Foto: Rakkhi, Flickr, Creative Commons.. Legg Mason compra la gestora de QS Investors
Legg Mason has announced a definitive agreement to acquire QS Investors, a leading customized solutions and global quantitative equities provider based in New York, with $4.1 billion in assets under management and nearly $100 billion in assets under advisory.
Legg Mason’s existing quantitative equity platform, Batterymarch Financial Management, and Legg Mason Global Asset Allocation, its existing solutions platform, will be integrated over time into QS Investors as a result of this transaction. The combined platform will be a world-class retail and institutional solutions and global quantitative equity provider with compelling investment strategies and strong consultant relationships.
The expanded platform will be branded under the QS Investors name, and headed by Janet Campagna as Chief Executive Officer and Rosemary Macedo as Chief Investment Officer. Key investment professionals from Batterymarch and LMGAA will join the existing QS team as senior members.
The acquisition is expected to close in the first fiscal quarter of FY 2015. The acquisition and combination transaction is expected, excluding restructuring and transition costs, to be modestly accretive to Legg Mason’s earnings in the first year. In connection with the combination of the businesses, Legg Mason expects to incur restructuring and transition costs of approximately $35 million, including $3 million in the March 2014 quarter and $30 million in fiscal year 2015. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The combined business will remain committed to delivering alpha for clients. This transaction strongly positions Legg Mason within the rapidly growing global client demand for customized solutions, liquid alternatives and smart beta strategies with: a scalable and distinct investment process and key capabilities in Custom Solutions, Liquid Alternatives, Global Quantitative Equities (including a 12-year track record in Smart Beta), and Multi-Manager Asset Allocation; a research-driven process with a strong track record in combining fundamental research, quantitative models and insights from behavioral finance to dynamically shift investment exposure based on changing market conditions and opportunities. Also, with significantly enhanced capabilities and operational efficiencies to deliver outcome-oriented products and strategies, compelling investment performance, a world-class technology platform and strong relationships across the consultant community and a broad institutional client base of public and private pension funds, endowments, sovereign wealth funds and financial institutions.
Post transaction, Legg Mason will leverage this enhanced solutions platform together with Legg Mason’s other investment affiliates and global distribution network for future growth in the institutional marketplace as well as with retail clients, where demand for customized solutions is increasing.
Joseph A. Sullivan, President and CEO of Legg Mason, said: “Optimizing and expanding our portfolio of investment products has been a top priority for our senior management team. The combination of QS Investors’ highly regarded investment capabilities and thought leadership with our existing investment teams creates a powerful offering in an area of the market that is expected to experience significant growth in the coming decade. When we marry that with our global distribution platform, we believe we will be well positioned to bring compelling products to retail and institutional investors in markets around the world.“
Janet Campagna, CEO of QS Investors, said: “QS Investors and Legg Mason share a ‘client first’ culture committed to transparency that will allow us to focus on investment strategies and serving our clients, and this unique combination will allow us to leverage Legg Mason’s global retail distribution platform, build and further strengthen our talented research and portfolio management teams, and continue to be at the forefront of innovative product development. Our objective over the next year is to integrate Batterymarch and LMGAA with our platform to leverage the best ideas from each group much like we’ve successfully adapted and efficiently integrated ideas both within and across asset classes for clients for over 14 years. We are confident in our ability to execute against this plan and especially pleased that our entire team continues to be focused on the long term success of our clients and business.”
Legg Mason was advised by Dechert, LLP and QS Investors was advised by RBC Capital Markets and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP.
Photo: Mstyslav Chernov. The Shanghai Free Trade Zone Is Now a Focal Point for Financial and Economic Reforms
Victoria Mio – CIO China, Co-head Asia Pacific Equities and Fund Manager of Robeco Chinese Equities – came back from her last macro research trip to China with more confidence on cyclical recovery and reform momentum.
Different from Japan or Korea, which are small in comparison and urbanized very quickly, China remains relatively poor after 30 years of unprecedented growth. Although the coastal regions have reached an advanced stage in their development, the central/western regions are still underdeveloped. That provides a lot of room for growth. China is still an ‘adolescent’, yet to reach ‘adulthood’.
