Nick Little vient d’être nommé co-gérant du BlackRock UK Fund, aux côtés de Mark Lyttleton, le gérant actuel. Cette promotion a pris effet le 1er septembre. Nick Little travaille chez BlackRock depuis 10 ans. Ces sept dernières années, il gérait les portefeuilles actions Core UK pour les clients institutionnels. Le fonds BlackRock UK Fund, lancé il y a environ 20 ans, représente 444 millions de livres d’encours. Sa philosophie d’investissement reste la même.

Dipankar Shewaram a démissionné de Western Asset Management, une filiale de Legg Mason spécialisée dans la gestion obligataire, où il était était head of non US credit et gérant du fonds Legg Mason Western Asset Global Credit Absolute Return à Londres. Selon nos informations, l’intéressé monterait une nouvelle structure entrepreneuriale.La gestion de son ancien fonds sera désormais assurée par Mike Buchanan, head of global credit et Prashant Chandran, global head of derivatives. Ils resteront fidèles à la même stratégie de gestion, a précisé la société.

Paul Luff, sales & client relationship manager dans le pôle FX d’UBS Investment Bank, a rejoint le 1er septembre RBC Dexia Investor Services comme Director, Portfolio Solutions. Subordonné à Blair McPherson, Head of Portfolio Solutions, il sera chargé de fournir des solutions sur mesure à des clients importants. Il pourra puiser dans les services offerts par RBC Dexia dans les domaines des devises, du prêt de titres, du financement de crédits et de valeurs mobilières ainsi que de la gestion de trésorerie.

En novembre, John Brett, director of sales & marketing chez Scottish Widows Investment Partnership (SWIP), prendra les fonctions de global head of distribution chez Aberdeen Asset Management, rapporte Fundweb. L’intéressé succède à Chris Ellyatt, global head of business development, qui a démissionné au bout de neuf ans dans l’entreprise.

Une fois n’est pas coutume, les patrons des sociétés de gestion d’actifs ont les idées noires, observe le Financial Times. Non seulement les marchés sont tourmentés, mais leurs sociétés sont aussi de plus en plus sous la pression des clients qui se tournent vers d’autres investissements que les fonds (ETF, produits structurés) tout en réclamant des frais plus faibles. En privé, ils s’inquiètent d’une érosion durable de leur rentabilité, fruit d’une baisse des rendements et des frais. Jupiter, par exemple, a indiqué le mois dernier qu’il s’attend à ce que, en moyenne, ses commissions sur les encours sous gestion baissent de 2 à 3 points de base par an.

Sycomore Asset Management qui gère 1,82 milliard d’euros annonce le recrutement d’Arnaud d’Aligny au poste d’analyste-gérant sur les actions européennes. Il interviendra notamment sur le fonds Sycomore Europcap (521 millions d’euros à fin août), aux côtés d’Emeric Préaubert et de Frédéric Ponchon. Après trois années passées chez HSBC - CCF Charterhouse, en tant qu’assistant vice president au sein du département Financements structurés, Arnaud d’Aligny a rejoint en 2002 la Banque d’investissement de Goldman Sachs comme executive director en charge des secteurs «Building & Construction» et «Business Services».

Selon nos informations, David Loggia, l’un des gérants phare de la société Carmignac Gestion, qui avait pris un congé sabbatique de six mois l’an dernier, et dont le terme est intervenu en mai dernier, ne fait plus partie des effectifs de la société de la place Vendôme. David Loggia était co-gérant de Carmignac Grande Europe.

