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Brazil, Chile, and Mexico: Three Stories with Nuances in Their Growth

One of the most frequently repeated observations among experts from international asset managers is that Latin American countries are in a relatively advantageous position regarding tariff risks compared to other regions. However, according to Principal AM in its economic outlook, this reality could be changing, especially for Brazil and Chile.

“Although the impact on growth could be limited, uncertainties about the effects of tariffs could generate greater volatility in the region, precisely at a time when discussions around local elections are gaining importance. The good news could be related to inflation. With slower economic activity, if currencies remain stable thanks to a weaker dollar (DXY), tariff announcements could have a disinflationary effect in the region,” they point out.

Brazil: Maintaining the Pace

According to the asset manager, the most recent economic data confirmed that growth is slowing in Brazil. “Although second-quarter GDP surprised positively by growing 0.4% quarter-on-quarter, the underlying details point to a broader economic slowdown, with weakening in both consumption and investment. More importantly, preliminary data from July and August suggest a more pronounced slowdown in the third quarter,” they comment.

Looking ahead, they highlight that the short-term inflation outlook remains favorable. As a result, they maintain that the good performance of the exchange rate and the sharp slowdown in wholesale inflation point to a downward bias for inflation in the coming months. “As a result, inflation expectations for 2025 have continued to decline in recent weeks, while long-term expectations remain unanchored. In this scenario, the likelihood increases that the Central Bank will begin a monetary easing cycle in the coming months. Despite the need to maintain tight monetary restrictions, the slowdown in activity and the behavior of inflation allow some room for initial easing. We adjusted our projection for the start of rate cuts to the first quarter of 2026, with a terminal rate of 13% by year-end,” they add.

Chile: Contraction Due to Temporary Factors

In the case of Chile, the report from Principal AM highlights that economic activity grew 1.8% year-over-year in July, slightly below the market’s median expectation of 1.9%, marking the weakest expansion since February. Meanwhile, in August, inflation posted a monthly variation of 0.0%, surprising on the downside relative to expectations. As a result, headline inflation dropped from 4.3% in July to 4% year-over-year, accumulating 2.9% so far in 2025.

“Activity grew 1% compared to the previous month and 2.3% year-over-year, reflecting some resilience but also signs of a slowdown. The decline in the mining sector was one of the main factors behind the result; however, much of this contraction is linked to temporary factors, such as the effects of international tariffs and the accident at the El Teniente mine, suggesting that recovery in the sector may take longer, although the medium-term outlook remains favorable,” it explains.

According to the asset manager’s view for Chile, although headline inflation remains on track to converge to the 3% target by the third quarter of 2026, “the process will be slower and will depend on the evolution of domestic demand and labor costs, leaving monetary policy in a neutral and data-dependent stance in the coming months.”

Mexico: Expansion Continues

Lastly, in the case of Mexico, the asset manager highlights in its outlook that the final estimate for second-quarter 2025 GDP confirmed that the economy expanded for the second consecutive quarter, with a 0.6% quarterly growth (seasonally adjusted) and 1.2% year-over-year (adjusted). “Although slightly below the preliminary estimate (0.7% quarterly), the result still points to a stronger transition into the second half of the year. GDP growth in the second quarter was driven mainly by heterogeneous dynamics within the services sector, supported by stable real wages and household incomes. Cumulative growth so far this year stands at 0.9% for the first half of 2025, suggesting that the economy has managed to avoid a mild contraction despite persistent challenges,” the report notes.

On inflation, the document indicates that the rebound seen in August was due to “base effects.” It observes that inflation in services remains elevated, reflecting a resilient tertiary sector, while goods prices continue to face cyclical and supply chain pressures, as recent business surveys suggest.

“Looking ahead, if headline and core inflation remain near current levels, it is likely that the easing cycle will continue, especially considering that the slowdown in the U.S. labor market gives the Fed room to resume its own rate cuts,” the document concludes.

The Risk Is an “Information Blackout” in Labor Market Data

| By Amaya Uriarte | 0 Comentarios

Since 1976, there have been 20 partial shutdowns with an average duration of one week, although the longest lasted 35 days. Throughout history, only four of these shutdowns extended beyond a single business day. The most recent was the 35-day standoff between late 2018 and early 2019—the longest shutdown in U.S. history—which occurred during President Trump’s first term. A new actual shutdown will now be added to that list as of October 1. What do investors need to know about this shutdown?

