre des participations minoritaires - entre 5% et 20% - dans des sociétés cotées et non cotées, en privilégiant des sociétés en développement.Aux termes de l’accord signé le 22 octobre, Tikehau Participations et Investissements doit acquérir à un prix de 86,24 euros par action, les 51,42% du capital et des droits de vote de Salvepar détenus par le groupe Société Générale qui poursuit ainsi son recentrage, notamment en cédant ses activités non stratégiques. La finalisation de l’opération devrait intervenir dans les prochains jours.A l’issue de l’acquisition du bloc de contrôle, Tikehau Participations et Investissements déposera une offre publique d’achat simplifiée, conformément à la réglementation applicable, sur le solde des actions Salvepar, au même prix par action. L’offre publique sera soumise à la conformité de l’Autorité des marchés financiers. Tikehau Participations et Investissements ne demandera pas la mise en oeuvre d’un retrait obligatoire à l’issue de l’offre publique.Avec cette acquisition, «le Groupe Tikehau affirme sa volonté de développer, avec Tikehau Participations et Investissements, son activité de capital développement et d’investissement en fonds propres, en parallèle de son activité de gestion pour compte de tiers sur les marchés du crédit développée depuis 2007 à travers Tikehau Investment Management», souligne un communiqué.Selon Antoine Flamarion, président du Groupe Tikehau, « l’acquisition de Salvepar est une étape importante dans le développement du Groupe. Nous renforçons ainsi notre présence dans le domaine de l’investissement en capital avec désormais plus de 1,4 milliard d’euros d’actifs. Le portefeuille de Salvepar est constitué de participations solides dont nous souhaitons accompagner le développement pour faire de Salvepar une société d’investissement performante et leader sur son marché. »

La société de gestion Prigest, en collaboration avec son actionnaire principal, SwissLife Banque Privée, vient de lancer un fonds à échéance à dominante actions internationales. Swiss Life Funds (F) Prigest World 2020 se donne deux leviers de performance, explique la gestion : tout d’abord un retour à la moyenne historique du «price to book» à 1,7 alors qu’il est actuellement à 0,9. Ensuite, un effet rendement qui atteint 4,75 % aujourd’hui, la gestion tablant cependant sur 3,5 % sur la durée. Compte tenu de son éligibilité aux contrats d’assurance vie de SwissLife Banque Privée, l'échéance du fonds a été fixée à 2020. D’une durée de huit ans donc, son objectif de performance est de 7 % par an. Code Isin : FR0011312073

Recruté en août comme head of property securities, Stephen Hayes n’a pas tardé à renforcer son équipe. First State Investments a en effet annoncé le 23 octobre le recrutement de trois gérants de portefeuille senior et un analyste.Deux des nouveaux gérants de portefeuille viennent de Perennial Real Estate : il s’agit d’une part de Tuan Pham, qui était head of Asia chez son ancien employeur et qui revient chez First State pour se focaliser sur les valeurs asiatiques, d’autre part de Boudewijn van Loen (head of Europe/UK chez Perennial RE). Le troisième gérant de portefeuille est Daniela Lungu, qui travaillait pour CBRE Investments.Enfin, l’analyste est Josef Dagulo, qui revient chez First State comme investment analyst pour la région Asie-Pacifique et qui sera basé à Sydney, comme Tuan Pham.