"Le portefeuille multi-actifs non contraint est la voie à suivre"

J. Safra Sarasin Asset Management, qui opère depuis peu dans le Benelux, attache une grande importance à la gestion multi-actifs sans contrainte dans toutes les classes d’actifs. La combinaison d’une gestion systématique/quantitative et d’une gestion humaine peut également apporter une valeur ajoutée.

UK-EU MoU could end mutual lack of trust, rebuild bridges

A Memorandum of Understanding on financial services agreed between the EU and the UK, published on 19 May, could elevate the tone of the discussions and lead to a more productive relationship. “It’s a very encouraging confirmation that the relations between the EU and the UK are warming up,” said Nicolas Mackel, the CEO of Luxembourg for Finance, the public-private Luxembourg agency for the development of the financial sector.

Raif registrations down 20% for year to date vs 2022

Fund management companies registered some 22 new reserved alternative investment funds (Raifs) in April 2023, according to publicly-released data updated on 15 May.

This development brings the total for this year so far to 128. Considering only the first four months of the year, the total number was down 20 per cent from last year during the same period.

Luxembourg now has some 2,288 registered Raifs. In 2022, The Luxembourg Business Registers recorded 482 new Raifs, at an average of over 40 new Raif registrations every month.

US anti-ESG policy seen as reason to underweight the region

While those European investors still in doubt about the importance of ESG are becoming increasingly bogged down in a rearguard action, U.S. states are increasingly passing anti-ESG laws. “If this becomes federal policy, I would underweight the U.S. in the portfolio,” said Gaya Herrington,  a sustainability researcher and advisor to the Club of Rome.

Owners of Degroof Petercam want to sell their shares

Belgium’s largest independent private bank, Degroof Petercam, is considering a major reshuffle of its ownership structure that could potentially lead to a new majority shareholder. Some of the existing owners, mainly Belgian noble families but also undefined «financial partners», have indicated they want to sell their shares.

A deal could be worth more than one billion euro. Belgian state-controlled financial group Belfius, Credit Agricole, ING Groep and Royal Bank of Canada are reported as being possible bidders.  

Selling Eltifs to the masses requires distribution adjustments

The launch of the amended Eltif regulation – version 2.0 – fits a narrative in some quarters that the version of Eltif already on the books is some kind of failure. Data nevertheless shows that investment in even the “limited” version of Eltif in place since 2015 is still growing quickly and various projections specify even faster growth. In order for the vehicle to be sold to masses of clients under Eltif 2.0, experts said that consequential adaptations will have to be made to the way such funds are sold and distributed.

Luxembourg to encourage Eltif uptake with tax exemption bill

Luxembourg’s finance minister has tabled a proposal to the grand duchy’s parliament to encourage the uptake of European long-term investment funds known as Eltifs. If adopted, the proposal will exempt Eltifs from requiring to pay the quarterly registration tax levied on Luxembourg investment funds.