Baker McKenzie’s Post

𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬 | A cross-practice AKD team is advising Achmea Investment Management on the intended acquisition of the Blue Sky Group’s asset management services, adding EUR 25 billion in Assets under Management (AuM) to Achmea Investment Management’s current AuM.   Following the acquisition, Achmea Investment Management will carry out the asset management of among others the three KLM pension funds. Closing is subject to completion of the relevant works council procedures as well as to approval by the competent regulatory authorities, and is expected by the end of 2024. The AKD team is led by Lennart Crain, and further consists of Jurriaan Puijpe and Jesse Algra (M&A), Ludo Luijks and Maud Plattel (Tax), Jasper Verhoog and Florian Dorland (Regulatory), Jorn de Bruin and Maikel Doting (Employment and Pensions), Martin Hemmer, Bram Woltering and Bente van Dijk (IP, IT and Data Protection), Joost Houdijk (Anti-trust) and Daan ter Wee (Notarial). 🔗 For more information on the transaction and the parties involved, please see our website: https://lnkd.in/ed8THqbD

Can large asset owners afford not to do full ODD (Operational Due Diligence) on funds? 🚫I’d say absolutely not. Even if you are all public markets, it still matters. Think Woodford Investment Management. 👍If you have a complex alternatives/private markets portfolio, then it’s close to essential. Or it is, if you want a decent amount of shuteye each night. 🗣️The ODD community (and many CIOs) can roll out countless case studies of bullets dodged or challenging “workout” situations when funds have a problem. 💥A tour de force on the importance of ODD to asset owners here by Simon Hoyle. 👏I get a short mention but Kevin J. E. is the one with the deep technical expertise in this area. “ODD specialists exhibit a healthy level of scepticism towards what they’re told by asset managers, and willingness to dig deep into a manager’s business to see for themselves how it’s structured and how it works.” “I want to know how the business is run, not how they want to outwardly project themselves,” says Kevin Eastwood, head of operational due diligence at the £25 billion ($31.8 billion)Local Pensions Partnership Investments.” “A good ODD process generally won’t on its own improve returns, but LPPI chief investment officer Richard Tomlinson…observed that “deep and detailed ODD underpins a solid investment process and provides CIOs with an additional, critical risk control; return of capital is more important than return on capital”. #ODD #InstitutionalInvestors #LGPS #Pensions #OperationalAlpha Albourne perfORM Due Diligence Services Limited Castle Hall James Lewis James Newman Chris Addy FCA CFA Brian Digney, CAIA

Join this virtual roundtable that will bring together Cutter members from across the public funds community, including pension funds, superfunds, and sovereigns, and connect you with like-minded peers to share solutions and insights on the unique challenges you face. https://bit.ly/3I0DLp3

This is certainly a trend we are seeing across our key international markets.... with professional advisors and intermediaries increasingly outsourcing investment management responsibilities to well established, independent and regulated asset managers.

🔎 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 Coronation Fund Managers’s decision to increase its BEE shareholding to 51% is a significant move for the asset management industry. With only 8% of the long-term savings industry allocated to black asset managers, this step addresses a clear imbalance that I believe is long overdue for change. Check out the full article to see our Founder and Managing Director's thoughts on why transformation in the financial services sector is essential, especially when managing Trillions of Rands in assets. #EconomicTransformation #BEE #AssetManagement #FinancialServices #Motswedi

Are private and public markets swapping roles in financing the real economy? It is our belief that they are, and this represents a significant opportunity for institutional investors. Samantha Cleyn, Head of Institutional Sales & Service, BMO Global Asset Management and Adam Howarth, Co-Head of Portfolio Management, Partners Group delved into the implications for institutional investors and the shifting dynamics between public and private markets in the webinar “Private Markets: The New Traditional Asset Class” hosted by Benefits & Pensions Monitor. Read the article or watch the webinar: http://spr.ly/6005TOVxl

👀 ICYMI: Jay Jumper, our CEO and Founder, has been featured in an exclusive article from Natalie Lin on PLANADVISER discussing the innovative strides Future Capital is making in the world of 401(k) asset management. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eVSpEjmF #FutureCapital #RetirementPlanning #InnovationInFinance #401kManagement #FinancialAdvising

“Many an active manager has pondered whether passive investing may be for them what digital photography was to Kodak. When it comes to retail funds, they may have a point. But retail is only part of the landscape. Active managers that adapt to the new institutional market can still flourish.” 👉Another point to add to the thoughtful commentary by Toby Nangle in the FT yesterday. 🌅The rising influence of asset owners and their adapting business models. I know this is something Dan Mikulskis has been talking about recently. 👣I’ve voted with my feet so maybe I’m a little biased but… 🤝Many large asset owners are vertically integrating (internalisation of asset management) and consolidating asset management relationships. Both are seeking to increase alignment, drive down unit operating costs and reduce inefficiencies in the investment value-chain. 💥This approach can often deliver a win-win for investor and asset manager. Lower fees, more ability to focus/tailor and less portfolio turnover/friction for the investor; stickier capital and fewer relationships to manage for the asset manager. 🌎Multiple international analogs for the UK to look to (Canada, Australia etc) and several LGPS pools are already well advanced on this journey. #LGPS #AssetManagement #InstitutionalInvestors Local Pensions Partnership Investments

As founders of hedge funds and private equity funds approach retirement, it is critical for them to ensure institutional stability through well-considered succession plans and governance arrangements. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3V0jQOm #HedgeFunds #PrivateEquity

As founders of hedge funds and private equity funds approach retirement, it is critical for them to ensure institutional stability through well-considered succession plans and governance arrangements. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3V0jQOm #HedgeFunds #PrivateEquity