First, that shutdowns are not uncommon; and second, historically, Treasury bonds have served as a safe-haven asset during these periods—though it will be interesting to see if that remains the case given the recent challenges observed.

“The S&P 500 has shown little movement during shutdowns, but stocks and bonds typically fall before shutdowns and rebound once they begin, as expectations of a resolution increase. Prolonged shutdowns, like the 35-day one in 2018–19, can affect GDP and unemployment, although these effects tend to reverse once the crisis ends,” says Benoit Anne, Senior Managing Director and Head of the Market Intelligence Group at MFS Investment Management.

A Limited Impact

According to experts, the market impact is minimal. “As investors, we now find ourselves at a point where we must deal more regularly with the flow of news coming from Capitol Hill. Fortunately, the economic and market impact of shutdowns has always been limited. We expect the same to happen this time,” notes AllianceBernstein.

However, a limited impact does not mean no impact. As AllianceBernstein explains in its latest report, during the longest recorded shutdown—the partial shutdown of 2018—the cost reached approximately 11 billion dollars in GDP. Still, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that once payments resumed, only 3 billion were permanently lost. That amounted to around 0.02% of 2019 GDP, meaning the lasting economic impact was more moderate.

“Compared to the risks of hitting the debt ceiling, a shutdown is notably less severe. That said, consumer confidence has already been under pressure, and a prolonged shutdown could pose additional risks to consumer sentiment. This time, although some services and departments would continue to operate, many will pause unless alternative sources of funding are found. Most importantly for the economy: millions of federal civilian employees and active-duty troops will not be paid during the stalemate. Some are paid weekly, others biweekly—an important consideration if the deadlock lasts more than a few days,” the firm explains.

However, for the experts at Raymond James, this shutdown is not linked to the debt ceiling:

“Although the media often conflate the two issues, it’s important to understand that a government shutdown is not directly tied to the debt ceiling. In this case, if a shutdown occurs in the coming days, it would not imply a default on U.S. public debt. Remember, the debt ceiling was already raised by 5 trillion dollars (to 41 trillion) as part of the new fiscal law, likely deferring this issue until 2027.”

The Key Issues

According to Kevin Thozet, member of the investment committee at Carmignac, the market’s mild reaction hides the complex economic dynamics beneath the surface, which could add to growing political uncertainty across the Atlantic:

“It’s unlikely that fundamental questions about the state of the U.S. labor market will be answered in the short term. And this is the crucial point in the debate over whether the U.S. economy is going through a temporary slowdown or entering a recession. In addition, the shutdown could lead the U.S. government to prolong the DOGE mission and cut some public spending, although the implementation or even the feasibility of such a plan remains unclear,” Thozet says.

For Luke Bartholomew, Deputy Chief Economist at Aberdeen Investments, routine is what explains why the market has responded calmly to this shutdown:

“After the shutdowns of the past 15 years, there’s now a well-established playbook, especially considering this one is not related to the debt ceiling. The longer the shutdown lasts, the greater the economic drag—it could mean a reduction in growth of around 0.15% per week,” Bartholomew says.

Still, the Aberdeen expert believes the most significant market impact could be the slowdown in the release of crucial labor market data:

“It is very likely that the Fed will cut rates again in October, but given how central the labor market is to its current approach, and the political pressures it faces, this lack of clarity in the data will certainly not make its job easier,” he adds.

Benoit Anne of MFS Investment Management agrees that one major consequence is the suspension of economic data collection by the government, which can leave investors and Federal Reserve policymakers temporarily in the dark:

“Overall, our Market Insights Group does not believe government shutdowns represent a significant market-moving event. However, they can create opportunities for investors to take advantage of short-term market disruptions caused by overreactions and headline-driven risks,” Anne adds.

In this regard, Amar Reganti, fixed-income strategist at Wellington Management, notes that:

“President Trump has alluded to the possibility of firing federal employees during the shutdown and not rehiring them afterward. This would add further downward pressure on the labor market and increase the likelihood that the Federal Reserve cuts official interest rates in its upcoming meetings.”

The Political Dimension

Experts explain that this shutdown has resulted from political disagreements between Republicans and Democrats on issues such as healthcare—but it reflects the country’s increasing political polarization.

