Universal-Investment

Unregulated alternative investments continued to be dynamic and successful in Luxembourg last year thanks to the modernisation in recent years of the Grand Duchy’s regulatory regime for private markets, consultancy firm PWC Luxembourg noted when releasing the latest version of its Observatory for Management Companies.

Frankfurt-based Universal Investment Group, a leading asset services provider with Super ManCo status in Luxembourg, on Tuesday flagged further European growth ambitions outside German-language countries when it announced it had reached agreement on its acquisition of European Fund Administration for an undisclosed amount.

Two of Luxembourg’s biggest asset services companies, Apex and Universal-Investment, have recently strengthened their client services teams.

Universal-Investment, the third-largest management company in Luxembourg, said on Tuesday that it has been appointed as the management company for the Luxembourg fund portfolio of Switzerland’s Fisch Asset Management. Increasing costs and regulatory requirements are mentioned as reasons for the transfer.

An alternative investment vehicle that relatively swiftly established itself in Luxembourg continued to become more popular last year, an analysis of data filed with the country’s business register shows. If growth continues at the current pace, Luxembourg will be home to more than 2,000 such funds, known as Raifs, by the end of this year.