Major Asset Owners Double Down on Private Markets Amid Rising Economic and Geopolitical Risks

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Major asset owners (LAOs) remain confident that their portfolios are well-positioned to withstand a variety of shocks over the next year. However, according to the latest Large Asset Owner Barometer 2025 published by Mercer, they perceive greater vulnerability compared to the previous year regarding several key risks over the next 12 months, including geopolitical risks (35% vs. 31% in 2024), inflation (31% vs. 22%), and monetary tightening (30% vs. 23%). In fact, over a three- to five-year horizon, perceived vulnerability to most risks has shown a slight increase.

In particular, regulatory risks during this period were cited by 32% of LAOs, marking a significant rise from 20% in the previous survey. This reflects growing uncertainty among asset owners about the future direction of regulation after a year marked by major political shifts and their potential impact on portfolios.

“Equity, fixed income, and currency markets are experiencing extreme volatility due to trade tensions, but based on our data, we see that major asset owners are positioned for the long term and generally remain calm about short-term market movements. That said, in the coming year they plan to make strategic portfolio adjustments, as they did last year, to mitigate risks and seize identified opportunities,” says Eimear Walsh, European Director of Investments at Mercer.

Positioning and Asset Allocation

According to Mercer’s report, over the past year LAOs have taken various steps to protect their portfolios, including adjusting fixed income allocation duration (53%) and modifying geographic asset exposure (47%). Notably, nearly half (45%) of respondents increased their allocation to private markets, a trend expected to continue into 2025.

Looking ahead to the next 12 months, 47% expect to increase portfolio allocations to private debt/credit, while 46% plan to boost allocations to infrastructure. This trend is especially pronounced among the largest asset owners; 70% of those managing over $20 billion intend to increase private debt/credit allocations, and 63% plan to invest more in infrastructure.

“Only five percent—one in twenty—of surveyed asset owners manage their investments entirely in-house. In an increasingly complex investment environment, we see strong appetite among major asset owners to outsource investment management, with the more complex asset classes often being handled by external teams,” notes Rich Nuzum, Executive Director of Investments and Global Chief Investment Strategist at Mercer.

Optimism Toward Domestic Markets

While generally confident in their resilience, European asset owners show greater concern about risks than their U.S. counterparts: 43% of European LAOs believe their portfolios are vulnerable to geopolitical threats over the next 3–5 years, compared to 18% in the U.S.

Unlike major asset owners in the U.S. and the U.K., European asset owners appear more optimistic about investing in domestic equities. 34% of Europe-based LAOs expect to increase their allocations to European equities over the next 12 months. On average, LAOs in the U.S. and the U.K. are more likely to reduce their allocations to domestic equity markets.

There is also evidence that European LAOs, which may have previously had lower exposure to private markets than their U.S. peers, are now looking to close that gap. 48% of European LAOs allocated to private markets in the past 12 months, compared to 27% of those based in the U.S.

Focus on AI

More than two-fifths (43%) of major asset owners surveyed believe that artificial intelligence will be a highly influential factor shaping the macroeconomic environment over the next 5 to 10 years, ahead of geopolitics (34%) and energy transition/climate change (34%). Despite this view, more than two-thirds (69%) of LAOs say they have not yet implemented or started developing an AI/GenAI policy.

Another key trend is the increasing incorporation of sustainable investment objectives among asset owners, though climate transition goals are declining. Larger LAOs (with more than $20 billion in AUM) are more likely to integrate sustainability goals into their investment strategies, with 81% including such objectives in their policies, compared to 64% of smaller asset owners. Additionally, over the next 12 months, 24% plan to increase their allocation to ESG/sustainable funds, and 29% expect to increase exposure to impact strategies.

Despite this, the number of LAOs planning to set climate transition and net-zero targets is decreasing: 39% do not plan to establish net-zero emissions targets, up from 29% last year, and nearly 39% do not plan to set climate transition goals, compared to just 8% the year before.

Mercer, part of Marsh McLennan and a global leader in consulting and investment, publishes the Large Asset Owner Barometer 2025. In it, surveyed asset owners—collectively representing more than $2 trillion in assets—provide key insights into the investment decision-making of the world’s largest capital allocators.

iCapital® Acquires Citi Wealth’s Alternative Funds Platform

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iCapital and Citi have announced that the global fintech platform will acquire Citi Global Alternatives, the advisor to Citi Wealth’s global alternative investment funds platform. Through this transaction, iCapital will manage and operate the funds platform, while Citi will remain the distributor of these funds and continue to guide clients on the role of alternative investments within a diversified investment strategy.

