MORNING SESSIONS


08.30

Welcome address by ALFI

  • Camille Thommes

    Camille Thommes Director General Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry (ALFI)


08.35

Introduction by the Chairperson of the day


08.40

Reimagining fund distribution

If the fund industry were to start from scratch again today, what would fund distribution look like? Can technology or new entrants transform the economics and effectiveness of fund distribution? Listen to the views of Chris Chancellor, Broadridge and John Herlihy, Carne, for some bold, innovative thinking on the future of fund distribution. The emphasis will be on opinions on what such distribution may look like in a few years time, enabled by new technology.


09.10

How can the Luxembourg eco-system support fund distribution?

How to enhance and facilitate fund distribution in addressing the challenges of the industry seeing a constant cost increase for years?

Four stakeholders of the fund distribution eco-system will share their plan to add value to their clients in asset gathering and retention: are digitalisation and blockchain the answers to reduce and limit costs? What are the solutions to allow an immediate and direct access to a global fund universe for investors?

Moderator

Panellists

  • Paul Carr

    Paul Carr CEO East Capital Asset Management S.A.,

  • Carole Michel

    Carole Michel Fund Distribution Global Product Owner BNP Paribas Securities Services


09.55

Broadridge Distribution Achievement Awards 2021


10.00

The digital client: a new era of self-directed retail investors

Where do you go to reach first-time investors? During the pandemic, online trading apps like Trade Republic reported rapid growth in first-time users flocking to the platforms to grow their wealth.
A new generation of investors don’t look to banks or advisers to tell them what to invest in: they have the confidence to choose themselves. Is it time to say goodbye to the traditional distribution model? Could the asset management industry piggy-back on this trend?
These and other questions will be explored by two founders leading organisations seeking to reimagine financial services for tomorrow’s investor.


10.25

Impacts of regulatory developments on cross-border distribution

This panel will cover the latest regulatory developments triggered by the EU Cross-Border Directive 2019/1160 that entered into force on 2 August 2021. The objective of the Directive is to facilitate the cross-border distribution of UCITS and AIFs across EU Member States by (i) removing local gold-plating requirements, (ii) harmonizing UCITS and AIFs notification procedure, (iii) reducing costs and (iv) enhancing investors’ protection. This panel will take stock of the situation two months after the implementation in debating the following hot topics:

• Did the fund distribution landscape experience a “big bang” as of 2 August 2021?
• Is the fund industry in the process of reshaping its set-up in target distribution markets?
• Will there be a point in time when the local facilities available to investors will be equal?
• What are the main improvements of the concept of pre-marketing?
• How far will de-notification of marketing prevent future transactions?
• What are the operational challenges accompanying the latest regulatory developments?

Moderator

Panellists

  • Willi Müller

    Willi Müller Head of Portfolio Management and Distribution Union Investment Luxembourg S.A.


10.45

Broadridge Distribution Achievement Awards 2021


10.50

Masterclass facilitated by Fundsquare

The importance of governance in efficient data management

We all want to know where our data are being stored and used. Without data being effectively managed, companies lose out on their competitive edge and expose themselves to tremendous risks. For data to truly support business initiatives, they need to be qualified, available, up-to-date as well as relevant.

Regulatory disclosure and information dissemination of dynamic, static data and documents are not only time-sensitive but require security and accuracy to respect compliancy and regulations within the fund industry. An aggregated view of the fund life cycle and its data within this industry calls for effective corporate governance to reduce the opacity of operations and allow for the mitigation of risk. A breach in data management has implications that go beyond simple business processes but can have serious legal consequences.

How to achieve this governance in efficient data management is a question that Fundsquare will approach in our Masterclass at the ALFI Global Distribution Conference. Four different industry actors will engage in a thoughtful conversation around this very important subject moderated by Vincent Lagrange, Senior Business & Relationship Development Manager at Fundsquare.

 

Moderator

Panellists


11.35

Masterclass facilitated by Linklaters

Legal and Business talk on ESG

What are fund investors expecting? How green are fund products today? How far is the implementation of SFDR and Taxonomy?
This and much more will be discussed by Anja Gräf, Global Head of Infrastructure and Impact Funds, Product Specialist at HSBC Asset Management (Deutschland) GmbH, and Martin Mager, investment Funds Partner at Linklaters.