Natixis Interépargne a annoncé le 1er septembre la mise en ligne de son nouveau site internet dédié à l’épargne salariale. «Structuré par public cible, son contenu a été aménagé pour répondre encore mieux aux attentes des différents publics : clarté et pédagogie pour les uns, expertise pour les autres. Il favorise également l’interactivité, la connectivité et la mise en relation (assistance, prise de contacts). Sur le plan graphique, le nouveau site bénéficie de la nouvelle identité numérique de Natixis», explique Natixis Interépargne dans un communiqué.Le portail comporte cinq nouveaux espaces dédiés : - L’espace « Natixis Interépargne » (www.interepargne.natixis.com) offrant une présentation de l’entreprise, de son activité et de ses expertises ;- L’espace « Salariés et Épargnants » (www.interepargne.natixis.com/epargnants) dont l’objectif est d’informer les bénéficiaires d’un dispositif d’épargne salariale avec la plus grande pédagogie. Les outils d’aide à la compréhension de l’épargne salariale (tel Thomas, le conseiller virtuel) et d’aide à la décision (simulateurs) sont ainsi mis en avant dès la page d’accueil. - L’espace « Employeurs et Entreprises » (www.interepargne.natixis.com/entreprises), dédié aux décideurs au sein des entreprises, qui présente l’actualité de l’épargne salariale, des marchés financiers ainsi que l’offre de Natixis Interépargne. - Deux espaces dédiés aux offres diffusées par les réseaux du Groupe BPCE complètent ce dispositif en ligne : - Pour les Banques Populaires : www.epargnesalariale.banquepopulaire.fr - Pour les Caisses d’Épargne : www.caisse-epargne.fr/epargnesalariale Par ailleurs, deux autres espaces réservés, l’un aux représentants des Conseils de Surveillance des FCPE et, l’autre, au Club de l’Epargne salariale viendront très prochainement enrichir le nouveau portail Internet de Natixis Interépargne.

L’Agefi rapporte qu’Eurazeo, la société cotée d’investissement, a perdu 106 millions d’euros au 30 juin, contre un bénéfice de 93 millions un an plus tôt. L’absence de cessions au cours du premier semestre a été pénalisante. Pour autant, selon Philippe Audouin, le directeur financier de la holding, l’objectif de 2 milliards d’euros de création de valeur d’ici à 2014 est conservé. Certains analystes ont cependant émis des doutes sur la «crédibilité» de l’actif net réévalué (ANR) d’Eurazeo, arrêté au 29 août à 63,3 euros par action (contre 70,1 euros au 30 juin), car c’est la moyenne des cours au 29 août pour ses participations cotées qui a été utilisée alors que l’ANR au 30 juin pour la partie non-cotée a été conservé. Or, la Bourse a fortement chuté ces deux derniers mois.

AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) a annoncé le 1er septembre la nomination de Katrin Boström en tant que responsable de la distribution sur les marchés nordiques. Placée sous la responsabilité d’Irshaad Ahmad, responsable de la distribution d’AXA IM sur les marchés du Royaume-Uni et des pays nordiques, et basée à Stockholm, elle aura pour mission de développer la stratégie commerciale de l’entreprise dans cette région.Depuis 2008, Katrin occupait les fonctions de responsable de la distribution sur le marché des pays nordiques pour Morgan Stanley Investment Management à Stockholm. Auparavant, elle était responsable adjoint de la distribution auprès des investisseurs institutionnels chez Goldman Sachs à Londres sur les marchés des pays nordiques également.

Dans un entretien à Option Finance, le directeur administratif et financier de Parrot, Gilles Labossière explique avoir augmenté dès la première semaine d’août, la sécurisation de sa trésorerie, qui constitue une arme décisive par gros temps. Nous avons ainsi redistribué nos placements, en privilégiant la sécurité sur le rendement. Les périodes de forte volatilité étant aussi des périodes d’opportunité, nous avons su en tirer parti.

BaFin on Thursday issued a sales license for Germany to the Delta Lloyd Asian Participation Fund, launched in May in the Netherlands (EUR57m in assets), the Börsen-Zeitung reports. The fund, like its Netherlands and European counterparts, invests in stakes of at least 5% in Asian small and midcaps which are currently underpriced and which pay high dividends.

One year after its release for sale, the British management firm Herderson Global Investors on 1 September announced the official launch of its German-registered institutional real estate fund, the Henderson German Retail Income Fund (HGRIF). The manager has already collected about EUR85m in investments from German insurers and pension funds, and from one Austrian institutional investor. That gives the fund an investment capacity of EUR170m, with leverage. The objective is to raise EUR150m in subscriptions, to invest EUR300m, largely in shopping centres. The objective is to generate a return on investment of at least 6% per year, with a portfolio which would include 10 to 15 properties. Meanwhile, Henderson has announced that it has acquired the Tuna Park Shopping Centre (126,400 square metres) in Eskiltuna, Sweden, for SEK558m, or EUR61m, from Alecta Pensionsförsäkring Ömsesidigt. The property will be added to the portfolio of the European Core Property Fund No. 1 from its German affiliate Warburg-Henderson.