In the opinion of Eiko Sievert, public and sovereign sector analyst at Scope Ratings, doubts about the independence and credibility of key institutions have intensified in recent months:

“Overall, this deterioration in governance standards will further increase political polarization in the coming years. The deeper these political divisions become, the greater the risk that key political agreements won’t be reached on time,” Sievert argues.

She believes this also applies to future standoffs over the debt ceiling—especially if the Republican Party loses control of the House of Representatives and/or the Senate following the 2026 midterm elections:

“Despite the 5 trillion dollar increase in the debt ceiling passed as part of the Big Beautiful Bill, it is likely that a new increase will be needed by 2028, given the weak fiscal outlook. We forecast deficits of around 6% of GDP and a rise in national debt to 12% of GDP over the next five years. Our base case remains that a technical default by the U.S. due to political disputes is unlikely, but the risk is rising and would have a significant impact if it materialized,” she concludes.

Latin America: Target for ETF Distribution

| By Amaya Uriarte | 0 Comentarios

A study by Brown Brothers Harriman (BBH) explores the commercial potential and the challenges faced by asset managers, distributors, and service providers operating across Latin America.

The report notes that investors, in general, appreciate the evolution and innovation in the ETF industry, with exchange-traded products covering an increasingly broad set of assets and a range of investment strategies with ever-expanding geographic reach.

Competitive costs, flexibility, transparency, and the strong diversification potential of ETFs are also proving to be attractive features in an increasingly uncertain world.

And although much of the history of ETFs to date has focused on North America and Europe, other markets, such as Asia, are also catching the ETF fever. Elsewhere, ETF products are also generating growing interest in Latin American markets, particularly in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and Chile.

As ETF managers and issuers increasingly seek to expand the distribution of their funds, the sales of Europe-domiciled products have followed the evolution of regional investor interests. And according to the BBH study, Latin America has become a “clear target” for ETF distribution. It even cites some estimates suggesting that the Latin American ETF market could exceed $40 billion in size by 2030.

The region continues to register significant growth in the ETF market. Many of these products are domiciled in Europe and are distributed through cross-border UCITS funds.

While ETF / UCITS ETF sales in Latin America have been driven by institutional investors, such as local pension plans—especially in markets like Mexico—the firm believes that, over time, significant opportunities could also emerge in the retail market across regional markets.

The unique features of UCITS products (such as accumulation share classes that do not distribute dividends but reinvest them) are proving to be very popular among both Mexican retail investors and in offshore trading hubs in the United States and Canada.

Market Diversity
Although Latin America offers significant potential for managers promoting exchange-traded funds, the firm notes that the region “is far from being a homogeneous market.” As such, “it can be challenging due to local idiosyncrasies and fragmented investment cultures in the countries that comprise it.”

Additionally, the firm highlights that different regulatory standards may apply from one country to another, with some regimes more advanced and sophisticated than others. As an example, Colombia’s institutional investor regulations now allow for the direct allocation of ETFs as eligible instruments—through decree updates in 2024.

In Mexico, regulators have recently authorized pension funds, or Afores, to invest in active U.S. and international ETFs, although all must go through an approval process in order to be acquired by Mexican Afores. Traditionally, the funds have invested in passive ETFs.

Other local markets have also undergone recent regulatory changes. In Chile, for example, the local regulator—the Risk Rating Commission—modified its rules to allow pensions to invest in actively managed ETFs following a registration and approval process.

Varied Infrastructure
Market infrastructure also varies across the region. The Latin American Integrated Market (MILA) integration project offers cross-border operations that can streamline access for EU issuers targeting the participating markets of Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru through a unified trading infrastructure.

A new project, NUAM, also promises greater integration of the stock exchanges of Colombia, Chile, and Peru through a brand-new, fully unified multi-country stock exchange. “Having a local presence or significant knowledge of the local market can be key for managers to earn the trust of local investors,” the BBH study notes, citing Colombia as an example. In this country, “working with local brokerage firms may be essential to access investors through Latin American ETF vehicles,” they point out.

A traditional path to market access in the region, according to the firm, is through European issuers partnering with global banks whose local branches can reach both institutional and retail clients. Digital wealth management platforms are also key channels for retail distribution and advisory in some Latin American markets. Here, there is strong support from European fund centers, such as Dublin and Luxembourg, which “have significant expertise and support asset managers targeting Latin America with UCITS ETFs and other products.”

