Universal Investment

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.

Investors need strong nerves in 2024, but institutional investors are staying calm, according to the latest analysis at Universal Investment.

Francesca McDonagh will join Frankfurt-headquartered Universal Investment Group as its new group chief executive officer from January, the firm has announced. McDonagh, 48, previously served as group chief operating officer at Credit Suisse and as CEO at Bank of Ireland.

Universal Investment Group on Wednesday announced the launch of a new Luxembourg joint venture Alumia. The firm will operate as Mifid regulated investment advisory firm providing clients with access to innovative investment strategies.

In recent years, the regulatory framework for the duties and responsibilities of the board of directors or management board and for the control functions within Luxembourg investment fund managers has evolved significantly. Among others, CSSF Circular 18/698 has tightened the regulatory requirements for the authorisation and organisation of Luxembourg investment fund managers (“IFMs”).

There is an unwavering demand on the debt as well as on the equity side of private markets, writes Martin Groos, member of the management board at Universal Investment Luxembourg.

Michael Reinhard has decided to step down as chief executive officer at Frankfurt-headquartered Universal Investment Group, a leading management company in Luxembourg. Until a successor is appointed he will be replaced by David Blumer, who joined UI as non-executive chair last year.

EFA, the asset services unit of Frankfurt-based management company Universal Investment, on Tuesday said it has strengthened its presence in the Nordic countries by appointing Pia Kumlin as country head. Kumlin joins from Swedbank and will be based in Stockholm.

By successfully closing its acquisition of European Fund Administration, Universal Investment has pushed its assets under administration by more than a fifth to above 900 billion euro in more than 7000 funds, the firm has announced. Financial details were not disclosed.

In-house valuation teams, with experts for every asset class, will become a standard feature among Alternative Investment Fund Managers, known as AIFMs, write Universal Investment’s Gerard van Vliet and Krzystof Czerner in today’s contribution as knowledge experts to Investment Officer Luxembourg. “Fair value calculations are not only necessary to pass regulatory audits, but also to provide a value-added to investors and their relationship with the AIFM.”