Raymond Frenken

French financial supervisor AMF is calling for a major reform of the EU’s SFDR rules for sustainable finance disclosures and proposed to remove fossil fuel activities from investment funds that are classified as “dark green” Article 9.

This week’s adoption of the updated EU regulation for long-term investment funds, known as Eltifs, raises hopes and expectations, both at a European level as well as on the ground in Luxembourg. Now it’s up to the industry to deliver. The fund ecosystem in the grand duchy is keen to embrace this opportunity.

Luxembourg-based private bank Quintet this year plans to eliminate 165 jobs, or 9 percent of its 2,000-strong workforce in six European countries as it attempts to become a more efficient organisation.

The European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday (15 February) adopted the eagerly anticipated upgrade of the EU regulation for long-term investment funds, a package known as Eltif 2.0. An overwhelming majority of 492 members, or 70 percent, voted in favour.

As the European Parliament, during this month’s plenary session in Strasbourg, debated the proposed changes to the EU’s regulation for long-term investment funds, a plan also known as Eltif 2.0, Luxembourg was discussing a “lighter” special tax regime for this new type of fund that can target investors in 30 European countries under a single passport.

As an international financial hub, Luxembourg is seen as well positioned to play a key role in talks about strengthening and financing the recovery of Ukraine’s economy once the war is over. A Luxembourg roundtable, scheduled for 22 February, will discuss Luxembourg’s potential role and seeks to create a number of expert-based working groups.  (Free to read)

Chief executives of Luxembourg firms are more worried about the long-term prospects for their businesses than their counterparts in other countries, according to a new survey presented on Wednesday by consultancy firm PwC.

The survey showed that only 51 percent of Luxembourg CEOs believe that their company will be economically viable for more than ten years if it continues running on the current path, compared to 59 percent of global CEOs.

The European Commission plans to stick to its plan to stop inducements for financial advisors, a proposal it recognises as “divisive” but one that is needed to build trust among investing consumers. “I think it’s good to grasp this nettle and to make change for the better,” said EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness.

A major shift in the Dutch retail investor market. Netherlands’ largest fund house Robeco decides to focus entirely on institutional and wholesale investors and, with pain in its heart, says goodbye to retail investors. With the takeover, Evi van Lanschot suddenly comes of age.

In one fell swoop, Evi, the retail arm of investment bank Van Lanschot Kempen, gains 125,000 new clients. That is a six-fold increase in the client base. Assets under management jump from 1.3 billion euros to six billion. 

Intesa Sanpaolo Wealth Management has been created as a new Luxembourg private banking hub following the merger of its troubled Luxembourg unit Fideuram Bank Luxembourg with Compagnie de Banque Privée Quilvest SA, which it took over last year.