Asset Managers

US asset managers are finding common ground on one point: the short end of the U.S. Treasury curve is where investors should be. The reasoning behind that stance, however, differs sharply.

Van Lanschot Kempen is preparing to enter the active ETF market through a new partnership with State Street Investment Management. The Amsterdam-based boutique, known for its smallcap and euro credit strategies, will rely on State Street’s infrastructure and distribution networks to launch its first exchange-traded funds within six to nine months.

The groundbreaking acquisition of AXA Investment Managers by BNP Paribas is becoming increasingly concrete on the ground. In Brussels, AXA IM Benelux is being dissolved after nearly thirty years. The branch in Amsterdam will also disappear.

Tokenized funds will overtake traditional structures within five years, says Keyrock CEO Kevin de Patoul, citing cheaper, transparent, inevitable on-chain vehicles.

Degroof Petercam sees many new opportunities for international cooperation following its takeover by the French Indosuez, said CEO Sylvie Huret in an interview with Investment Officer. Not only within Indosuez, but in the wider ecosystem of parent group Crédit Agricole, which also includes fund giant Amundi.

Strong inflows at Amundi, Natixis, DWS and Allianz show investors’ appetite for income strategies. But equity outflows and margin pressure reveal an industry split between volume growth and conviction.

Allianz GI and JP Morgan AM take different paths to multi-asset income: one prioritises yield, the other favours balance. Morningstar compares their approach.

Luxembourg, long seen as the administrative engine of Europe’s fund industry, has evolved into a strategic global hub, with U.S. asset managers leading the charge. Firms like Blackrock, Invesco, and JPMorgan are anchoring cross-border operations in the Grand Duchy, turning it into a launchpad for global growth and highlighting America’s dominant role in shaping Europe’s financial future.

Amundi, Europe’s biggest asset manager, is calling on investors to reassess their global asset allocation in light of deep structural changes in the world economy, with its top investment leaders highlighting Europe’s growing role as a safe and opportunity-rich destination.

A quiet power shift is underway in the European fund industry. Investors are increasingly gravitating towards larger Ucits vehicles, favouring scale, simplicity and cost-efficiency over specialisation and boutique appeal.