The Shanghai free-trade-zone pilot scheme was approved by the State Council on 22 August 2013. The most innovative part of the plan lies in promoting renewal in the financial sector and allowing market forces to work. Investors, points out Victoria Mio, are getting very excited by these new initiatives.
It is anticipated that the FTZ government may abolish many approval procedures and replace them with a registration process, and will allow foreign companies located in the FTZ to conduct currency conversion more freely. The FTZ may also be an important step for China to move towards joining the negotiation for a Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), which requires all member countries to provide the same policy environment for companies, regardless of ownership. In this sense, the FTZ will lead China’s next phase of economic liberalization to drive economic growth for many years to come. Once proven successful, it will be rolled out on a nationwide basis.
Figure 1 shows the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, which includes A) Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, B) Pudong Airport Free Trade Zone and C) Yangshan Free Trade Port Area (land/harbor). The total area combined is 28.8 sq km, or 2.6% of Hong Kong (1,103 sq km) and 0.45% of Shanghai (6,340 sq km).
Conchita Calderón. Photo: Linkedin. Conchita Calderon is Appointed Executive Director for JP Morgan in Mexico
Conchita Calderon has been appointed by JP Morgan as executive director of New Business Development for Mexico, according to information supplied to Funds Society by sources familiar with the appointment.
Calderon has worked to date as the partner responsible for the Mexican market at Canepa Management, a company which participates in Azora’s capital.
With over 14 years experience in the financial and wealth management sectors, Calderon has spent most of her career between Miami and Mexico specializing in ultra-high-net worth (UHNW) clients of the Private Banking division of Banco Santander.
Stephen Thariyan, Corporative Debt Responsable at Henderson.. Henderson Reaffirms its Commitment to Building a Global Credit Franchise
Henderson is investing resources in building a global credit franchise, led by Stephen Thariyan. In February 2013, Henderson announced the appointment of Kevin Loome as manager of U.S. corporate bonds, and his team of five specialists. With these engagements Henderson built a U.S. credit team based in Philadelphia that complements its European fixed income franchise. As confirmed by Thariyan during an interview with Funds Society, the next step will be the hiring of a specialist emerging fixed income team. “That way we will have all the resources to position ourselves in the credit subclass, which offers the best prospects for profitability,” says Henderson Global Investors’ global head of corporate debt.
The next few years will be quite different to what we have seen in the credit markets during the last five years; a period in which “everyone did well without doing anything special, other than being in the asset class,” says Thariyan. The outlook is more complicated now, mainly because investors are “accustomed to double-digit returns.”
A reduction in returns which ultimately did not happen had been expected for 2013. In fact, most experts predicted that the high yield credit market would see a year in which the investor would earn “the coupon” rate, about 5.5%, for the European high yield market. However, as Thariyan points out, the reality was different and the high yield market favorably surprised investors by giving them returns of 11%.
Looking to 2014, the expert points out two focal areas in the credit market. “First, there are still some interesting returns in some sub-asset classes such as high yield and emerging market debt. Moreover, unlike what happened in recent years, this period will not be dominated by the actions of central banks, so this is a year in which the selection of securities becomes important once again.”
Given this much more complicated scenario, Thariyan emphasized that “more than a great rotation from debt into stock, it is internal rotation which is occurring within the credit market”, both geographically, favoring regions where monetary stimuli remain, and in absolute return management products, “which offer protection against duration risk.”
Thariyan explains that, his team’s goal is to provide an additional market return exceeding 50 bp for the entire credit range by selecting appropriate strategies and emissions. “Now is the time to have a good credit analyst team generating the most value,” he added that for performanceit is very important to access the largest possible universe of securities and “to be willing to leave the index if it is suitable for the portfolio.”
Since the year 2009, Henderson has applied four levers in order to obtain alpha in their fixed income portfolios: a good selection of securities, ignoring the index, using credit derivatives and performing active duration management.
Thus, Henderson has already achieved great success in European IG Credit where it has a strategy which leads the market with 1,700 million dollars in assets under management, as well as in its absolute return strategy, Credit Alpha, which has had a soft close in November to approach the figure of 1,000 million pounds, an amount which the credit team considers the limit in order to optimize fund performance considering the operational costs involved in the strategy. Just over a year ago they launched their strategy for European high yield, which is ranked among the most profitable in its category, and three months ago, relying on Kevin Loome’s team in Philadelphia, Henderson launched a global high yield strategy. Overall, Henderson manages 20,000 million dollars in fixed income strategies.