This platform represents more than 180 alternative funds distributed worldwide. It includes investment vehicles across a diverse range of alternative investment strategies and asset classes, including private equity, growth equity, private credit, infrastructure, venture capital, real estate, and hedge funds.

“iCapital’s technology platform will streamline operations and management of Citi’s current and future alternative investment funds platform,” said Lawrence Calcano, Chairman and CEO of iCapital. “In addition, we will enhance Citi Wealth’s global sales capabilities with a dedicated alternative investments team, equipping advisors with more resources focused on pre-sale, sale, and post-sale investment activities,” he added. The team will cover all asset classes and product structures, working closely with Citi and general partners to support the growth of the alternative investments platform, the executive explained.

“Citi Wealth already has a strong working relationship with iCapital in alternative solutions, and we are pleased to expand our partnership to deliver deeper integration of iCapital’s market-leading digital capabilities to our advisors, bankers, investment counselors, and clients,” said Daniel O’Donnell, Head of Citi Wealth Alternatives and Investment Manager Solutions.

SPVs as catalysts for liquidity and global distribution

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In an increasingly dynamic environment for institutional investment, special purpose vehicles (SPVs) have become a key tool in the structuring of sophisticated investments. Their flexibility, tax efficiency, and risk mitigation capabilities make them a widely adopted solution among fund managers and private equity firms.

FlexFunds has developed a model based on the creation of SPVs, or special purpose vehicles, designed to support asset managers looking to package investment strategies in a flexible, scalable way—ready for international distribution.

SPVs are independent legal entities, created by a sponsor or parent company to isolate assets and structure investments with a specific purpose. They function as neutral vehicles that allow strategies to be implemented without affecting the balance sheet or liabilities of other group entities. To set up an SPV, the sponsor transfers the assets through a contract and trust structure, granting the SPV its own separate estate.

SPVs have a wide range of applications, including:

  • Public corporations may use SPVs for risk management purposes, such as isolating specific holdings from the parent company’s balance sheet.
  • In venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE), emerging fund managers often launch an SPV to build a track record before raising capital for a traditional fund.
  • SPVs can also act as “sidecars,” allowing investors to back companies that don’t fit the strategy or investment terms of their main fund.

In the FlexFunds model, SPVs are used to consolidate liquid or illiquid assets and convert them into listed securities that can be distributed through recognized platforms such as Euroclear. The asset manager’s track record is reflected on Bloomberg, SIX Financial, or Morningstar, increasing both visibility and liquidity for the investment strategies.

Key advantages for asset managers

  • Limited liability: Investors limit their exposure strictly to the capital they contribute.
  • Efficient risk management: Assets and liabilities are segmented, minimizing systemic risk.
  • Tax optimization: SPVs can be established in tax-efficient jurisdictions, maximizing net returns.
  • Structural flexibility: They can be designed as debt, equity, or hybrid vehicles, depending on investment objectives.

Important considerations when structuring an SPV

  • Transparency: It is essential to ensure visibility into the assets and their performance.
  • Leverage: Must be managed carefully to avoid excessive risk.
  • Operational complexity: Setting up an SPV involves administrative, legal, and regulatory costs.
  • Governance and conflicts of interest: A clear separation between sponsor and manager is critical to protect investor interests.

FlexFunds’ securitization program is based on Irish SPVs due to the structural, legal, and tax advantages this jurisdiction offers:

  • An on-shore jurisdiction that is a member of both the EU and OECD.
  • The only EU jurisdiction fully governed by common law.
  • A transparent and efficient tax regime with a broad network of double taxation treaties.
  • A special tax regime (under Section 110 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997) that allows an Irish SPV compliant with Section 110 to transfer income to investors in the most tax-efficient way possible.
  • Flexible listing options, including Vienna’s MTF and Euronext Dublin.
  • A highly developed infrastructure of service providers—auditors, legal advisors, corporate service providers, and other professionals—to support and manage SPVs.

While the use of SPVs is not new, FlexFunds has built a modern program designed to simplify the distribution and structuring of complex investment strategies. In a landscape where efficiency, customization, and traceability are essential, this type of structure provides asset managers with a real competitive edge.

“FlexFunds has built a series of efficient and reliable issuance platforms that offer all the benefits of SPVs established in Ireland. This model is becoming increasingly common, with 91% of Irish SPVs set up by international sponsors—70% of which are based in the United Kingdom or the United States,” notes Daragh O’Shea, Partner, Financial Services Department, Mason Hayes & Curran.