The central management firm for the German co-operative banks, Union Investment, on 1 September announced that its Hamburg-based affiliate Union Investment Institutional Property on 30 June launched the institutional real estate fund Residential Value, for which it primarily provides administration, as management has been outsourced to the Berlin-based Dupuis GmbH & Co. Asset-Management KG. The fund has recently acquired a 223-unit residential complex (18,313 square metres), the Ortlegarten, located in Berlin-Steglitz, as an initial investment, for an undisclosed amount, “from a publicly-traded French real estate company.” Union is targeting assets of EUR250m in the long term. The fund will be managed with a “conservative” bias.

Family offices don’t like funds of funds much. They invest 26% of their portfolios in hedge funds, but only 1% in funds of funds, according to a survey by Infovest21 of a sample of family offices, mostly based in the United States, during July. Fees have not a demonstrable influence on the opinions of family offices about funds of funds, which nonetheless charge lower commissions than hedge funds (management commissions of 1%, instead of 1.6% for hedge funds, and performance commissions of 7.8% rather than 18.9%). Nearly 60% of family offices say that their commissions have held stable since last year, while 20% say that commissions have been lowered, and 20% that outperformance commissions have fallen. On average, family office managers have stakes in 23 hedge funds. Though they differ as to the primary purpose of these funds (absolute returns, risk reduction, diversification), family offices generally have a highly favourable opinion of hedge funds (two thirds). Only 4% have a negative opinion of them. The preferred products of family offices are long/short equities and event-driven products, as well as emerging markets strategies.

Four years after quitting the business and moving to cominvest (which has since become Allianz Global Investors), Frank Rudert is returning to Threadneedle Germany. He will be operational manager, a position midway between distribution and back-office. He will report to the Austrian Werner Kolitsch, head of Germany and Austria.

Sabine Stöhr has been appointed as head of wealth management clients for Germany at Franklin Templeton Germany. The asset management firm is now seeking a replacement for Stöhr as head of IFA clients, savings banks and co-operative banks for Bavaria. The distribution team at Franklin Templeton includes 24 members.

Following the departure of Rolf Wiswesser, who will be moving to the insurer Ergo to restore order in its distribution division (see Newsmanagers of 23 August), Swiss Life has opted for an internal promotion for its financial services affiliate AWD Germany. Götz Wenker, 60, director of distribution, has been appointed as chairman of the board. He will be responsible for strategy, distribution, training, press and public relations, as well as client services and assistance. Thomas Bilitewski, 48, becomes head of the products professional areas, and of relations with partners and advising activities. He is also CEO of Horback, an AWD affiliate specialised in advising university graduates.

The German asset management association (BVI) on 1 September announced that it has created a mediation framework for investment funds. The framework includes a mediation office, located in Berlin, with two independent lawyerrs. The choice of Berlin is a sign of the will on the part of the professional association to have a larger presence in the German capital, the BVI says in a statement.

Since the beginning of this year, UBS has recruited more than 300 people in the Asia-Pacific region for its wealth management activities, according to Kathryn Shih, director of the UBS wealth management division for Asia-Pacific, Asian Investor reports. The recruitments are continuing. UBS has also recruited Alan Branigan, previously head of a consulting firm he founded, as head of the corporate advisory group in Singapore.

As of the end of August, assets under management in Spanish securities funds totalled slightly over EUR130.9bn, EUR3.25bn or 2.42% less than at the end of July. As of the end of December, assets totalled EUR138.08bn. This decline is partly due to new net outflows of EUR699m, for the fifth consecutive month, following net redemptions of EUR570m in July, and EUR1.19bn in June. Every month of 2010 was marked by net outflows, while in 2011, net inflows were observed in February and March. The heaviest net redemptions were from Mutuactivos (EUR230.94m), Santander Asset Management (EUR148.77m), and Invercaixa Gestión (EUR105.97m), followed by BBVA Asset Management (EUR85m). However, the only two management firms to post net subscriptions out of the top nine by assets are Bankia Fondos, with EUR23.84m, and Bansabadell Inversion, with EUR38.5m. The top three management firms by assets under management, Santander AM (EUR21.92bn), BBVA AM (EUR20.23bn), and Invercaixa Gestión (EUR15.92bn) alone account for 44.4% of total assets in securities funds as of the end of August.