The SEC Opens the Door for Asset Managers to Add ETFs to Mutual Funds

| By Amaya Uriarte | 0 Comentarios

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has published a planned order—currently open to public comment before any changes or developments—that specifically applies to Dimensional Fund Advisors and allows the firm to add exchange-traded share classes to mutual funds. According to experts, this is a discussion the industry has long anticipated.

“The Commission is taking a long-awaited step toward modernizing our regulatory framework for investment companies, reflecting the evolution of collective investment vehicles from being primarily daily redeemable funds to exchange-traded funds (ETFs),” said Commissioner Mark T. Uyeda.

As explained by Reuters, under the proposed change, a mutual fund could offer investors the opportunity to participate in its investment portfolio in the form of an exchange-traded product, known as an ETF share class. “Investors would be able to buy and sell shares of the exchange-traded mutual fund throughout the day at market price through their brokerage accounts, instead of waiting for a mutual fund order to settle at the end-of-day price. This has the potential to open access to a range of existing funds for investors who prefer owning ETFs due to their low cost, tax advantages, or liquidity,” they noted.

Offering different share classes of the same mutual fund is not new. As Reuters points out, these classes are currently often targeted at different investor groups or carry varying fee structures. However, they note that the change could blur the line between exchange-traded funds and traditional mutual funds.

In Uyeda’s view, this is a principled modernization. He emphasized that the application includes several safeguards: board oversight, adviser reporting, conflict monitoring, and investor disclosure. “These are not mere administrative formalities—they are essential guardrails and uphold the fiduciary duty,” he added.

For many in the industry, this planned order signals the SEC’s intent and marks the direction of change the agency aims to pursue. In this regard, Uyeda was clear: “The publication of this notice represents a substantive step forward, not just a procedural formality. It’s a signal that the Commission is willing to reexamine outdated restrictions, embrace innovation, and consider an exemption that could equally benefit investors, fund sponsors, and markets. It reflects the same innovative spirit that led to the creation of the first ETF more than three decades ago.”

20% Fewer Players and 48% Growth in Global Assets by 2029

| By Amaya Uriarte | 0 Comentarios

The consolidation of the asset management industry is unstoppable. According to the latest edition of the report prepared by Morgan Stanley and Oliver Wyman, the number of asset managers will decline by 20% over the next five years. Additionally, global assets are projected to reach all-time highs of $200 trillion, representing an annual growth rate of around 8% and a cumulative increase of 48%.

These conclusions were reached after analyzing how the asset management business is evolving and how the industry consolidation process is progressing. “As players consolidate, internalize, and shift toward strategic partnerships, and wealth management clients raise their expectations and professionalize their relationships (for example, through the use of family offices and multi-family offices), growth opportunities are becoming scarcer and more concentrated. We expect the combination of these factors to drive consolidation, as mid-sized players become attractive acquisition targets for leaders seeking greater scale and diversification,” the report states.

According to the analysis in the report, the effects are already being felt: the number of transactions has entered a new normal of over 200 significant deals per year since 2022—double the rate of the previous decade—in both asset management and wealth management. “The asset management industry is no longer producing new fund or ETF managers: with an average of more than 150 over the past two decades, net annual additions of traditional asset managers have dropped to a handful in the past three years. Even the active private markets are showing a similar trend,” it notes as a key data point.

Consolidation Continues

The report estimates that by 2029, there will be over 1,500 significant transactions in asset and wealth management, resulting in up to 20% fewer asset managers with at least $1 billion in assets over the next five years. “Success in this new era of consolidation will require asset and wealth managers to consider mergers and acquisitions as a central lever in their growth strategies,” the report concludes in light of this trend.

When it comes to deal activity, mid-sized asset managers (with between $500 billion and $2 trillion in assets) are the most exposed. According to the report, they show lower profitability—with operating margins around 26%—compared to larger managers (around 44%) and smaller ones (around 36%). Their profitability has fallen by approximately 4 percentage points since 2019, while small and large firms have remained relatively stable. Furthermore, the report estimates that there will be between 30% and 40% fewer clients for asset managers, as clients consolidate, internalize more than they outsource, and seek to do more with less.

The Outcome of M&A Deals

Although most mergers in the asset management sector have historically struggled to deliver meaningful improvements in cost-to-income ratios, the report argues that “a new mergers and acquisitions strategy can generate value.” According to its analysis, approximately 40% of traditional managers managed to improve their cost-to-income ratios three years post-deal, with the greatest cost savings coming from support and control functions. The firms that succeeded were those that balanced aggressive cost-cutting with careful management of client attrition following the merger. Moreover, three years after the deal, one-fourth of merged firms significantly outperformed the market’s organic growth rates. “Successful firms focused on client and product complementarity rather than merely on generating cost synergies,” the document notes.

