Nine in ten (92%) alternative fund managers are using artificial intelligence to carry out routine risk and compliance procedures. A global survey of 101 compliance and risk executives at alternative fund manager firms which collectively manage around $132.25 billion, found that, of those who already use AI as part of their risk and compliance procedures, one in ten (11%) started doing so more than two years ago. According to the study commissioned by fund administration consultancy Ocorian, over half (55%) of those surveyed started using AI two years ago, and 24% started between one and two ..read more

Montreal-based Fiera Capital has opened its first office in the Netherlands, in the Dutch capital of the Hague.   The new office of the Toronto-listed $123bn asset manager will be led by Jeroen van Rooij, who has been appointed to the newly-created role of head of Benelux and Nordics distribution.    The new Hague office is the firm’s fifth location in Emea and will serve as the primary hub for Fiera Capital’s clients and investors in Benelux and the Nordics.   Klaus Schuster, executive director and Emea chief executive, said: “Our Dutch office opening is the next step in ..read more

Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) has launched a model portfolio service partnership with Apollo Investment Management, an investment consultancy and independent financial adviser with offices across the UK. LGIM will provide five tailored model portfolios, with a range of risk-adjusted strategies for Apollo’s professional and retail clients. LGIM will also manage the rebalancing of the model portfolios to ensure investments are continuously aligned with investors’ risk and return profiles. The portfolios will be white-labelled and the wrap-around service will include regular i ..read more

Pensions fiduciary managers experienced a wide variation in investment performance across 2023 despite markets performing well, according to a study. The survey of 20 growth portfolios managed by 17 fiduciary managers, representing over £480 billion of pension scheme assets, found that although all portfolios made positive returns, there was a gap of 12.9% between the highest (+13.4%) and lowest-performing (+0.5%) portfolios. XPS Pension Group’s Fiduciary Manager Review found that only one fiduciary manager outperformed a traditional 60/40 portfolio across the year, and some underperformed th ..read more

FundGuard will once again sponsor the ‘Official After Party’ at the 2024 Funds Europe Awards, which will take place on November 6th in London. The firm, which provides investment accounting solutions, is sponsoring the Official After Party at London’s Banking Hall – the same venue in which the Awards ceremony takes place. Funds Europe is holding its annual awards at Banking Hall in the City for the first time, departing the Tower of London after many years due to the growth of the event. Last year saw a record number of entries – with strong competition in the technology section and with priv ..read more

Thanks to government support, Germany’s venture capital scene is surging. Matias Collan, of ACE Alternatives, highlights some emerging investment themes.  Amidst Germany’s continued prominence in Europe’s venture capital arena, Berlin emerges as a formidable tech hub, challenging London’s established dominance. Despite hurdles like decreased VC funding and a surge in startup insolvencies, Berlin’s ecosystem thrives, boasting over 4,800 startups, with 300 new ones launched annually. Noteworthy are the emergence of three new unicorns raising mega rounds, significant female founder growth ..read more

In an ever-evolving financial market, delivering an unparalleled investor experience and managing client expectations is crucial. Join our upcoming webinar, “Empowering the Investor: Leveraging Technology to Enhance Client and Investor Experiences,” to explore the intricate balance of satisfying clients and meeting investor demands through digital transformation. Join us on May 30th at 3PM GMT (4PM CET)! Throughout this session, industry experts will explore the multifaceted challenges faced by asset servicing firms, including: Understand what makes a good, credible climate transition plan ..read more

Many governments, asset owners, and other bodies claim to share a common goal in achieving net zero. But current strategies to propel transition finance often diverge and result in misalignments, says Rhodri Preece of CFA Institute. Decarbonising high-emitting industries such as shipping, cement, and steel production is one key element in the march towards the climate targets set out in the Paris Agreement. But this comes with a cost; according to the World Economic Forum, the transition will require total infrastructure investment of $13.5 trillion between now and 2050. A 2023 Masdar survey ..read more

Indicating a continued shift from public to private assets within investment portfolios, a survey has found that over one-third of institutions have allocated over 50% of their portfolio to private markets, projected to rise to 41% in the next three to five years.  According to the survey by financial service provider State Street Corporation, additionally, 59% have allocated 30% or more to private markets, expected to reach 71% by 2028. Among private market asset classes, infrastructure and private debt emerge as the top choices for investors, with 71% anticipating increased allocations ..read more

LGPS Central, a UK Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) pool, has invested £220 million in the Macquarie Inflation Linked Income Fund, with over £30 million earmarked for hospital developments in Telford, Warwick and Derby. This move aligns with LGPS Central’s evolving private credit strategy, strengthening its portfolio within the infrastructure debt sector. Additionally, it reflects the growing demand for long-term inflation-linked cash flows, while also delivering societal and environmental benefits in the UK. LGPS funds back Schroders Greencoat investment in UK solar farm The ..read more