Investment Officer

Representatives of the European asset management industry believe that lawmakers in Brussels need to step up their efforts to make sure that new voting rules for SMEs and scale-up companies strike a balance between the needs of investors and issuers. The proposal is also of importance to private equity firms investing in these companies.

Christine Lagarde, the president of the European Central Bank, on Thursday declined to provide forward guidance on the direction of Eurozone interest rates but said that its decision in December will be made based on updated data on inflation and on the actual economic impact of its monetary policy.

Apex Group on Thursday said it is  poised for expansion after having secured 400 million dollar in term debt, aiming to boost liquidity and further organic and inorganic growth. The firm, financially backed by a group of four venture capital firms, is known to be vying for an initial public offering some time in the coming years.

This week’s overview of transfers, appointments and promotions includes updates from Capital Group, Moonfare and the supervisory board of the European Central Bank.

Outflows from sustainable investment funds in the United States accelerated during the third quarter, likely due to a political debate that is hostile to investing sustainably, according to the latest report on global sustainable fund flows by Morningstar. 

Over the past decade, government initiatives have significantly curbed international tax evasion. However, the real impact of these measures remains a subject of debate. A new report now calls for a global minimum tax for the world’s ultra-rich.

Francesca McDonagh will join Frankfurt-headquartered Universal Investment Group as its new group chief executive officer from January, the firm has announced. McDonagh, 48, previously served as group chief operating officer at Credit Suisse and as CEO at Bank of Ireland.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the UK’s financial supervisor, plans to introduce a new overseas funds regime in April next year, as part of Britain’s post-Brexit framework for authorising non-UK investment funds to reach British investors. It plans a consultation before the regime takes effect.

Luxembourg’s alternative investment funds (AIFs) continued to show resilience and growth last year, even amid economic headwinds, navigating economic challenges with private equity funds at the forefront of market momentum, according to the latest annual market overview by the Grand Duchy’s financial supervisor.

Investment fund costs for both retail investors and institutions have become more volatile in 2022, according to data analysed by London-based Fitz Partners.

About one third - or 35 percent - of funds whose fees were changed last year have witnessed an increase in their charges to investors, with institutional equity funds leading the charge, according to data on around 40,000 fund share classes analysed by Fitz.