Sector

Cyprus has emerged as the primary location for firms offering cross-border investment services to retail clients in the European Union and European Economic Area, accounting for 23 percent of the total firms providing passported services. Luxembourg and Germany followed closely, representing 16 percent and 13 percent of all firms, respectively, according to an analysis conducted by European Securities and Markets Authority (Esma) and national competent authorities (NCAs).

The 60-seat Luxembourg parliament has finalised its adoption of a major upgrade of five investment laws, making its popular international framework for investment funds even more attractive for new types of funds coming into the market, in particular Eltifs. The industry has widely welcomed the changes, with one ManCo CEO describing them as “an evolution rather than a revolution.”

Nicolas Mackel, the CEO of the Luxembourg for Finance development agency Luxembourg for Finance and considered as the de facto ambassador of Luxembourg’s financial sector, speaks to Investment Officer’s Raymond Frenken in this IO Talks podcast.

Luxembourg’s parliament, with 55 votes in favour and only two against, has embraced a highly anticipated law that revamps its legislative arsenal for investment funds. Several fund categories, including European Long Term Investment Funds (Eltifs) and money market funds, are to be exempted from the registration tax imposed on Luxembourg-domiciled funds.

The European Fund and Asset Management Association (Efama) has declared that the European investment fund sector is not capable of undermining financial stability to the extent that it results in systemic risks.

Jean-Marc Goy, recently appointed as chairperson of Alfi, the Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry, speaks to Investment Officer’s Raymond Frenken about his priorities for the association and about Luxembourg’s role as a leading European and global centre for investment funds.

With a clear vision in mind, Jean-Marc Goy, chairperson at the Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry, Alfi, is determined to foster the growth of the Grand Duchy’s asset management sector by encouraging effective collaborations with diverse stakeholders, including regulators. “The common goal is to strike the right balance between investor protection, and not putting in the way of the industry too many hurdles and obstacles that would stifle innovation”, Goy said in an IO Talks podcast interview.

The world’s top body for the fight against money laundering on Friday said it has found a “high level of technical compliance” with global standards in Luxembourg. The Financial Action Task Force, or FATF still recommended that the Grand Duchy strengthens its measures in certain complex areas, in line with its risk profile as a regional and global financial centre. “Luxembourg has a very good idea of what it needs to do,” said FATF president T. Raja Kumar in response to a question by Investment Officer during a press conference in Paris.

With a few days to go before crucial EU talks that could lead to major reforms of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, known as Mifid, EU asset managers, banks, and brokers are urging policymakers not to succumb to pressure that could lead to “suboptimal outcomes” in the review.

In the face of market volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity, a combination popularly referred to as ‘VUCA’, Ingo Mainert, CIO Multi Asset Europe at Allianz Global Investors, urges investors to embrace a fresh interpretation of VUCA: vision, understanding, clarity, and agility. 

This perspective came during his keynote speech at Wednesday’s ALFI Roadshow in Frankfurt, a gathering organised by Luxembourg’s 1700-member fund management trade association. The event provided a platform for industry experts to exchange insights on the investment climate and topics pertinent to Luxembourg, attracting roughly 300 delegates.