Investment Officer

While the smokescreens on the greenwashing battlefield have yet to lift, a new headache file has presented itself in financial markets: the impact of artificial intelligence on market participants and regulators. On that front, transparency is “zero”, European Markets Authority Esma has concluded in a new study on artificial intelligence in EU securities markets.

European Ucits and AIF investment funds experienced net outflows of 278 billion euro last year, the biggest level since the financial crisis of 2008, according to industry statistics compiled by the European Fund and Asset Management Association, Efama.

Denis Panel has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of Sycomore Asset Management, a unit of Generali Investments, the firm announced on Tuesday.

Pamela Goldminz has been named as head of the Dallas officer at financial services provider Apex Group, the firm announced on Tuesday. The appointment follows organic growth and acquisitions in the Texas market, it said.

Apex Group, active in Luxembourg as a leading AIFM and asset services firm, has become one of the largest independent fund services providers by headcount in Texas, it said.

KPMG Luxembourg on Thursday said its revenue increased a steady 8 percent last year, buoyed by a “significant” market growth in private assets. The firm reported revenues of 276 million euro for last year.

LPeC, an international association for listed private capital, has become part of Invest Europe, the Brussels-based trade association for the European private equity, venture capital and infrastructure sectors. LPeC will continue as Invest Europe’s Listed Private Capital Roundtable.

Although professional investors - on average - are still considerably underweight equities, there is one category they are massively allocating to. Never before has the allocation jump in emerging markets equities been so large in three months. EM is hot.

Katharine Dryer has been appointed at Capital Group in a new London-based role as equity lead, Europe and Asia client group. 

San Francisco-headquartered Capital Group, with assets under management of approximately 2.2 trillion dollars, said Dryer will focus on expanding the firm’s equity distribution strategy and product development roadmap to better serve institutional and intermediary clients across Europe and Asia. 

Candriam Group, a New York Life investments company, said it has agreed to buy a majority-stake in pan-European real estate investment manager Tristan Capital Partners. Financial details were not disclosed.

Candriam already owns 31 percent of Tristan, With the new agreement its stake will increase to 80 percent by the middle of this year. The remaining 20 percent of Tristan will continue to be held by its senior team. 

Pictet Asset Management has announced the launch of Pictet-ReGeneration, a Luxembourg-domiciled concentrated global equity fund investing in companies aiding the transition to a regenerative economy. The fund is the latest addition to Pictet AM’s Thematic franchise, which now has a combined assets under management of some 62 billion dollars.