“We hope to be ready to complete this deal with emerging fixed income strategies soon so that in two or three years we will have a truly global deal on credit, and have accumulated a significant track record for investors,” he concludes.
. The First Funds Society Golf Tournament in Miami Kicks off with 50 Participants
The First Funds Society Golf Tournament was held at the Biltmore Hotel’s golf course in Miami last Thursday, the 27thof February. The tournament was attended by over 50 participants of the Wealth Management sector in Southern Florida and was supported by the Henderson management company and by Goldman Sachs AM.
Although the weather was not in our favor for a few days leading to the tournament, and it seemed that the golf tournament would be a wet affair, the rain held off on the date, and all participants were able to enjoy a great day of golf.
The session was preceded by a presentation by fixed income managers Jason Singer, Managing Director of Global Fixed Income at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, and Stephen Thariyan, head of Global Credit at Henderson Global Investors. Both speakers exposed the reasons why they believe it is important to participate in this asset class and answered the questions of those present, who were especially interested in the reality of emerging markets and in particular in Latin American countries.
The tournament’s kick-off was held just after midday, and it was played under the Stableford system in two separate categories. The first category was for players with handicaps of 0 to 18.4, and the second for those with handicaps from 18.5 to 36.
Following is the list of winners of the Funds Society First Golf Tournament:
Flight 1:
1º – Daniel Eulate – Andbank Wealth Management – Director
2º – Luis Cardenas – Banco Sabadell Miami Branch – Assistant VP Credit Department
Flight 2:
1º – Javier Martín Pliego – Santander International – VP Business Development
Fixed Income investors have heard the same story repeatedly over the past few years: there is no juice in traditional fixed income products, and investors will have to look elsewhere to earn any meaningful yield. We see an opportunity for our clients in private debt, as the risk premium of over 5% above comparable high yield bonds nicely compensates for the illiquidity of this asset class, which is arguably the most common barrier to investing. However, we find that most of our clients hold over 85% of their family portfolio in highly liquid securities (i.e. with less than a week of liquidity). The expansive monetary policies of central banks, coupled with some distortions formed by the 2008-2009 financial crisis, have created a great opportunity to lend to middle market private companies.
Brief Overview of Private Debt
Private debt is often utilized by small and mid-sized companies looking for capital or financing. These firms are known as “middle-market” companies- broadly defined as those firms with EBIDTA of $15mm to $100mm and capital needs of $50mm to $500mm. [1] Because of their size, these middle-market firms have limited access to liquid capital markets, which have high minimum issuance sizes. The average issue size per bond in the iBoxx High Yield Corporate Bond index is currently $855 mm.[2]
There are different types of private debt securities- the most typical are in the form of senior loans (first and second lien); unsecured and subordinated debt; and hybrid instruments (combining senior and subordinated debt). The two principal sources of private debt deals are private companies and private equity sponsors. Private companies may look for funding to make acquisitions, to refinance or for growth capital. Private equity sponsors also look to the private debt markets when a transaction such as leveraged buyout or add-on acquisition occurs, or a company needs refinancing.[3]
Investors in private debt earn returns from two factors: 1) contractual return components and 2) equity upside. The contractual return component is the base of the return stream (consisting of high coupons typically 10-15%), plus up-front commitment fees and sometimes premiums relating to early redemptions. Equity upside can be a source of return in some private debt deals. A private debt investor will usually have the opportunity to make equity co-investments in a deal to enhance returns; or sometimes have warrants which potentially benefit from capital appreciation. Private debt investments are positioned higher in the capital structure than equity, giving investors a priority on cash flows of the company.
To understand the risk/return profile of private debt investments it can be helpful to compare this asset type with high yield bonds and private equity (see Table 1 below). While private debt is illiquid when compared to high yield bonds, when compared to private equity we see two main differences: 1) Private debt has a shorter investment period (usually 3-5 years); and 2) Private debt generates attractive cash flows (today we expect around a 9% current yield).