Another key finding is that half of the alternative investment firms acquired by traditional managers grew significantly faster than the market by leveraging—and improving—the traditional manager’s distribution scale. In this regard, the report concludes that further value is likely to be unlocked by incorporating alternative managers into pension funds in Europe and the United States.

Types of Transactions

These arguments are fueling sector consolidation, which, according to the report, is taking place through three types of transactions. It notes that bank-affiliated wealth managers involved in M&A activities improved their cost-to-income ratio (CIR) by 0.5 points between 2022 and 2024, while others saw their CIR increase by 2.3 points. “This is the result of a careful reprioritization of domestic accounting hubs and subsequent acquisitions and divestitures,” the report explains.

It also expects more banks to expand into non-bank wealth management channels (independent managers and digital distribution).

In the consolidation of independent wealth managers (RIAs, IFAs, etc.), multiple arbitrage has historically driven most of the value creation, followed by cost synergies. However, attention is now shifting toward capturing revenue synergies driven by enhanced tools and increased investment in data and analytics. The report identifies that the next frontier for independent managers focused on UHNW clients (with $30 million or more in investable assets) is international expansion.

“Looking ahead, we expect most of the activity to come from cross-sector deals with insurance companies and asset managers that reassess whether they are the right owners of their asset management businesses and consider the possibility of pursuing mergers and acquisitions,” the report states among its main conclusions.

Nvidia + OpenAI: An Alliance With Systemic Potential

| By Amaya Uriarte | 0 Comentarios

The announcement of a strategic alliance between Nvidia and OpenAI marks a new milestone in the race for leadership in artificial intelligence. Nvidia has committed to investing up to $100 billion to finance the deployment of at least 10 GW of capacity based on its GPUs, using the new Vera Rubin architecture, which will replace Grace Blackwell as the technological spearhead. The first phase will enter operation in the second half of 2026.

This collaboration adds to other significant initiatives by both companies: OpenAI has already worked with Microsoft, Oracle, and the Stargate consortium, while Nvidia has intensified its strategic alliances, including investments in Intel and agreements with players in France and Saudi Arabia.

From a financial standpoint, although the contract details are still unknown, the construction of a 1 GW data center implies GPU investments in the tens of billions of dollars, which could be reflected in Nvidia’s results in the coming years.

Preference for GPUs and Signals in Market Sentiment

This agreement, together with the previous deal between OpenAI and Broadcom, reinforces the perception that GPUs continue to be preferred over ASICs for inference tasks, even once models are trained. However, Monday’s stock market reaction—a moderate drop in Nvidia shares—reveals that investors are beginning to interpret this news as subtle warnings.

Behind this skepticism lies the business structure: Nvidia has been investing in cloud-based startups that rely on its GPUs. This “circular relationship,” where the provider funds its own customers, now shows a scale that unsettles some analysts.

Valuations and Systemic Risks: Is History Repeating Itself?

Although current valuations of big tech companies have not yet reached the levels of the dot-com bubble or the Nifty Fifty of the ’70s, they remain demanding. The recent rally in fixed income has allowed investors to maintain long positions in these companies without discomfort, as it has not negatively affected multiples. But the environment warrants attention.

One of the key risk areas lies in the review of tariffs enacted under IEEPA (International Emergency Economic Powers Act). According to The Washington Post, institutional investors are buying rights to legal claims for the payment of these tariffs at $0.20 per dollar. This anticipates a move: if the Supreme Court rules that the charges were illegal, the Treasury could be forced to reimburse up to $130 billion.

Impact of IEEPA: Two Paths to Instability

If the Court overturns the tariffs enacted under IEEPA, the impact on the markets could come through two channels:

Volatility and Regulatory Uncertainty

The removal of the current framework would open a period of uncertainty. Although most of the affected countries have already accepted the new tariffs—which rose from 2.5% in 2023 to nearly 19%, according to the Yale Budget Lab—the Trump administration would resort to other mechanisms such as Section 232. In fact, it has already announced tariffs of 25% on heavy trucks and 30% on upholstered furniture. Restrictions on semiconductors manufactured outside the United States are also under consideration, which would force companies to double their domestic capacity.

