H.E. Conrad Bruch, Embassy of Luxembourg in Switzerland

H.E. Conrad Bruch Conrad A. Bruch, a Luxembourg diplomat, was born on May 25th, 1960 in Luxembourg City. After finishing the Lycée classique d'Echternach, he studied Political Science/International Relations as well as Slavic languages in Trier (Germany), where he graduated in 1988 (Magister Artium). In 1988-89, he continued his studies at the Paris Institute for Political Studies (IEP), where he took the Cycle supérieur d'Etudes soviétiques et est-européennes (as laureate) under Professor Hélène Carrère d’Encausse. Starting in 1990, he worked in the Policy Planning Section of the Western European Union (WEU), Secretariat-General, first in London and then in Brussels, with responsibilities for communication, speechwriting, liaison for the Central European and Baltic countries and as secretary to several working groups and committees. In early 1993, Mr. Bruch joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Luxembourg. Within the Ministry, Mr. Bruch held responsibility for security policy and then - as European Correspondent - for CFSP affairs. As of August 1998, Mr. Bruch was seconded to the Luxembourg Embassy in Bonn and (as of August 1999) in Berlin. As Deputy Head of Mission, Mr. Bruch held responsibility for political, economic, European and cultural affairs. On 30th September 2005, Mr. Bruch presented his credentials to H.E. Mr. Karolos Papoulias, the President of the Hellenic Republic, as Luxembourg Ambassador to Greece, with co-accreditations in the Republic of Cyprus (since 15th November 2005), Romania (since 13th December 2005) and Georgia (since 24th April 2008). On 27th October 2010, Mr. Bruch presented his credentials to H.E. Mr. Bronisław Komorowski, President of the Republic of Poland, as Luxembourg Ambassador to Poland with co-accreditations in the Republic of Lithuania (since 25th February 2011) and in the Republic of Latvia (since 16th August 2011). As of September 2013, Ambassador Bruch returned to the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs as Director for Defence (Defence being integrated in the Luxembourg MFA) with overall responsibility for administration, human resources and policy formulation as well as budgetary and procurement decisions. As of 1st of January 2016, Mr. Bruch became roving Ambassador for Human Rights within the Luxembourg Foreign Ministry structure. On 13th of September 2016, Mr. Bruch presented his credentials to H.E. Mr. Andrzej Duda, Pre-sident of the Republic of Poland, as Luxembourg Ambassador to Poland, with co-accreditation in the Republic of Latvia (29 November 2016) and in the Republic of Lithuania (14 December 2016). On the 2nd of October 2020, Mr. Bruch became Luxembourg Ambassador to Portugal by presenting his credentials to H.E. Mr. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of the Portuguese Republic. As of 19 March 2021, he also became non-resident Ambassador to the Republic of Cabo Verde. On the 30th of August 2022, Mr. Bruch became Luxembourg’s Ambassador to Switzerland by presenting his credentials to H.E. Mr. Ignazio Cassis, President of the Swiss Confederation. As of 15th September 2022, he also became non-resident Ambassador to the Principality of Liechtenstein. Mr. Bruch is married to Mrs. Kathrin Pfab, a German national. They have two daughters. Decorations and honorific titles (selection): - Officier de l’Ordre Grand-Ducal de la Couronne de Chêne du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg (June 2013); - Grand-Croix de l’Ordre du Phénix de la République hellénique (August 2010); - Commandeur de l’Ordre du Mérite de la République de Pologne (May 2014); - « Foreign Diplomat of the Year 2005 » of the Romanian daily Nine o’clock (January 2006); - Honorary Member of the Luxembourg-Poland Chamber of Commerce (LPCC) and of the Polsko-Luksemburska Izba Gospodarcza (PLIG). During his spare time, Mr. Bruch is a composer and writer. Under various pseudonyms, he has authored over one hundred musical compositions as well as one documentary novel, two novellas, a collection of short stories, a collection of poems and a theatrical play.
09.10

Welcome address by the Ambassador


09.15

Investment solutions between structural changes and market stress

International and EU investment markets are subject to constant change, and in recent years to structural shifts. With the change in monetary policy, the rise of interest rates and the shift towards respecting ESG factors, long-standing investment approaches will require adjustments, and new approaches are to be engineered. Experts in long-only and alternative asset classes will explore the changes, needs and potential solutions within the Luxembourg product structuring toolbox.


