Fund Times: 19 - 23 October

Morgan Stanley sells retail asset management business to Invesco; Aberdeen closes emerging markets segregated mandates; Reports: Hellman & Friedman to float Gartmore; Gartmore announces high profile hire of Threadneedle’s Jan de Bruijn; Cofunds seals pricing deal with Schroders; London & Capital moves into retail space with launch of income range.

Alexander Prineas | 23-10-09 | E-mail Article

Morgan Stanley sells retail asset management business to Invesco
Morgan Stanley has announced the sale of its retail investment business, including Van Kampen Investments, to Invesco. In return Morgan Stanley will receive a 9.4% equity stake in Invesco. The sale is a result of Morgan Stanley’s decision to focus on the institutional space. However their institutional business will continue to sell its funds via platforms so the Morgan Stanley name will remain in the retail market. Further details of the sale are yet to be announced, but of relevance to investors will be whether investment teams that formerly worked together or shared information will now be split between Morgan Stanley and Invesco.

Aberdeen closes emerging markets segregated mandates
Aberdeen has announced the closure of some of its global emerging market vehicles. Segregated mandates will be hard-closed, meaning no new additions will be allowed even from existing clients. Retail investors will still be able to access the popular emerging markets funds via investment platforms. We like to see managers capping their funds when assets reach capacity as it’s usually beneficial for investors. It remains to be seen what steps Aberdeen would take if emerging market assets continue to grow through their retail funds.

Reports: Hellman & Friedman to float Gartmore
Private Equity house Hellman & Friedman is reportedly planning to sell its majority stake in asset management group Gartmore via a stock market flotation. Media reports suggested the float could take place by the end of 2009. Gartmore responded that they don’t comment on media speculation. The firm appears to have made a deliberate effort to bolster its asset management capabilities this year with the recruitment of several high profile investment staff including: Dan Roberts for UK equity income, which we reported on here; Leigh Himsworth on UK mid-caps; Luke Newman on UK equities; John Bennett on European equities; and John Anderson and Kam Tugnait on fixed income.

Gartmore announces high profile hire of Threadneedle’s Jan de Bruijn
Continuing Gartmore’s high profile recruitment run, they announced the hire this week of Threadneedle’s Jan de Bruijn to join the emerging markets team headed by Chris Palmer. Jan will take over the Gartmore Pacific Opportunities Fund and Gartmore SICAV Asia Pacific fund, as well as provide specialist regional support on the Asian component of Gartmore’s global emerging market suite. Gartmore also intends to develop an alternative investments business in Asian equities with the input of de Bruijn.

Cofunds seals pricing deal with Schroders
It was reported this week that Cofunds had sealed a pricing deal with Schroders which will give Cofunds a greater share of the annual management charge (AMC) levied by the firm's funds. This was the first agreed deal in a broader push by Cofunds to increase its share of fees, and Cofunds expects more deals to be announced in the coming months. Given the already high costs of distribution, and the resultant high TERs, we find any upward trend worrisome as higher costs directly harm fund investors.

London & Capital moves into retail space with launch of income range
London & Capital has announced the launch of three UCITS III income funds to be managed by CIO Ashok Shah. London & Capital has historically been a boutique asset management house focused on the private client and high net worth market. They are looking to move into the UK retail market as they believe it is more attractive for their clients following changes in taxation rules. Following a long period of expansion in the number of funds in the European market place, we recently saw the first decline in the number of funds available for sale (discussed here). It remains to be seen how successful London & Capital will be moving into a shrinking market.

Morningstar qualitative ratings and reports issued this week
Morningstar issued new qualitative ratings and reports on a number of funds available to UK investors this week, including Investec Global Energy and Schroder UK Equity. Click here to see the full list.

Alexander Prineas is a Fund Analyst with Morningstar UK. You can contact the author via this feedback form.
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