Investment Officer

The European Union on Monday published the text of its updated regulation on long-term private investment funds, known as Eltif 2.0, in its Official Journal, clearing the final hurdle before its implementation from January next year.

The publication was expected following the adoption by the European Parliament in February. Luxembourg, as a leading investment funds hub in Europe, is keen to develop itself as an international hub for this new type of investment funds which will open up alternatives and private equity also to non-institutional investors.

Financial services provider Apex Group on Monday said it has appointed Tony Alfonso as global head of valuation, a newly created role that will be in charge of valuation advisory services.

So-called AT1 bonds, also known as CoCos, were in focus on Monday as shares of European banks showed significant declines in the wake of the rescue of Credit Suisse engineered by Swiss authorities by merging it with UBS. 

UBS is acquiring industry peer Credit Suisse for 3 billion Swiss francs. They will pay 0.76 Swiss francs in UBS shares. The opening offer was initially 0.25 Swiss francs per share. As recently as Friday, Credit Suisse closed at a closing price of 1.86 Swiss francs, representing a market capitalisation of 7.3 billion Swiss francs. The combined entity will become Europe’s largest Globally Systemically Important Bank, also known as a G-SIB.

Financial service provider Apex Group on Thursday said it has been appointed by NewVest to provide administration services for the firm’s inaugural Private Equity 50 Index Fund, also known as PE 50, which is backed up by a blockchain. 

Dutch pension funds, a major category of investors in global markets and clients to many Luxembourg real estate funds, last year suffered losses on their real estate investments after many years of rising values. Their investments in real estate funds, however,  delivered positive numbers.

Negative global market sentiment against Swiss bank Credit Suisse meant Europe’s banking sector was under fire again on Wednesday, leading up to a evening statement by Swiss supervisors saying that they will commit liquidity to the bank.  The bank then said it plans to move swiftly to create “a smaller and more focused bank”.

“If necessary, the SNB will provide CS with liquidity,” the Swiss National Bank and regulator Finma said last night. 

Europe’s biggest asset manager Amundi on Tuesday said it does not believe that the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and the ensuing US banking crisis is an event that poses a systemic threat.

In a note to investors, Amundi’s top investment team, including Monica Defend (photo), Vincent Mortier and Matteo Germano, noted that the European banking sector “is in far better shape” than in the 2008 financial crisis. Nevertheless, they urged investors to watch out for areas of vulnerability. 

Laurent Cooreman on Monday was appointed as chief executive officer at Belair House, the real-estate focused family office unit of Banque Internationale à Luxembourg, also known as BIL.

A solid balance sheet structure will help European banks buffer stressed market conditions following the collapse of their US peers Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and Silvergate Bank, credit agency Moody’s said.