All news

Swiss investors favour diversification and new sources of returns

Thu, 18/04/2013 - 12:31

By James Williams – “We had our best inflows as a company last year and I think we’ll continue to see inflows into alternative investments in 2013,” confirms Pius Fritschi, Head of Hedge Fund Business Development at LGT Capital Partners. »

Three common myths in operational outsourcing

Thu, 18/04/2013 - 12:27

Interview with Michael Appenzeller – While some managers are moving quickly to adapt their operating business model by outsourcing middle- and back-office functions to become more cost-efficient, common misconceptions remain. Michael Appenzeller, Co-founder of Etops, a Pfaffikon, Geneva and Bratislava-based company specialising in operational solutions for single managers and those managing multi-manager portfolios, is keen to dispel a few myths. »

New Swiss regulations on marketing of alternatives

Thu, 18/04/2013 - 12:23

Interview with Daniel Häfele, Acolin Fund Services – Whereas previously regulation was targeted at public marketing of financial products to retail clients, the laws now cover the distribution of all collective investments (CIS) in Switzerland, including AIFs such as hedge funds, private equity funds, as well as UCITS and other retail products. »

Insurance-linked strategies can be a compelling diversifier

Thu, 18/04/2013 - 12:18

Interview with Pius Fritschi – Last year, LGT Capital Partners saw its hedge funds business grow 20 per cent. This, says Pius Fritschi (pictured), Head of Hedge Fund Business Development at LGT Capital Partners, shows that demand for hedge fund strategies remains strong. But increasingly, institutional investors are searching for new sources of risk-adjusted returns when it comes to investing in hedge funds. »

Paul Nicholson, Harcourt Investment Consulting

How to profit from the interest rate environment

Thu, 18/04/2013 - 12:14

Interview with Paul Nicholson – Vontobel Fund – Absolute Return Bond is designed to help clients overcome the challenges of uncertainty in today’s historically low interest environment. The fund’s flexible strategy is composed of four sub-strategies: one in cash management, to produce yield, and three “alpha” producing strategies covering currencies, rates and credit. The objective is to produce a straddle pay-off that allows the fund to generate consistent returns in stable market conditions, but to then generate outperformance in rising and falling markets. »

Onshore hedge fund servicing in Switzerland

Thu, 18/04/2013 - 12:09

Interview with André Valente – The opportunity to leverage onshore administration services for hedge fund managers is gathering momentum in Switzerland. And UBS Fund Services in Switzerland plans to be at the forefront, according to André Valente (pictured) who heads up the business. »

Swiss regulation will not adversely impact fund managers’ activities

Thu, 18/04/2013 - 12:05

By James Williams – “Hell, there are no rules here – we’re trying to accomplish something.” Thomas A Edison. On 1 March 2013, Swiss fund managers awoke to a new dawn. Overnight, they had gone from operating in a market free of the shackles of regulation to one where the Swiss government gave its imprimatur to the revised CISA (Collective Investment Schemes Act). This, along with the Collective Investment Schemes Ordinance (CISO), means that all Swiss-based asset managers overseeing fund investments now fall under the watchful gaze of FINMA, the Swiss regulator. »