09:45

Retailisation and (semi-) liquid funds - a trend here to stay?

Many managers are looking with increasing appetite into liquid alternatives, semi-liquid funds and ELTIFs. What makes the attractiveness of these products and why are they so “trendy”? Are alternative funds and UCITS moving more closely together? Are they here to stay over the long term? The panellists will share their views and market insight.


11.10

ESG Pt 2: SFDR and its impact on management and products

How has SFDR impacted management and investment strategies put in place by managers? What consequences has it had on fund creation and restructuring? How does the industry view any outstanding issues and challenges such as data availability?


14.00

Workshop I: How the fast-evolving tax environment could impact your funds – a practical outlook

In a comprehensive bid to combat aggressive tax planning, and striving for more tax transparency, the OECD and the EU have adopted numerous tax rules over the past few years. The pace of the changes is accelerating further with the OECD BEPS 2.0 tax rules and the related EU Directive released on 22 December 2021 which will, inter alia, introduce a global minimum level of taxation. The EU also has an ambitious tax agenda, proposing directives aiming at reinforcing substance requirements and encouraging companies to finance their investment through equity. At the same time, new jurisprudence and legislation grant the investment funds the opportunity to recover taxes in various EU Member States and third countries. Now is the right time to assess which impact these developments could have on your funds and define the actions to be undertaken to be prepared for these changes.


14.00

Workshop II: Digital finance strategy and virtual assets – Luxembourg as a place for digital innovation

Driven by investor appetite and attractive returns, the world of virtual assets is growing in importance for the investment fund industry. From the big questions (why is it crucial to embrace the transformation) to practical concerns (what investment funds can invest in virtual assets) — find out what the challenges are for market players. What role do the CSSF guidance and the EU digital finance package play? Luxembourg is getting ready for a new digitalised era while ensuring investor protection and financial stability.


09.10

Welcome address by the Ambassador


09.15

Investment solutions between structural changes and market stress

International and EU investment markets are subject to constant change, and in recent years to structural shifts. With the change in monetary policy, the rise of interest rates and the shift towards respecting ESG factors, long-standing investment approaches will require adjustments, and new approaches are to be engineered. Experts in long-only and alternative asset classes will explore the changes, needs and potential solutions within the Luxembourg product structuring toolbox.


09.45

Retailisation and (semi-) liquid funds - a trend here to stay?

Many managers are looking with increasing appetite into liquid alternatives, semi-liquid funds and ELTIFs. What makes the attractiveness of these products and why are they so “trendy”? Are alternative funds and UCITS moving more closely together? Are they here to stay over the long term? The panellists will share their views and market insight.


11.10

ESG Pt 2: SFDR and its impact on management and products

How has SFDR impacted management and investment strategies put in place by managers? What consequences has it had on fund creation and restructuring? How does the industry view any outstanding issues and challenges such as data availability?


14.00

Workshop I: How the fast-evolving tax environment could impact your funds – a practical outlook

In a comprehensive bid to combat aggressive tax planning, and striving for more tax transparency, the OECD and the EU have adopted numerous tax rules over the past few years. The pace of the changes is accelerating further with the OECD BEPS 2.0 tax rules and the related EU Directive released on 22 December 2021 which will, inter alia, introduce a global minimum level of taxation. The EU also has an ambitious tax agenda, proposing directives aiming at reinforcing substance requirements and encouraging companies to finance their investment through equity. At the same time, new jurisprudence and legislation grant the investment funds the opportunity to recover taxes in various EU Member States and third countries. Now is the right time to assess which impact these developments could have on your funds and define the actions to be undertaken to be prepared for these changes.


14.00

Workshop II: Digital finance strategy and virtual assets – Luxembourg as a place for digital innovation

Driven by investor appetite and attractive returns, the world of virtual assets is growing in importance for the investment fund industry. From the big questions (why is it crucial to embrace the transformation) to practical concerns (what investment funds can invest in virtual assets) — find out what the challenges are for market players. What role do the CSSF guidance and the EU digital finance package play? Luxembourg is getting ready for a new digitalised era while ensuring investor protection and financial stability.