We like the attractive yields and risk profile of private debt. Private debt is a highly specialized market. Thus, it requires managers with a strong track records as well as a solid network to gain access to deals. We believe the best way for our clients to invest in private debt is through a high quality third party manager. Over the past few months, we have been looking into different managers in the space, focusing on these core qualities:
Track record through multiple credit cycles. We’re looking for managers with a long track record through different market cycles. There are many funds which boast a 0% default rate- but have only been investing since 2009, a period of low defaults across the board. We want to see a team that has proven itself to invest in difficult market and credit environments.
Access to private equity sponsors/ deal flow. We want to work with managers who have direct access to private equity sponsor and deals. This access is important because it ensures the manager is seeing the best deals first- and has first choice in participating. Managers with good access also avoid paying fees to a middle man – which would otherwise be absorbed by the investors in the fund.
Strong investment process/ due diligence process. We want to see a proven track record as well as a strong investment process. We like to see highly experienced teams with the right firm infrastructure to allow for in-depth due diligences.
Alignment of interests. We are always looking for a meaningful alignment of interests when we invest, in this case a capital commitment to the fund from the fund senior managers and or the firm.
Dividend Distributions. In line with our investment philosophy, we look for managers that pay distributions of around 75% of their gross yields. That means at least 9% current yields with expected gross returns of 13% to 17% per annum.
Ann Steele es gestora del fondo de bolsa paneuropea de Threadneedle Investments.. “Estamos en el mejor escenario posible para la renta variable”
Ann Steele, Senior Fund Manager European Equities at Threadneedle, is visiting the US this week to give her view about European equity markets. Steele will meet with institutional investors in New York and Miami, on the 4th, 5th and 6th of March.
“The economic outlook for Europe continues to improve. Rhetoric from the European Central Bank remains supportive, while the economic backdrop across the single-currency zone has improved, notably in Germany and to a lesser extent in some of the peripheral economies”, highlights Steele. At the company level, Steele believes that the outlook remains encouraging, and continues to find good long-term opportunities in selected European equities, particularly those with robust earnings prospects and pricing power. “There is increasing interest in companies with strong domestic European operations which can benefit from the improving environment, rather than relying on stronger growth in emerging markets and elsewhere.”
Ann Steele joined Threadneedle in 2009 as a senior fund manager in the European equity team. Ann manages the Threadneedle Pan European strategy and various segregated mandates. Prior to joining Threadneedle, Ann worked at Pictet Asset Management, where she managed a number of institutional funds and oversaw significant growth in assets. She has also held senior investment positions at Gartmore and Henderson.
Ann graduated with LLB (Hons) and BMus (Hons) at University of Glasgow.
BNY Mellon, a global leader in investment management and investment services, has appointed Frank La Salla as Chief Executive Officer of its Alternative Investment Services (AIS) business.
La Salla will report to Samir Pandiri, BNY Mellon Executive Vice President and CEO of Asset Servicing. He was most recently Managing Director at Pershing LLC, a BNY Mellon company, where he was responsible for all of Pershing’s business outside of the U.S. and led its global growth strategy.
La Salla assumes a role Pandiri has held the past two years. He will be based in New York and oversee a team of more than 2,000 AIS professionals worldwide.
“Client demand for alternative investments is growing, as institutions and individuals seek to enhance returns and manage risk in a low-interest rate environment. At the same time, we’re helping hedge fund managers deal with the host of new regulations and reporting requirements around those assets,” said Pandiri.
“This is a strategic growth initiative for us,” said Tim Keaney, BNY Mellon vice chairman and CEO of Investment Services. “We’ve seen a marked expansion in serving our alternative investment manager clients in recent years and continue to see tremendous upside potential in this business.”
Alongside his new role, La Salla will remain on the board of Pershing Limited in the UK and continue to represent BNY Mellon on the Board of Directors of Euroclear PLC and Euroclear SA.
Before BNY Mellon’s acquisition of Pershing in 2003, La Salla was President and Chief Operating Officer of BNY Clearing Services LLC. Prior to that, he served as Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer at Societe Generale Securities Corp. in the U.S.