Significant Fiscal Loss

The Treasury would lose about $500 million in daily revenue—funds that markets already factor in as partial offsets to the fiscal deficit generated by the OBBA plan. The immediate effect would be a rise in long-term bond yields, which would compress equity valuations in the short term.

Yields, Correlations, and Sensitivities

In this context, the correlation between fixed income and equities is at peak levels. This means that any upward movement in interest rates has greater potential to negatively impact stock prices, especially in an environment of elevated multiples.

The market continues to price in an accommodative Fed: the yield curve projects a terminal rate below 3% by December 2026. This has limited the downside in the 10-year bond yield, currently anchored around 4%.

The key to rate direction lies in labor data. Differences within the FOMC over whether to implement one or two additional cuts before year-end will be resolved—if inflation expectations remain stable—based on employment trends.

Labor Outlook: Mixed Data, Mixed Reactions

The decline in immigration and the slow normalization of the labor market after the pandemic complicate projections. This structural disruption makes it difficult to apply historical models reliably.

The market is particularly sensitive to any data that could disrupt the current balance. Statistics such as those released this Thursday will be key, as they could trigger volatility in the short end of the curve and define its steepening.

A deterioration in the labor market, if interpreted by the Fed as structural rather than cyclical, could prompt more aggressive cuts in the short term. This scenario would benefit tech stocks, which have historically thrived in environments with negative real rates and moderate but sustained growth expectations.

Víctor Matarranz Joins HSBC as Head of International Wealth and Premier Banking for the Americas and Europe

| By Amaya Uriarte | 0 Comentarios

HSBC has announced the appointment of Víctor Matarranz as Head of International Wealth and Premier Banking (IWPB) for the Americas and Europe, effective October 1, 2025. Matarranz will relocate to London from Madrid and will join the Global Operating Committee of IWPB. The bank has been reorganizing this division, in which Barry O’Byrne was appointed CEO last October, with the aim of strengthening what has become its main profit engine.

Matarranz, who until last year led the Wealth Management and Insurance unit at Santander, will oversee the group’s wealth banking strategy outside Asia. According to the bank’s statement, he will be responsible for expanding HSBC’s wealth management businesses in these regions — including the United States, Mexico, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man — and for opening new opportunities in key global corridors. “Víctor’s extensive experience in leading wealth management businesses in these regions will help us refine our focus on serving high-net-worth and UHNWI clients, both in local markets and across global corridors,” said O’Byrne in a statement.

“I’m truly delighted to be joining HSBC as Head of International Wealth & Premier Banking for the Americas and Europe. I look forward to working with Barry O’Byrne and the HSBC International Wealth and Premier Banking leadership team as we leverage HSBC’s unique global strengths and advance our ambition to become the world’s leading international wealth manager. Our focus on connecting clients across global corridors — from the affluent to UHNWI — particularly in the U.S., Mexico, and Europe, is a strategic opportunity I’m excited to help drive,” Matarranz posted on his LinkedIn profile.

For his part, Barry O’Byrne, CEO, International Wealth and Premier Banking at HSBC, stated: “Our connectivity with the Americas and Europe plays an important role in achieving our goal of becoming the world’s leading international wealth manager. We’re thrilled to welcome Víctor, whose broad experience in leading wealth businesses in these regions will help us sharpen our focus on serving affluent and ultra-high-net-worth clients, both domestically and across global corridors.”

Víctor Matarranz joins HSBC from Banco Santander, where he held senior executive roles in Madrid and London over a 13-year period, most recently as Global Head of Wealth Management and Insurance. During his time at Santander, he managed private banking, insurance, and asset management businesses — primarily in the Americas and Europe — and led key strategic projects and M&A initiatives as Group Head of Strategy. He was also a partner at McKinsey & Company, where he spent over a decade advising banks across the Americas and Europe on distribution, digitalization, and new business development.

Pension Funds and RPPS Drive Demand for Franklin Templeton’s “Building Blocks”

| By Amaya Uriarte | 0 Comentarios

Photo courtesyDaniel Popovich, portfolio manager in the Investment Solutions division at Franklin Templeton

Foundations and public pension regimes have been moving in search of a sophisticated multi-asset allocation, according to Franklin Templeton. In Brazil, the “Building Blocks” product, developed by the firm’s Investment Solutions division, has seen demand, according to Daniel Popovich, portfolio manager in the Investment Solutions area. “Today, the debate is how to invest offshore, no longer whether I should invest. We discuss need, functionality, and benefit: should there be more or less equity exposure? If the interest is solely fixed income, we sometimes challenge that: wouldn’t it make sense to complement it with equities or alternatives to improve the risk/return ratio?” the executive said in an interview with Funds Society.

