Weekly UCITS News (Friday)

EFAMA has welcomed the publication by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) of its Consultation Paper setting out future guidelines on UCITS Exchange-Traded Funds (UCITS ETFs) and other UCITS issues. »

Renaissance Asset Managers (RAM) has acquired the investment management mandate for two further Emerging European funds within Griffin Umbrella Fund plc with assets totalling USD116m. This development follows the acquisition of the Griffin Eastern European Fund with assets of USD252m, one of the oldest and best established funds in the emerging markets universe, announced in December 2011. Following this final transaction, total RAM assets under management will rise from USD2.4bn to USD2.8bn. »

A greater focus from regulators and investors has led to an increased number of hedge fund and private equity managers actively considering strategic moves to more favourable domiciles, according to a new report from Clear Path Analysis. Emerging regions are particularly appealing to investors and as such managers are now looking at the business potential of setting up a presence overseas. »

Global financial crises and continued market volatility have transformed attitudes toward investing. As managers respond to the evolving needs of investors and their advisors, previously segregated products and segments are converging, according to a new paper from SEI. »

Independent fund services provider Butterfield Fulcrum, and Luxembourg Investment Solutions SA (LIS), a regulated (UCITS-licensed) management company, have signed a strategic cooperation agreement to provide a complete suite of management company and fund administration services in Luxembourg. »

The Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry (ALFI) has set out its ambition for the Luxembourg Fund Centre to be a global centre of excellence for the asset management industry, thereby creating opportunities for investors, fund professionals and the global community as a whole.   »

Buried in the recent consultation paper on the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) are stringent rules on pay that will have far reaching consequences for the asset management industry, say experts at PwC. »

PerTrac has launched new releases of its analytics solutions, PerTrac Analytics 7.2 and PowerLink 1.2. The powerful, new versions handle all data frequency types including daily data for investment analysis, strategy comparison and fund benchmarking. »

Make sure you stay ahead of the game by attending the CISX International Business Summit where you can pose your questions to industry leaders. »

Apex Fund Services, a fund administration business, has opened its Luxembourg office. »