Asset Servicing

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.

The Luxembourg private debt market has reached a new milestone, surpassing 500 billion dollars in assets under management (AuM) according to the 2024 Private Debt Fund Survey, published by KPMG in collaboration with the Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry (ALFI). The survey reveals a 21.5 percent growth in AuM, reaching 510 billion dollars, continuing its strong upward trajectory despite global market turbulence.

Investors are spotting opportunities in defence companies, particularly given the continued military support for Ukraine and significant increases in European defence budgets. Long-term revenue prospects appear stable, driven by the ongoing maintenance of military equipment and the need to replenish supplies.

In a move to strengthen valuation practices across the investment fund industry, Luxembourg’s financial supervisor CSSF on Wednesday unveiled a glimpse of plans to revise its valuation guidelines for investment fund managers. The update is due in 2025.

This week’s overview of transfers, appointments, promotions and other career news in the international fund and asset management community includes updates from M&G, BDO, Governance.com, the Luxembourg School of Business and the Luxembourg Competition Association.

Luxembourg’s financial regulator has issued a relatively small fine for a class of transgression with huge implications for the industry: valuations of funds, in particular for unlisted alternative investments.

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.

Many investors mistakenly conclude that China and the United States are completely different due to their distinct financial (and societal) systems. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Both nations’ faltering economic engines are kept running by the same remedy: debt.

Former Portuguese finance minister and Morgan Stanley banker Maria Luís Albuquerque, known for her austerity-heavy tenure during the eurozone crisis, is now the European Commission’s nominee for the influential role of Commissioner for Financial Services. Her appointment has already ignited controversy.

Pharmaceutical companies were once known for their strong growth potential, but slowing revenue growth, lower valuations, and higher dividend yields have given them a more mixed profile in recent years. However, over the past three years, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have stood out by reclaiming their growth status.