He explains that, in response to those questions, the solution presented by Franklin Templeton was the development of a sophisticated product that allows allocators easy access to a personalized, multi-asset approach. These are the building blocks. “The idea is to allow the investor to make an international allocation tailored to their risk and return needs, by combining three funds,” he says. In this case, the funds (or “blocks”) are FIFs (funds of funds), each accessing a category of investments: global equities, global fixed income, and international liquid alternatives (equivalent to liquid hedge funds). All of them carry currency exposure.

According to the portfolio manager, the customization occurs through the combination of the three blocks: the fund for each block is the same for everyone, and the investor chooses the weights according to their profile and objectives (e.g., 40/30/30). As Popovich summarizes: “The client can choose the percentage they want to allocate to each of the three funds, and the fund is the same for everyone.” For those who wish to consolidate everything into a single line, the asset manager can structure a “wrapper” FIC that allocates across the three building blocks. Typical liquidity is up to 10 calendar days for redemptions (which may be longer for strategies like credit).

“For example: in the traditional 60-40 portfolio (60% equities, 40% fixed income), it’s possible to allocate 60% to the equity building block and 40% to the fixed income block and immediately access a broad, well-diversified portfolio across regions, styles, asset classes, and managers — all efficiently packaged and aligned with major regulations,” explains the manager, also discussing the cost reduction for allocators.

“This structure reduces the aggregate cost because it combines active funds — where we access cheaper share classes thanks to volume and negotiation power — and ETFs, which are more efficient in terms of fees. The local management fee was designed so that, in aggregate, we are competitive with the market’s feeder funds,” he notes. “We’re bringing the kind of work that was previously done only in a tailored way for large pension funds, now to several smaller foundations and RPPS, with a very similar offering.”

Goal of 500 Million Reais in the Medium Term

Launched last year, the product currently has about 100 million reais ($18.8 million) in assets, with roughly 70% coming from EFPCs and 28% from RPPS (Regime Próprio de Previdência Social). “The goal is to increase that to 500 million reais ($94.3 million) within the next 6 to 9 months,” says Popovich.

To unlock larger volumes, the manager cites “a closing in Brazil’s interest rate curves” as the main trigger. Although the focus is institutional, a small portion of retail investors is also entering the funds, which are currently distributed on the Mirae platform.

CNO Financial Group Enters VPC, Partly Owned by Janus Henderson

| By Amaya Uriarte | 0 Comentarios

Janus Henderson Group and Victory Park Capital Advisors (VPC), a firm specializing in private credit and majority-owned by Janus Henderson, have announced that CNO Financial Group, a U.S. life and health insurer and financial services provider, will acquire a minority stake in VPC. In addition, CNO will provide a minimum of $600 million in capital commitments to new and existing VPC investment strategies.

Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Chicago, VPC has a track record of nearly two decades providing tailored private credit solutions to both established and emerging companies. The firm was acquired by Janus Henderson in 2024, expanding Janus Henderson’s institutional and private credit capabilities. VPC has specialized in asset-backed private lending since 2010, in consumer credit, small business financing, real estate, litigation finance, and physical assets. Its set of investment capabilities also includes sourcing and managing customized investments for insurance companies. Since its inception, VPC has invested over $11 billion across more than 235 investments.

Headquartered in Carmel, Indiana, CNO offers life and health insurance, annuities, financial services, and workplace benefit solutions through its family of brands, including Bankers Life, Colonial Penn, Optavise, and Washington National. CNO manages 3.2 million policies and $37.3 billion in total assets to help protect its clients’ health, income, and retirement needs.

Transaction Commentary

“We are very pleased to welcome CNO as a strategic partner in our investment in VPC. This collaboration reinforces our shared belief in the long-term potential of asset-backed private credit markets and further deepens Janus Henderson and VPC’s insurance presence. By partnering with like-minded institutions, we continue to enhance our ability to deliver client-led solutions aligned with our strategy to amplify our strengths,” said Ali Dibadj, CEO of Janus Henderson.