To learn more about how to establish an SPV and boost the distribution of your investment strategy, please contact with FlexFunds’ experts at contact@flexfunds.com

Goldman Sachs Asset Management Enters the European Market for Active Equity ETFs

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Goldman Sachs Asset Management launches in Europe a range of actively managed equity exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The Goldman Sachs Alpha Enhanced US Equity Active UCITS ETF (GQUS) is the first of the five funds to be launched; moreover, the ETF is listed on the London Stock Exchange and the Deutsche Börse, with other European exchanges to follow, and will offer exposure to U.S. equities. The four following funds will offer access to global, European, Japanese, and emerging markets equity.

The funds are based on the capabilities of the Quantitative Investment Strategies (QIS) team of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, which represents more than 35 years of investment experience and includes more than 80 professionals worldwide, with over $125 billion in assets under supervision as of December 31, 2024. The QIS team combines various data sources to better understand the growth prospects of companies across different sectors and geographic areas.

The launch comes after the recent entry of Goldman Sachs Asset Management into active ETFs in EMEA with several fixed income funds, expanding the product range and underscoring the firm’s commitment to offering its investment capabilities through the ETF wrapper.

Regarding these launches, Hilary Lopez, Head of Third Party Wealth Business for EMEA at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, said: “Clients are increasingly seeking top-tier active capabilities, with the control and convenience of ETFs. Following the launch of our flagship active fixed income blocks, we are leveraging our proven quantitative investment strategies to expand the range into equities. Our goal is to offer transparency and flexibility while helping investors navigate market turbulence and the changing dynamics of markets.”

For her part, Hania Schmidt, Head of Quantitative Investment Strategies in EMEA at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, commented: “Our data-driven approach is based on the experience, infrastructure, and knowledge of Goldman Sachs, in search of an informational edge to generate differentiated returns and outperform the market.”

Goldman Sachs Asset Management currently manages 55 ETF strategies globally, representing more than $38.7 billion in assets as of March 31, 2025. The TER of the Goldman Sachs Alpha Enhanced US Equity Active UCITS ETF (GQUS) is 0.20%.

Capital Dynamics Appoints Susan Giacin as Global Head of Sales

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Capital Dynamics, independent global asset manager, has announced the appointment of Susan Giacin, current Senior Managing Director and Head of Sales for the Americas, as Global Head of Sales. In addition, she will join the company’s Executive Committee, where she will contribute to the strategic direction of the firm.

According to the firm, in her new role, she will lead the firm’s global fundraising efforts and drive growth across the full range of Capital Dynamics investment strategies, including private equity and clean energy. Giacin will report to Martin Hahn, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Executive Committee, and will be based in the New York office.

Giacin brings more than 25 years of experience in creating, developing, and marketing investment solutions for institutional and wealth management clients. Since joining Capital Dynamics in 2017, she has played a key role in expanding the firm’s investor base in the United States and in strengthening client relationships, and she is recognized as an industry leader in creating accessible private market investment solutions.

“This appointment recognizes Susan’s extraordinary leadership and the impact she has had on the company. Her success in the U.S. market has been a key factor in the expansion of our firm, and we are confident that in her new role, she will help further advance Capital Dynamics’ investment solutions internationally. With her deep market knowledge, client-oriented approach, and ability to collaborate with our globally integrated team, she will bring great value to our already successful international fundraising team,” highlighted Martin Hahn, Chief Executive Officer of Capital Dynamics.

For her part, Susan Giacin, now as Global Head of Sales of Capital Dynamics, stated: “I am delighted to take on this role. Capital Dynamics enjoys a great reputation for delivering innovative, high-quality solutions to investors. As we intensify our global fundraising efforts, I look forward to working with my colleagues to further strengthen our relationships with existing and new limited partners (LPs), and to support our clients’ evolving needs in this rapidly changing investment landscape.”

The Market Downturn Is an Opportunity to Rebalance Portfolios: Strategic Outlook, Safe-Haven Assets, and “Cheap” Equities

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In a week marked by the release of macro data—including the first-quarter GDP in the U.S.—and the completion of the first 100 days of the Trump Administration, the keyword is confidence. According to international firms in the sector, markets will look for signs and proof of long-term stabilization, such as trade agreements or the action of central banks, to regain confidence. On that path, investors must be prepared to identify opportunities, but also to seek safe-haven assets, as volatility is expected to remain high.