  • Anja Gräf

    Anja Gräf Global Head of Infrastructure and Impact Funds, Product Specialists HSBC Asset Management (Deutschland) GmbH


12.20

Chaiperson’s wrap up of the morning sessions


12.25

Session facilitated by BNP Paribas Securities Services: Why and How to invest in China

From the recent tech crackdown through to trade wars and currency fluctuations, we will open with a macroeconomic overview of the Chinese market.

We will then look at how the direct route into China has evolved (QFII/RQFI, CIBM and the growth of investment eligibility including derivatives, Star market), and at the continued success of the Connect schemes. To conclude, we will discuss how UCITS can best use the various access routes.

Q&A

  • Gary O'Brien

    Gary O'Brien Head of Banks and Brokers Segment Strategy BNP Paribas Securities Services


AFTERNOON SESSIONS


13.25

Chairperson's introduction


13.30

“What’s hot” in APAC and the US?

A traditional round of discussions on “what’s hot” in the asset management and fund industry in APAC and the US. The session is moderated by Camille Thommes, Director General of ALFI, with Sally Wong, CEO of the Hong Kong Investment Funds Association and Jim Fitzpatrick, President and CEO of Nicsa.

  • Camille Thommes

    Camille Thommes Director General Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry (ALFI)

  • Sally Wong

    Sally Wong CEO Hong Kong Investment Funds Association (HKIFA)


14.00

Asia: A bourgeoning - sometimes challenging - market

Recent economic growth and wealth creation in Asia has been nothing short of extraordinary at almost every level of the financial system, including the retail, mass affluent, high net worth and institutional sectors. The region still holds significant potential for asset managers—both traditional and alternative managers—and many firms are looking to participate in this exciting market. While the opportunities are plentiful, Asia also poses a number of challenges for managers. The region includes a variety of distinctive cultures, languages and markets that are in various stages of evolution. It is tempting for managers to view Asia as one big growth story, but such an approach is unlikely to be a winning strategy. At the ALFI Global Distribution Conference, we’ll be exploring what success in the Asian markets looks like, talking with practitioners and experts about China, the alternative investment landscape and the distribution of traditional funds in this exciting region.

Moderator

  • Andrew Gordon

    Andrew Gordon ‎Managing Director, Asia RBC Investor & Treasury Services

Panellists

  • Eleanor Wan

    Eleanor Wan Chief Executive Officer BEA Union Investment Management Limited

  • Andrew Hendry

    Andrew Hendry Head of Distribution - Asia Pacific Aberdeen Standard Investments


14.00

Finding joy in Latin America

LatAm is home to 652 million people (67% being economically active) and, combined, its economies would be the 3rd largest “country” in the world with a GDP of $4.8 trillion (2020) and more recently Latin America has gained pace of venture activity. Investors rang up a record number of 488 deals in 2020 while pouring more than $4 billion into start-ups for a second-consecutive year.
On the investor front, LatAm private and institutional investors hold as of today ~ $3 trillion in Assets. By 2025 it is estimated that its clients’ investments will soar up to $5 trillion. An entire new generation of millions of eager digital (native) investors combined to the upsurge of gross national income and the seamless investment experience offered by LatAm based Asset Managers are some of the factors forging the new Asset Management scene in Latin America.
Is a $4.8 trillion economy with $3 trillion of AuM part of your plans?
Join us to listen to what key successful market practitioners covering Latin America have to say.

Moderator

Panellists


14.00

A case study: Luxembourg, your domicile of choice

One would think that most players in the asset management industry are active in Europe’s largest fund domicile already. However, every year, we see asset managers from around the world launching their first fund in Luxembourg. And also new service providers keep entering this dynamic market still. Why have they chosen Luxembourg over other jurisdictions? Are they outsourcing to the Luxembourg eco-system or do they set up their own office? How easy or difficult is it to find staff? And what is their experience dealing with the Luxembourg regulator? These and other questions will be discussed with newcomers to Luxembourg.

Moderator

Panellists

  • Cun Yu (Jack) Wang

    Cun Yu (Jack) Wang Fund Manager, Infrastructure Investment Dept. Asset Management One Alternative Investments, Ltd.


14.45

Workshops wrap-up

  • Andrew Gordon

    Andrew Gordon ‎Managing Director, Asia RBC Investor & Treasury Services


14.50

Chairperson's wrap-up and closing remarks