Fri, Mar 29, 2024
A A A
Welcome Guest
Free Trial RSS pod
Get FREE trial access to our award winning publications
Industry Updates

RBC Dexia and KPMG survey: Asset managers embrace the arrival of UCITS IV

Monday, October 26, 2009
Opalesque Industry Updates – A survey published today by RBC Dexia Investor Services and KPMG shows how some of Europe's largest asset managers plan to capitalise on UCITS IV and identifies how these reforms will contribute to wider changes across the European investment fund landscape. The main findings of the report, entitled "UCITS IV: Which business model for tomorrow?" are as follows:

- The vast majority of UCITS managers are taking a proactive approach to UCITS IV
- The number of Management Companies will decrease
- A new wave of fund mergers lies ahead
- Master/Feeder structures will be key for new markets/client segments
- Immediate cost savings are expected

Peter De Proft, Director General of the European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA), commented on the survey, "The fund industry is currently facing numerous challenges in these turbulent economic times that have impacted assets under management and profitability across the industry. One of the important strategic steps for players in the UCITS industry is to fully explore how to take advantage of UCITS IV."

According to the survey, the introduction of the Management Company Passport (MCP) is one of the most landscape altering changes permitted under the new directive. The results highlight how managers will reduce the number of Management Companies and will need to consider the location of a centralised Management Company carefully, taking into account concerns surrounding tax regime (49%), the regulatory framework (44%) and the availability of qualified personnel (33%). Luxembourg (43%) and Dublin (18%) will be likely winners but also the location of the group headquarters (23%) is an important consideration.

The study also revealed that 49% of respondents plan to restructure their fund ranges, with sub-optimal fund size and high costs to investors being key drivers. While UCITS IV will facilitate cross border fund mergers the market may also see a large number of new feeder funds which, as highlighted in the survey, will be used for targeted fund distribution and enable managers to enter new markets and segments. Again Luxembourg (81%) is the favoured location for consolidating assets in master/feeder fund structures.

By far the most important advantage to UCITS IV for those asset managers polled is cost savings (43%). Easier access to markets (24%) and increased competitiveness (21%) were also highlighted as positive outcomes of the new framework. Only 2% of respondents said that UCITS IV brings no advantages, however 45% acknowledged the absence of a tax framework is a key issue.

The survey polled 52 asset managers with UCITS funds established in their principal location in the European Union (EU) as well as in the cross-border business centres of Luxembourg and Ireland. The 52 asset managers surveyed manage 54 % of the assets (UCITS and non-UCITS) domiciled in the cross-border centres of Luxembourg and Ireland.

Jean-Michel Loehr, Chief Industry & Government Relations at RBC Dexia commented, "As the results of this survey indicate, UCITS IV is set to have a significant impact on the European investment fund industry. It is clear that the market is already readying itself to embrace this latest phase of UCITS and has made significant inroads in identifying the broad range of opportunities UCITS IV creates. As ever, education remains key to ensuring that the market continues to capitalise on regulatory changes."

Vincent Heymans, Partner at KPMG in Luxembourg added, "The current economic environment has presented the fund management industry with numerous challenges. It is therefore crucial that, now more than ever, fund managers fully realise the efficiency and consolidation opportunities found within UCITS IV, which allow for cost savings and improved efficiency of operations."

For a copy of the full survey results, please visit www.rbcdexia.com or www.kpmg.lu

About RBC Dexia Investor Services
RBC Dexia Investor Services offers a complete range of investor services to institutions worldwide. The company’s offers offshore and onshore solutions, combined with the expertise of our 5,500 professionals in 16 markets. Equally owned by RBC and Dexia, the company ranks among the world's top 10 global custodians with USD 2.0 trillion in client assets under administration. rbcdexia.com

About KPMG
KPMG is a global network of professional firms providing Audit, Tax, and Advisory services. The firm operates in 144 countries and have more than 137,000 professionals working in member firms around the world.


Be

What do you think?

   Use "anonymous" as my name    |   Alert me via email on new comments   |   
Previous Opalesque Exclusives                                  
Previous Other Voices                                               
Access Alternative Market Briefing

 



  • Top Forwarded
  • Top Tracked
  • Top Searched
  1. KKR raises $6.4bn for the largest pan-Asia infrastructure fund[more]

    Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia: The New York-based global investment firm KKR has raised a record $6.4bn for its second Asia-focused infrastructure fund, underlining investors' continued appetite for private markets. According to a media release from the alternative assets manager, the figure top

  2. Bucking the trend, top hedge fund makes plans for a second SPAC[more]

    From Institutional Investor: SPACs aren't dead. At least not to the folks at Cormorant Asset Management. The life sciences firm, whose hedge fund topped its peers in 2023, is confident it will match the success of its first blank-check company. Last week, the life sciences and biopharma speciali

  3. Benefit Street Partners closes fifth fund on $4.7 billion[more]

    Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York: Benefit Street Partners has closed its fifth flagship direct lending vehicle, BSP Debt Fund V, with $4.7 billion of investable capital across the strategy. Benefit Street invests primarily in privately originated, floating rate, senior secured loans. The fun

  4. 4 hedge fund themes that are working in 2024[more]

    From The Street: A poor earnings report from Tesla (TSLA) has not hurt the indexes on Thursday. The decline in Tesla stock, which is losing its position in the Magnificent Seven pantheon, is more than offset by strong earnings from IBM (IBM) and ServiceNow (NOW) . In addition, the much higher-t

  5. Opalesque Exclusive: A global macro fund eyes opportunities in bonds[more]

    Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York for New Managers: Munich-based ThirdYear Capital rebounded in 2023, following a tough year for global macro. The firm's flagship ART Global Macro strategy finished the year up 1