For Benoit Anne, Senior Managing Director of the Strategy and Insights Group at MFS Investment Management, the starting point of all this uncertainty and volatility has been a crisis of credibility in economic policies. “Policy credibility is important and no country is above this basic market law. Apparently, not even the United States. In our view, the most concerning signal seems to come from the U.S. bond market. Although the deterioration of macroeconomic fundamentals should, in principle, have pushed bond yields down, what is happening now is the opposite. In the face of increased risk aversion, U.S. bonds currently do not appear to offer the protection they once did, leading to upward pressure on yields. To be clear, it is still too early to know whether this confidence shock will persist for a long time. Given the extreme level of uncertainty, we believe the market backdrop may change radically in a relatively short time,” acknowledges Anne.

He explains that this “confidence shock” is quite rare and occurs due to a “triangular market correction,” meaning that massive sell-offs occur simultaneously in a country’s Treasury bond market, equity market, and currency market. He notes that historically, this unusual market phenomenon has been observed mainly in emerging markets, such as during episodic financial crises in Brazil or Turkey in the 1990s or 2000s. “However, it is not a phenomenon exclusive to emerging markets. We all probably remember the episode of the UK’s mini-financial crisis in October 2022,” he adds.

Implications for the Investor

In this context, Lombard Odier acknowledges that it has taken advantage of the market downturn to rebalance portfolios and restore strategic equity weightings in multi-asset portfolios. “We continue to overweight fixed income. We believe our base case of slower growth, but without a recession, with interest rate cuts from central banks supports this tactical positioning. We are ready to make further adjustments as the situation evolves, following the steps outlined below,” they explain.

Based on their experience, the question investors should ask is what the path is to restore confidence. In their view, confidence tends to be restored in the markets through the initial attempts to buy assets at low prices. “While equity markets rebounded, other parts of financial markets have remained volatile, preventing this behavior from taking hold. It would be encouraging to see more buying attempts by investors at these levels. That would support other segments of the markets,” they point out.

For Michaël Lok, Group CIO and Co-CEO of UBP, “it is likely that investors will have to continue relying on strategies focused on risk management until markets better absorb the new landscape of growth, inflation, and geopolitics that is taking shape. Tactical risk management has helped us endure one of the biggest market declines since 2020. Gold and cash remain reliable safe havens.”

When discussing more reliable assets, MFS IM adds that, leaving aside the U.S. bond market, the best fixed income results will likely be found in asset classes with low duration and low credit risk, along with low correlation to the U.S. “With this in mind, the Global Agg index was the best refuge, with a positive return of 0.83%. The EUR IG also showed great resilience, with a marginally negative return (-0.20%). On the other hand, it is worth noting that local emerging market debt performed well during this period, favored by the weakness of the dollar. The local EM debt index delivered a return of 0.72%. Beyond fixed income, some currencies benefited significantly from the widespread weakness of the dollar. The Swiss franc has risen nearly 8% since April 1, reaffirming its status as a defensive asset. And gold has gained nearly 3.5% during this time,” argues Anne.

Finally, Duncan Lamont, Head of Strategic Research at Schroders, does not believe that investors should close the door on equities. According to Lamont, the market downturn means that the cash you’re considering investing will go further. “Valuations have come down and, in the case of non-U.S. markets, are cheap compared to history. Not too much, but bargains can be found. Even the U.S., which for so long has been an outlier, is quickly converging toward more neutral valuations compared to history,” he notes.

Calm: Declines Are Not Unusual

Lamont, Head of Strategic Research at Schroders, reminds us that downturns in equity markets are normal and part of the financial system’s mechanics. In fact, he points out that in global equity markets (represented by the MSCI World Index), 10% drops occurred in 30 of the 53 calendar years prior to 2025. In the past decade, this includes 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2023. Meanwhile, more significant declines of 20% occurred in 13 of the 52 years—once every four years on average. But if it happens this year, it would make it four times in the last eight years: in 2018, 2020, and 2022.

“That markets fall is nothing new, but that doesn’t prevent the feeling of panic from taking hold of investors. The stock market falls by 20% once every four years on average, and by 10% in most years. It’s easy to forget this. Even if you’re an experienced investor, how much comfort does that bring you when you’re in the thick of it? The simple reality is that the stock market has tremendous power to help grow wealth over the long term, but short-term volatility and the risk of drawdowns are the toll to pay,” points out Lamont.

The reading made by Union Bancaire Privée (UBP) is that markets appear to be focusing on weaker growth (the first impact) and a “transitory” rise in inflation, as described by Fed Chair Jerome Powell in his March press conference.