French boutique Sycomore Asset Management has announced the recruitment of Arnaud d’Aligny as analyst-portfolio manager for European equities. He will assist with the Sycomore Eurocap fund (EUR555m as of 31 July), alongside Emeric Préaubert and Frédéric Ponchon. After three years at HSBC – CCF Charterhouse as assistant vice president in the structured finance department, d’Aligny joined the Goldman Sachs investment bank in 2002 as executive director in charge of the Building & Construction and Business Services sectors. Sycomore AM has nearly EUR2bn in assets under management.

According to information received by Newsmanagers, David Loggia, one of the star managers at the management firm Carmignac Gestion, who took a six-month leave of absence last year, and whose contract expired this May, has left the management firm based in the place Vendôme in Paris. Loggia had been co-manager of the Carmignac Grande Europe fund.

The Swiss Partners Group has announced the opening of an office in Paris (10 rue Labie, 75017), which will be led by Gilbert de la Ferrière. France is an important market for Partners Group, which has already invested EUR800m in the country (including 10 direct investments), and the group is clearly planning to increase its activity there further. The private equity investors, which says that it already has several French institutional investors among its clients, is planning to extend its client base by highlighting the promising potential of private investment.

State Street Global Advisors (SSgA) on 1 September announced the appointment of Ben Clissold as a senior liability-driven investment (LDI) portfolio manager in the Investment Solutions Group. Clissold will be based in London, and will report to Raymond Haynes, head of LDI for Europe. Clissold previously worked at P-Solve Asset Solutions, where he served as deputy chief investment officer, and spent more than four years developing, deploying and managing LDI solutions for 70 clients. SSgA has been managing custom LDI solutions for a large number of clients since 2005, and currently has USD201bn in assets under management (as of 30 June) in its various multi-asset class allocation strategies.

AXA Investment Managers on September 1 announced the appointment of Katrin Boström as head of Nordic Sales. Reporting to Irshaad Ahmad, head of UK and Nordics, she will be responsible for building on AXA IM’s presence in the region. Katrin Boström, who will be based in the region, working from AXA IM’s office in Stockholm, commences her role on 1 September 2011. Katrin Boström joins from Morgan Stanley Investment Management where she was executive director, head of sales and business development, Nordic Region. Before that, she was executive director, institutional sales and business development, Nordic region for Goldman Sachs Asset Management, London.

BNY Mellon Asset Management has announced the recruitment of Christopher Sheldon as chief investment officer at The Dreyfus Corporation, an affiliate of the management firm. Sheldon succeeds Phil Maisano, who retired this year. Sheldon was previously chief investment officer at BNY Mellon Wealth Management.

RBC Dexia Investor Services has announced the expansion of its Market Products and Services team with the appointment of Paul Luff as director, portfolio solutions. Reporting to Blair McPherson, head of portfolio solutions, he will work with key clients to tailor bespoke offerings that leverage the breadth of portfolio solutions available from the company. Paul Luff joins RBC Dexia from UBS Investment Bank, where he was most recently a senior relationship manager in its FX business.

Asset management bosses are unusually glum, the Financial Times observes. Not only are the markets in torment, but asset management companies are increasingly under pressure from clients who are turning to investments other than funds (ETFs, structured products), and are calling for lower fees. In private, asset management firm heads are concerned about erosion of their profits, due to falling returns and fees. Jupiter, for example, last month announced that it is it expects its average fee per asset under management to fall 2 to 3 basis points a year.

Several of the largest British management firms are making tens of millions of pounds from using their clients’ capital for securities lending, according to a study by the wealth management firm SCM Private, the Guardian newspaper reports. The SCM study finds that 19 of the 20 companies studied had terms and conditions in place which allow them to lend out up to 100% of their clients’ equities, and half of the sample had participated in securities lending. According to the research firm Data Explorers, global earnings from securities lending operations last year totalled about GBP4.5bn, of which about GBP850m were in the United Kingdom. Of this latter total, a considerable but unknown proportion involved retail funds. The co-founder of SCM, Gina Miller, tells the newspaper that many investors are not aware that management firms are legally authorised to put 100% of their capital at risk for these securities lending operations. “Complete and comprehensive information should be required in order to protect investors. From our point of view, the minimal levels of information and protection for retail investors under British legislation are completely unsuitable,” Miller says.