‘Facebook Effect’ in Luxembourg reshapes private equity in EU
Amid the sustained growth of Luxembourg’s private markets, propelled by ongoing onshoring and the growing acknowledgment of its robust legal frameworks, Investment Officer sat down for a conversation with Claus Mansfeldt, president of the Luxembourg Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (LPEA).
EU talks put AIFMD review back on track, unscathed
Proposed amendments to EU rules for alternative investment funds have passed through technical discussions in Brussels without much damage. The outcome of these ‘level 1’ talks means that the AIFMD and Ucits review now is back on course to be completed shortly. The EU’s presidency is expected to issue a statement next week.
Amundi moves €10.7 bln in Luxembourg ETFs to Ireland
Amundi, Europe’s biggest asset manager, has informed investors that it is moving seven of its ESG funds out of Luxembourg to consolidate them with new umbrella ESG funds that it has created in Ireland. The move is aimed to achieve “a greater degree of operational efficiency,” the Paris-based firm said.
CSSF urges vigilance on Hamas funding, 91 NGOs monitored
Luxembourg’s financial supervisor CSSF is urging banks, investment funds and the general public in the Grand Duchy to be extra vigilant in relation to money transfers that could finance terrorist groups such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The reminder comes just a month after the world’s top body for fighting money laundering and terrorism finance said the sector’s understanding of terrorism finance is “very low”.
Top fund managers have clear preference for oil, financials
Which public companies do the best rated fund managers want in their portfolios? Researchers at London-based data analysis firm Citywire on Monday released a new data set that shows in which equities the world’s portfolio managers prefer to invest with the highest degree of conviction.
A Nasdaq in Luxembourg? ‘I beg you. Build it.’
Luxembourg, take the initiative for a European Nasdaq market. Take your expertise in financial structures and pioneer this change, says Finnish VC investor Riku Asikainen, managing partner and founder of Evli Growth Partners, or EGP, which hosts one of Europe’s biggest scale-up breeding grounds.
Investors may draw short end in tussle over retail strategy
The industry’s objections to a divisive EU Retail Investment Package are being heard in Brussels, it has become clear in recent weeks. Investors could end up pulling the short straw, critics argue. ABBL says a clearer definition of retail investors is important for private banks and wealth managers.
Contours of SFDR 2.0 are gradually emerging
Though the EU consultation of the much-debated Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation is set to conclude only in December, the outlines of what will be termed as SFDR 2.0 are gradually emerging.
In ESG, voice of asset owners matters more than ever
An air of cautious optimism permeated through the halls of the Morningstar’s sustainable investing conference in Amsterdam on Wednesday, painting a subtle yet intricate picture of the obstacle-filled landscape of ESG investing.
New generation of active ETFs takes market by storm
Even Ciaran Fitzpatrick, head of ETF servicing Europe at State Street, is surprised to see phenomenally strong growth in true active ETFs this year. The latest generation of ETF products, also dubbed ‘ETF 3.0’, is rapidly making its way into portfolios of both institutional and retail investors. The US is leading but Europe is not far behind.