“In fact, 5-year inflation expectations are now at their lowest level in comparison with their 2-year counterparts since 1980 (outside of the initial deflationary shock of the 2020 global pandemic), which suggests that markets are not focusing on medium-term inflation concerns and instead, U.S. Treasury yields are closer to pricing in a recessionary environment—that is, weak growth and weak inflation in the medium term,” they point out in their April “House View” report, titled “Navigating Market Instability.”

In fact, UBP highlights that despite equity market declines, global equity valuations have returned to nearly historical averages.

“This suggests that markets are no longer discounting a repeat of the economic and corporate earnings boom centered in the U.S. in 2017, which occurred in the first year of Trump’s term. Instead, they reflect expectations of more moderate, though still favorable, economic and earnings growth. However, these more moderate expectations do not reach the recessionary scenario that bond markets are increasingly pricing in,” they indicate.

Retail Investors Go Digital While the Key Role of Professional Advice Is Confirmed

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How Digitized Are Retail Investors?

This is the question Amundi aimed to address in its latest global report, and the answer it obtained is clear: 77% of respondents invest at least part of their portfolio through a digital platform or app. However, what’s most relevant are the trends identified, ranging from holding investments on digital platforms to using digital sources of information and advice for decision-making.

According to the asset manager, that 77% demonstrates that digital investing is not just for younger investors, gaining ground across all age groups, as 68% of people over 50 globally make digital investments. This figure increases among younger investors, suggesting that the number of investors with digital holdings will grow as younger generations age. Furthermore, the document shows a disparity among countries; with Finnish (95%), Brazilian (89%), Swedish (89%), and South Korean (89%) investors adopting digital methods to a greater extent than their counterparts in Thailand (46%), Japan (64%), and France (65%).

For Fannie Wurtz, Head of the Distribution & Wealth and Passive Division, the Decoding Digital Investment report provides a highly valuable resource for those seeking to understand the changing expectations and behaviors of investors. “The study highlights the importance of professional investment advice: almost three times more investors who receive support—whether through people, meetings, or digital channels—have established a structured investment plan. While the use of digital channels continues to grow globally, promoting financial education and developing a hybrid advice model is more essential than ever to help investors achieve their long-term investment goals,” says Wurtz.

A Wide Variety of Digital Information Sources

Focusing on the report’s findings, it stands out that nearly three in four retail investors worldwide (73%) obtain investment information or advice through digital means, with this figure being lower in Europe (69%) and higher in Asia (76%). 38% of respondents favor influencers on television, radio, podcasts, blogs, and social media for investment guidance, while 31% prefer to go directly to the website of the investment service provider.

Regarding specific social media platforms, YouTube is the most influential among retail investors (72%), followed by Instagram (49%) and Facebook (46%). European investors are less likely to turn to digital influencers, especially those aged between 51 and 60. Although the use of digital information sources is high, the need for human advice remains important and continues to play a significant role in investors’ decision-making.

Professional Advice Through a Hybrid Model

The study shows that more than half of investors (55%) do not have a well-developed long-term financial plan, but those who do are four times more confident in achieving the goal of a financially comfortable retirement than those who don’t. It is also noted that those who receive professional advice (digital or in-person) are nearly three times more likely to have a plan than those who do not, indicating the vital role that advice plays in its various forms.

Exclusively digital investors (19%), however, are much less likely to access professional advice (whether in-person or digitally), meaning they have less confidence in their investment decisions (62% vs. 69%) and in reaching their investment goals.

The results also show that retail investors value human professional advice, especially when it comes to long-term financial planning. However, even analog investors are interested in improving their knowledge and exploring online investment options. This demonstrates the need to explore hybrid models to holistically meet investors’ needs.

Retirement: The Main Investment Goal

When asked what drives people to invest, the primary reason globally is a comfortable retirement (41%), followed by maximizing returns (39%). People generally seem confident in their investment decisions, but this does not translate into an expectation of achieving their retirement goals. Two-thirds (66%) of respondents believe they are making the right investment decisions, but only one in four (26%) feel they are on track to obtain the income needed for retirement. This may be due to more than half (54%) of global investors lacking a solid financial plan to support their decision-making.

The Particular Case of the Retail Investor in Spain

In Spain, overall, Spanish investors are slightly less likely than the European average to invest through digital platforms (72% vs. 78% in the EU). Notably in Spain, half of the investors have a well-developed long-term financial plan, compared to 39% of investors in the EU.

