Latest News
Fitch Ratings has launched a new integrated scoring system that shows how environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors impact individual credit rating decisions.
The new ESG Relevance Scores, which have been produced by Fitch’s analytical teams, transparently and consistently display both the relevance and materiality of ESG elements to the rating decision. They are sector-based and entity-specific.
Using a standardised and transparent scoring system, Fitch is introducing ESG Relevance Scores across all asset classes, starting with over 1,500 non-financial corporate ratings. This will be followed by banks, non-bank financial institutions, insurance, sovereigns, public finance, global infrastructure and structured finance.
SANNE, a leading global provider of alternative asset and corporate services, has opened a new office in Amsterdam.
The opening of this new office adds further European capability to SANNE’s already strong network of offices located in the leading international financial centres, including London, Dublin, Luxembourg, Madrid, Paris and the Channel Islands. The office also provides further opportunities post-Brexit for EU based services.
Sean Murray, Managing Director – Alternative Assets – EMEA, says: “We are delighted to announce the opening of our new office in Amsterdam in the Netherlands, which adds further value to our already well-established European footprint.
Apex Group (Apex), one of the world’s top five largest fund administrators, has completed the successful integration of the Custom House business, adding USD24 billion to the group’s total assets under administration.
First announced in August 2018, the acquisition of Custom House adds over 200 employees to the Apex Group, in addition to offices in several new locations including Beijing, Chicago, Geneva, Rotterdam, Shenzhen and Sofia.
Custom House clients now have access to an additional 18 jurisdictions, as well as Apex’s renowned local service delivery model. The successful closing of this transaction adds over 200 managers and 500 funds
Institutional investment consulting firm Callan has appointed Pete Keliuotis, CFA as an executive vice president and the head of the company’s Alternatives Consulting business.
Keliuotis, who is based in the Summit, NJ office, will report to Callan’s President James Callahan, CFA.
Keliuotis joins Callan from Cliffwater where he was a senior managing director and a senior member of the Portfolio Advisory team, helping institutional clients build alternative investment portfolios with a focus on private assets and alternatives strategies. Prior to Cliffwater, Keliuotis was a managing director and the CEO of Strategic Investment Solutions (SIS) where he led the General
Brokers and hedge funds wanting to offer digital assets to their client base can now partner with Market Synergy for institutional-standard cryptocurrency connectivity and security and take a FIX feed or ISP link to Bitfinex’s digital asset gateway.
Bitfinex is the world’s leading cryptocurrency trading platform, known for pioneering the most sophisticated trading experience in the market. This landmark innovation now enables institutional firms and professional traders to connect to Bitfinex through Market Synergy, providing best in market performance through low latency and robust connectivity. This also creates a significant opportunity for institutional clients who are looking to diversify their
Luxembourg has made strides over the last six or seven years to create a funds environment that is equally as appealing to PE/RE and VC fund managers who want less regulated fund structures, for speed to market purposes, as it is to traditional asset managers for regulated funds; be they SIFs or UCITS.
This is starting to reap benefits with the likes of Carlyle Group and Oaktree Capital Management choosing to run funds out of Luxembourg. Since 2013, more than 1,400 special limited partnerships have been established, most of which are unregulated.
With a large number of private equity groups
Amid rising concerns about a downturn in the economic cycle, institutional investors are looking to mitigate risks by increasing allocations to private markets, according to BlackRock’s annual survey of global institutions.
Globally, over half (56 per cent) of clients stated that the possibility of the cycle turning is one of the most important macro risks influencing their rebalancing and asset allocation plans. The survey indicates that private markets will be particularly popular in 2019. In a continuation of a multi-year structural trend of reallocating risk in search of uncorrelated returns, illiquid alternatives are set to see further inflows, with 54
Nasdaq has launched a Corporate Bond exchange for listing and trading of corporate bonds which was approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on 13 November 2018.
“Fixed income investors have undergone a number of market structure and technological changes since the 2008 financial crisis, while at the same time companies have increased their issuance to take advantage of a low interest rate environment,” says Ted Bragg (pictured), head of US Fixed Income at Nasdaq. “Nasdaq-listed companies today have underwritten more than 3,000 corporate bonds, and there exists an opportunity for public companies to list their equity and debt
Aegis Custody has launched a new hardware-cloud hybrid solution, purpose-built for securely managing institutional digital assets.
The company has also partnered with ELICONN, a subsidiary of FoxConn Technology Group, the world’s largest computer electronics manufacturer and a major supplier for Apple Inc.
The new Aegis Custody product is designed to provide a much needed solution to institutions who have been reluctant to enter the digital asset market due to concerns around security. Aegis Custody’s product will allow transactions to move more swiftly and securely for exchanges, banks, asset management funds, STO projects, managed solutions, and self-custody solutions.
Jack Huang, COO
Shareholder and corporate governance law firm Grant & Eisenhofer has expanded its shareholder activism practice with the addition of Jonathan Oestreich, who joins as a director.
Under his direction, G&E will work with hedge funds, asset managers, and other investors seeking constructive change at public companies.
Oestreich (pictured), was most recently a managing director at Spotlight Advisors in New York, an advisory firm focussed on shareholder activism and proxy contests. Previously, he was a senior M&A banker and led the contested situations practice at Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. He started his career as an M&A, securities, and private funds