“We are excited to partner with CNO to further accelerate VPC’s growth and expand and scale our investment capabilities for the benefit of our clients. CNO’s investment demonstrates VPC’s strong track record of delivering private credit solutions across sectors, our differentiated expertise, and our highly developed sourcing channels, as well as the significant value we bring to our investors and portfolio companies,” said Richard Levy, CEO and founder of Victory Park Capital.

Gary C. Bhojwani, CEO of CNO Financial Group, added: “Our investment alongside Janus Henderson in VPC underscores CNO’s strategic focus on partnering with firms that complement our investment capabilities. This partnership enables us to benefit from VPC’s unique and differentiated expertise in asset-backed credit, both as an investor and a strategic partner, while supporting our ROE objectives. We look forward to working with their highly experienced and respected management teams.”

According to the asset manager, this transaction adds to Janus Henderson’s recent momentum in the insurance space with the previously announced multifaceted strategic partnership with Guardian. Upon completion of this transaction, Janus Henderson Group will remain the majority owner of VPC.

Reasons to Invest in Water Infrastructure Through ETFs

| By Amaya Uriarte | 0 Comentarios

The challenge of water and sanitation has been one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals since 2016. And within this niche, there are investment opportunities—also through ETFs. Water is a vital element, not only for sustaining life, but also for the development of new technologies and industries. In First Trust’s opinion, water infrastructure represents “an attractive investment opportunity,” driven by new catalysts and emerging trends such as water-intensive manufacturing, the shift to liquid cooling for AI data centers, and hydraulic fracturing in the energy sector.

The firm explains that the reindustrialization of the U.S. economy will lead to a drastic increase in water demand in the coming years, especially in sectors that are major water consumers, such as semiconductor manufacturing. As these and other projects expand, First Trust forecasts that “substantial investments” will be needed in water infrastructure.

In addition, advances in generative AI have captured global attention. To meet the growing performance demands of AI, global data center capacity is expected to grow by 52% between 2024 and 2027. In this context, keeping high-performance processors cool presents a significant challenge for traditional air-cooling systems, which has led the sector to adopt liquid cooling. Here, the firm cites JLL estimates, indicating that hybrid cooling—70% liquid and 30% air—“has become the standard thermal management strategy for new data centers.”

Hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) also continues to be a key driver of demand for water infrastructure, according to First Trust. Fracking involves injecting high-pressure water, sand, and chemicals into underground rock formations to extract oil and gas. A single fractured well can consume between 1.5 and 16 million gallons of water.

Moreover, fracking produces “flowback water,” a toxic byproduct that requires treatment using technologies such as microfiltration and reverse osmosis. “From sourcing water to its treatment, transport, and control, fracking processes—which consume vast amounts of water—generate considerable demand for water resources,” the firm notes.

In light of these emerging trends, investing in U.S. water infrastructure becomes increasingly important. The 2025 report by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) on the state of U.S. infrastructure gave poor marks to water systems, including a low pass for drinking water, a solid pass for wastewater, and a failing grade for stormwater systems.

This reflects decades of underinvestment, as data from the Congressional Budget Office shows that spending on water infrastructure has grown only 0.3% over the past 20 years. The ASCE estimates that $1.65 trillion will be needed between 2024 and 2033 for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure. With only $655 billion funded, “the remaining $1 trillion funding gap is the largest of any infrastructure sector.”

Investors can benefit from these macro trends by including ETFs that focus on water-related industries in their portfolios. One such option is the First Trust Water ETF, listed on the NYSE. It tracks the ISE Clean Edge Water Index, composed of 36 stocks focused on the drinking water and wastewater sectors, including water distribution, infrastructure development, purification and filtration, as well as related services like consulting, construction, and metering.

Another option is BlackRock’s iShares Global Water UCITS ETF U.S. Dollar (Distributing), which tracks the S&P Global Water Index. This year, its valuation has increased by just over 15%, through investments in companies involved in the global water sector, across both developed and emerging markets. As a complement, Amundi offers the Amundi MSCI Water UCITS ETF Dist, which aims to replicate the performance of the MSCI ACWI IMI Water Filtered Index.

A further option is the Invesco Water Resources ETF, based on the Nasdaq OMX Global Water Index, which seeks to replicate the performance of companies listed on global exchanges that produce products designed to conserve and purify water for homes, businesses, and industries. This ETF is listed on the Nasdaq.