Specifically, men (40%) are more convinced than women (30%) to invest for a comfortable retirement, long-term financial security, or to retire early (32% vs. 16% of women). Likewise, 65% of Spanish investors are confident in making the right investment decisions, but only 22% feel very confident about achieving a financially secure retirement. By asset type, Spaniards are slightly more aware of ETF investments (53% vs. the 48% European average), but less likely to invest in them (21% vs. 27%).

Regarding influences, Spanish investors (38%) generally trust social media slightly more (compared to 30% of European investors). Specifically, nearly two-thirds (63%) of people aged 21 to 30 have made an investment decision based on information from an influencer (compared to 32% of investors aged 51 to 60). In this regard, Spanish investors agree that these decisions have proven successful (87% vs. 80% of European investors).

BBVA Opens Its Third International Private Banking Hub in Spain, Following the U.S. and Switzerland

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BBVA opens its third International Private Banking hub in Spain, after the U.S. and Switzerland

Latin American clients have around half of their wealth outside their country of origin, and Spain is in their sights: it has become an attractive destination, not only in terms of financial and real estate investments, but also due to factors such as language, quality of life, and security. This has led BBVA to create a specialized International Private Banking unit in the country, with the goal of serving global clients who wish to invest in Spain. This new unit joins the platforms already existing in Switzerland and the United States, reinforcing BBVA’s international model and consolidating Spain as a strategic hub in its global offering of high-value-added services.

The entity, which already has 583 international clients in this unit in Spain, with 440 million euros in volume and a growth of 43 clients so far in 2025, had been working over the past three years with Latin American clients through its local private banking; now, the business achieved has provided the incentive to give it this new international structure, with slightly different protocols. Although no specific growth objectives have been set, they are ambitious about what can be achieved in international private banking and believe this is just “the tip of the iceberg,” explained Fernando Ruíz, Head of Private Banking at BBVA in Spain, in a meeting with journalists.

Because the creation of a specialized private banking unit that only serves international clients allows for better adaptation to those clients (who have their particularities, such as, in the case of Latin Americans, the appetite for real estate or investments in dollars), expanding the group’s international offering to a third market and becoming a reference in Spain in international private banking, taking advantage of the group’s positions and synergies in Latin America. “Having a specialized team will allow us to better understand the client, analyze how they invest, and adapt,” he said, with a relationship model that is in-person (through the dedicated office in Madrid and trips to the countries of origin) and digital communication and operational capabilities.

To this office, located at Goya 31, which represents a first step, more centers could soon be added in potential areas such as the Mediterranean coast, cities like Barcelona, or the Northwest area (Galicia especially), leveraging the 218 locations where BBVA’s local private banking is present in Spain. “In the U.S. we started with centers in Miami and then expanded to Houston (Texas) and California. In Spain, we could follow the model, as long as we see that it is convenient for international clients,” stated Jaime Lázaro, Head of Asset Management & Global Wealth.

Colombia, Mexico, and Peru

The new unit is born with the aim of offering an exclusive service adapted to the particular needs of international clients, especially those from countries like Mexico, Colombia, and Peru, who seek to diversify their wealth outside their places of origin. The Goya office has a team of five professionals dedicated to those clients, composed of Javier Domínguez Freijo, as director, and four bankers: Alejandro Valverde Carranza (for clients from Mexico), Silvia Díaz Henao (Colombia), Gonzalo Martín Soria (Peru), and María López Moral (other geographies). All of them—highly specialized bankers with exclusive dedication, capable of understanding the wealth, tax, and legal particularities of each country—were already working in BBVA‘s private banking. The team will also grow with the business, with a preference for internal talent although external hires are not ruled out.

“Latin American clients have 50% of their wealth outside their country of origin. In some cases, they want to diversify and we help them come to Spain; in other cases, the clients are already here and we serve them with the support of the LatAm franchises. In the end, they are usually clients with investments in some Latin American country, who asked us about BBVA’s offering in international private banking and now, as a third path in addition to the U.S. and Switzerland, we can offer them Spain,” added Ruíz. “With this new unit, our goal is to elevate and differentiate international private banking in Spain, replicating the model of excellence we already offer from our offices in Switzerland and the United States. We have created an exclusive, highly specialized team, capable of meeting the specific needs of international clients, in many cases different from those of national private banking. We want to offer a unique service in the Spanish market, both to those who reside in the country and to those who have interests here from other geographies,” he added.

