Investment Officer

This week’s overview of transfers, appointments and promotions includes updates from Alumia, Wealth Management Partners and Newton Investment Management.

BlackRock’s iShares topped the charts as the best-selling ETF promoter in Europe for October, outpacing Amundi and Vanguard, according to recent data from LSEG Lipper. Bond funds have become the most popular ETF category this year by a significant margin.

The Luxembourg Ucits market, a cornerstone of the European investment landscape, demonstrated both its strength and vulnerability in the face of 2022’s economic turbulence, with fund managers navigating increased market and credit risks, while maintaining prudent leverage and liquidity management.

M&G Investments on Monday said it is launching its first European Long Term Investment Fund, known as Eltif, as part of a new 500 million euro private credit strategy. The fund will be known as M&G Corporate Credit Opportunities.

Average fees paid to directors of investment funds in Luxembourg and Ireland are down significantly when compared to last year in what appears to be a reflection of a shift in the way that funds reimburse their directors, according to a new report issued on Monday.

Ethenea has received approval from Luxembourg regulator CSSF to remove equities, precious metals and commodities from its Ethna-Defensiv multi-asset portfolio, transforming the fund into a pure bond strategy.

Of the 280 million euro in the fund, which had had a multi-asset portfolio since 2007, 14 percent is currently invested in European government bonds, 80.5 per cent in high-quality corporate bonds and 5 per cent in high-yield bonds.

Luxembourg-headquartered CVC Capital Partners, one of Europe’s biggest private equity firms, on Wednesday decided to postpone its initial public offering on the Amsterdam stock exchange, a person familiar with the decision has confirmed. The firm now is looking for a new opportunity to go public in 2024.

This week’s overview of transfers, appointments and promotions includes updates from M&G and Fidelity.

Kathy Ryan 

Kathy Ryan (photo) has been appointed as chief sustainability officer at M&G plc. She joins from Irish Life Investment Management, where she was head of responsible investment.

Luxembourg-headquartered Alter Domus, an international provider of tech-enabled fund administration, private debt, and corporate services for the alternative investment industry, has appointed Michael Janiszewski as its new Chief Operating Officer.

After a dismal third quarter, bond investors are once again turning their attention to fixed income. A survey of European and Asian fund selectors forecasts a heightened demand for this asset class in the upcoming year, particularly with expectations of sustained equity market volatility.