private markets

Institutional investors remain wary of semi-liquid private funds, a sentiment that was on full display at this year’s Luxembourg Meeting for Private Markets Investments, a German-language private markets conference known as Lumpi.

Martin Groos unpacks the journey of the European Long-Term Investment Fund (Eltif) since its promising launch in 2015, and explores whether recent reforms under “Eltif 2.0” will finally deliver success.

As the shift towards passive investing continues to reshape the asset management industry, active managers are exploring new strategies and product formats to maintain their edge. In an interview, Joseph Pinto, CEO of M&G Investments, outlined how the UK-based firm is adapting to the changing landscape.

Ireland’s decision not to introduce its own version of Luxembourg’s highly successful Reserved Alternative Investment Fund (Raif) signals a cautious approach in the global race for private market leadership and reflects concerns over potential problems with liquidity and valuations in this market.

The cold, wet, and miserable weather does nothing to dampen Jason ‘IPO’ Lee’s spirits as he arrives at Findel after a grueling journey from Hong Kong. He has chosen Luxembourg as a launchpad for the European arm of his AI fund.

The annual Luxembourg Private Equity Association (LPEA) Insights Conference drew over 1,000 professionals to the Grand Duchy this year, underscoring the nation’s status as the largest global private markets hub outside the United States.

Plans to increase Europe’s capital markets capacity hinge on giving retail investors access to private assets, but liquidity remains a sticking point. Evergreen funds, designed to offer investors some liquidity in otherwise illiquid assets, are being touted as a solution.

The Luxembourg Stock Exchange is exploring ways to create public listings of European Long-Term Investment Funds, private market vehicles that for now are the exclusive domain of high-net worth individuals. A senior official said the bourse, also known as LuxSE, sees a particular role for itself when it comes to enhancing the exit opportunities.

Luxembourg’s financial watchdog, the CSSF, has made important changes to its rules for valuations of investment funds, the first in two decades. While many things stay the same, some key updates—like lowering limits for money market funds and adding new checks before making investment decisions—are aimed at tightening control and providing clearer guidance.