Clients can access the international private banking offering starting from 500,000 euros, under the same conditions as local private banking, and with the same service standards, in which BBVA Patrimonios and the ultra-high-net-worth unit come into play. Currently, the average volume of international clients is around 800,000 euros. Of these clients, about half are from Colombia, 30% from Mexico, and 20% from Peru. According to the firm, the end of the Golden Visa in Spain will not be a determining factor for the arrival or withdrawal of investments, just as it has not been a significant attraction lever in recent years.

Under the umbrella of the international platform

The value proposition of this specialized unit is based on BBVA’s international platform, Global Wealth, which connects all the Group’s local banks and enables global and consistent service in any geography. In this way, the personalized attention provided by the team of the new Madrid office is complemented by close coordination with the bank’s local teams in the clients’ countries of origin, ensuring comprehensive wealth management at the international level, the firm explains.

“Private Banking is one of the strengths of the BBVA Group, and therefore our global private banking unit, Global Wealth, has as a priority objective to provide a unique and consistent experience to clients with interests in different geographies, becoming their best financial ally through a relationship and advisory model that is transparent, complete, and consistent in all our processes and wealth solutions,” stated Lázaro.

The person responsible for these units recalled the strength of their service, between local and global, and the strategic priority represented by the development of private banking for the group, already present in nine markets, in Europe (Spain, Switzerland, and Turkey) and the Americas (Uruguay, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Mexico, and the U.S.), with 200 billion euros in assets. “We want clients to perceive that they are working with a single bank, even if they have accounts in more than one country,” he said, assuring that the bank’s communication circuits will enable holistic and global advisory and reporting.

BBVA offers these clients not only specialized bankers but also expert teams in wealth planning and strategic analysis. Notably, the Global Wealth Planning area, present in Spain, Mexico, and Switzerland, enables efficient and personalized wealth structuring. The bank also collaborates with prestigious international firms, as well as with local firms in each country, to provide complete coverage on legal and tax aspects.

A tailored value offering

Specifically, the value proposition for international private banking clients—coordinated between the experts of the international unit and the locals in each geography—is focused on wealth planning, as well as services in high demand such as real estate (with BBVA’s agreements with Intrum and CBRE), alternatives (in which the bank has recently launched proposals), financing facilitation, arrival and residency support in Spain (with agreements with leading entities), assistance to companies and families to transfer wealth from generation to generation, and the same products available to local private banking clients.

In terms of investment solutions, BBVA’s international clients have access to discretionary management portfolios or advisory services tailored to their risk profile and currency, proprietary and third-party funds (via Quality Funds), private market opportunities, customized financing, real estate services with specialized brokers, international payments solutions, and premium cards with global benefits, as well as advice on business investments. Thanks to the international network of the BBVA Group and the global capabilities of its various areas such as BBVA Research, BBVA Asset Management, Quality Funds, or Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB), the entity can offer a comprehensive, flexible, and dynamic approach to wealth management, adapted to the circumstances and objectives of each client.

“It’s about giving them the same as in Spain, but with adaptations to their peculiarities—for example, adjusting their investments in dollars. We also remind that in all countries BBVA facilitates product offerings through open architecture via BBVA Quality Funds. We don’t want the client’s preference to be conditioned by the product offering, which is available in the three international private banking centers,” added Lázaro. The offering also includes services beyond traditional financial ones, such as educational, sports, or cultural topics.

Growth in local private banking in Spain

In this context, BBVA’s private banking in Spain continues to grow strongly. The entity manages nearly 140 billion euros in assets under management and has 158,000 clients and 722 bankers. The objective is to reach 200,000 clients in three years and manage 150,000 investment portfolios in the next two years, thus consolidating its personalized advisory model based on the combination of the banker’s knowledge and technological support.

Vontobel Appoints Ana Claver as Head of International Clients

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Vontobel, Ana Claver, clientes internacionales
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Vontobel has announced the appointment of Ana Claver to the firm as the new Head of International Clients. According to the firm, in her new role she will be responsible for leading Vontobel’s distribution business in EMEA (excluding DACH), US Intermediary, US Offshore, and Latin America.

The firm highlights that Claver brings extensive experience in senior leadership roles at a global level and a proven track record in developing client-oriented solutions and partnerships across a wide range of markets. She joins Vontobel from Robeco, where she recently served as Head of Wholesale Sales in Europe. Previously, she was Managing Director of Robeco Iberia, U.S. Offshore, and Latin America. Her professional experience also includes senior roles at Morgan Stanley, Venture Consulting, and UBS. She holds a degree in Economics and Business Administration from ICADE in Madrid and is a CFA Charterholder.