John Paulson, President and Portfolio Manager of Paulson & Co. Hispania Announces its Intention to Float on the Spanish Stock Exchange
Hispania Activos Inmobiliarios, a recently incorporated Spanish limited liability company, has announced its intention to seek a primary listing for its ordinary shares on the Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia stock exchanges. Listing is expected to commence before 31 March 2014.
The Company is seeking to raise gross proceeds of €500 million (plus a 10% overallotment option) through an institutional placing. Hispania has already received commitments of €314 million from a number of cornerstone investors and other investors including Quantum Strategic Partners (George Soros), Paulson and Co (John Paulson), Moore Capital Management, APG, Cohen & Steers and the Canepa group.
Hispania intends to deliver capital growth by taking advantage of investment opportunities that may arise in the Spanish real estate market. In particular, the Company is aiming to create a high quality portfolio that generates both recurring income as well as capital gains from asset appreciation.
Hispania intends to invest primarily in multi-family residential properties, offices and hotels in Spain. This means quality assets that are well located and with yield potential, that require either some repositioning, capex investment or active asset management.
The Company’s initial investment strategy is to invest over three years and then to liquidate the portfolio and to return value to shareholders over the following three years. Where the Investment Manager proposes a different course of action, for example if there are merits for Hispania to become a permanent capital vehicle in full or in part, the Company would submit such proposal to the shareholders for approval.
Hispania will be externally managed by Azora Gestión SGIIC, S.A.U. and will benefit from Azora’s long-term expertise and successful track record of real estate investment and its extensive and long-standing relationships with key decision makers in the Spanish real estate market.
In line with best corporate governance practices, Hispania will have an experienced Board, with a majority of independent directors -4 out of 6- and which is chaired by Mr. Rafael Miranda Robredo, the former CEO of Endesa. Board members include Mr. Joaquin Ayuso, former CEO of Ferrovial, Mr. Jose Pedro Pérez-Llorca, founder of Pérez-Llorca Abogados and Mr. Luis Mañas, Board Member of Aviva, as well as Concha Osácar and Fernando Gumuzio from Azora. To ensure close alignment with the interests of all shareholders, the management team has agreed to invest capital in Hispania representing 2.28% of the expected initial offering proceeds.
Hispania has appointed Goldman Sachs International and UBS Limited as Joint Global Coordinators and Joint Bookruners in the offering. The Company has appointed Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer as its legal advisor.
Commenting on the announcement, Mr Fernando Gumuzio of Hispania said: “The Spanish real estate sector currently presents an interesting opportunity for those investors with the expertise to navigate this complex environment in order to select the right assets. We have established Hispania Activos Inmobiliarios to take advantage of these opportunities by leveraging Azora’s strong track record and expertise in the market to build a high quality portfolio that creates value for shareholders.”
Wikimedia CommonsFibra Inn's hotel.. Fibra Inn Announces Investor Events in New York City and Mexico City
Fibra Inn, a Mexican real estate investment trust specializing in the hotel industry serving the business traveler, will host an Investor Day at the St. Regis Mexico City, on March 4-5 and at The Hotel Intercontinental Barclay Midtown in New York City on Wednesday, March 19, 2014.
Both events will feature presentations by management, featuring Mr. Victor Zorrilla, Chief Executive Officer; Mr. Joel Zorrilla, Chief Operating Officer; and Mr. Oscar Calvillo, Chief Financial Officer.
This event is by invitation only for portfolio managers and sell side analysts. For electronic registration and the agenda, please visit www.fibrainn.mx
For more details please contact i-advize Corporate Communications at (212) 406 3691 or by emailing mbarona@i-advize.com.
Fibra Inn is a Mexican trust formed primarily to acquire, own, develop, operate and rent a broad range of hotel properties in Mexico. Headquartered in Monterrey, Fibra Inn has a portfolio of high-quality hotels and geographically-diverse located in twelve states throughout Mexico, comprising approximately 4,118 rooms, which 664 are under construction. The Company has signed Franchise Agreements with IHG to operate its global brands Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and Holiday Inn Express & Suites; with Hilton to operate its brand Hampton Inn by Hilton; and is in the process with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide to operate the brand Aloft. Additionally, Fibra Inn has agreements with IHG, Marriott International and Wyndham Hotel Group.