Following the appointment, Christoph von Reiche, Head of Institutional Clients, stated: “We are pleased to welcome Ana to Vontobel. Her experience and strategic vision will help accelerate our expansion and deepen our commitment to clients in key markets. This appointment reflects our dedication to partnering with our clients and delivering innovative investment solutions that meet their evolving needs.”

Nomura Acquires Macquarie’s Listed Asset Management Business in the United States and Europe

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Nomura acquisition, Macquarie, asset management
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Nomura and Macquarie have announced an agreement whereby Nomura will acquire Macquarie’s public asset management business in the United States and Europe, with approximately $180 billion in assets from retail and institutional clients across equity, fixed income, and multi-asset strategies.

According to the terms of the agreement, Nomura will acquire 100% of the shares of three companies operating Macquarie’s public asset management business in the United States and Europe for a cash purchase price of $1.8 billion, a figure subject to closing adjustments. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of the year and is subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals.

Nomura has identified global asset management as a key strategic growth priority for the firm. Through this transaction, Nomura will significantly expand the global capabilities and client presence of its Investment Management Division, which currently manages approximately $590 billion in client assets.

Once completed, the total assets under management by Nomura’s Investment Management Division are expected to rise to approximately $770 billion, of which more than 35% will be managed on behalf of clients outside Japan. This acquisition will also provide Nomura with a scalable hub, based in Philadelphia, to continue growing its international Investment Management business.

This high-margin business will bring well-established distribution networks across both the retail and institutional segments. The business has a presence on nine of the ten largest U.S. retail distribution platforms, as well as strong institutional relationships, including in the U.S. insurance sector, a growing market for asset managers globally. With its origins in Delaware Investments, founded in 1929 and acquired by Macquarie in 2010, the business has a long history of serving clients through active management strategies.

As part of the transaction, Nomura and Macquarie have agreed to collaborate on product and distribution opportunities, including appointing Nomura as the U.S. wealth distribution partner for Macquarie Asset Management and providing continued access to U.S. wealth clients to Macquarie Asset Management’s alternative investment capabilities. Additionally, Nomura has committed to providing seed capital for a series of Macquarie Asset Management alternative funds tailored to U.S. clients.

Currently, the business is managed by a highly experienced team led by Shawn Lytle, President of Macquarie Funds and Head of the Americas for Macquarie Group. Shawn, along with John Pickard, CIO Equities & Multi-Asset, Greg Gizzi, CIO Fixed Income, and Milissa Hutchinson, Head of U.S. Wealth, will continue managing the business after the acquisition.

In collaboration with this leadership team, Nomura plans to carry out several initiatives to support organic growth, increase the scale of assets under management, and diversify the business’s range of capabilities following the acquisition. These initiatives, which will build on the business’s strengths and aim to position the platform to continue delivering strong long-term investment performance, include:

  1. The development of new investment capabilities designed to meet client needs.

  2. Expansion of the active ETF platform launched by the firm in mid-2023.

  3. Investment in talent and data analytics to grow the distribution platform.

  4. Leveraging existing distribution channels to offer retail and institutional clients access to Nomura’s broader asset management capabilities.

“This acquisition aligns with our global diversification and growth ambitions for 2030, with a focus on investing in stable, high-margin businesses,” said Kentaro Okuda, President and CEO of Nomura Group. Okuda added that the transaction “will be transformative for our Investment Management Division’s presence outside Japan, adding significant scale in the United States, strengthening our platform, and creating opportunities to build out our public and private capabilities. We are excited about the prospect of welcoming more than 700 employees who will be joining Nomura Group.”

For his part, Chris Willcox, President of Nomura’s Investment Management Division, added that this transaction “will accelerate the expansion of our global Investment Management business and marks an important step in building a truly global franchise with a full range of solutions to serve investors around the world.”

Macquarie’s Public Asset Management Business in the United States and Europe
Macquarie established its public asset management business in the United States and Europe through the acquisition of Delaware Investments in 2010, a U.S. mutual fund business established in 1929.

The public asset management business has grown organically and through select acquisitions, including the purchase of Waddell & Reed in 2021, adding to its capabilities in active management of long-term open-end mutual funds in the United States and expanding its U.S. client base.

In 2023, the business launched active ETFs and currently manages more than a dozen ETF strategies in the U.S. With more than 700 employees based in Philadelphia, the business has a strong U.S. intermediary and institutional client franchise.