Performance Magazine - issue 32

Since we started work on this edition of Performance, the world has been plunged into a health and economic crisis, of which the growing scale and cost very few people have ever witnessed or could realistically have imagined. Overnight, industries had to rethink their modus operandi in its most granular set-up, not only from a technological but also a human perspective. Our asset management industry, whilst already fairly agile, has had its business contingency plans put to the test in the most dramatic way—but with no major consequences to note.

Today, more than ever, in this new normal of digitalization and innovation, Charles Darwin’s quote still rings true: “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, but rather that which is adaptable to change.” The new decade began with a daunting challenge but one that we will embrace and build on in the years to come. It is exactly in this spirit that we have devoted this edition to not just reflect on the last few months but to also look forward. In true Performance style, we will take you on a journey of exploration using buzzwords as our guide—environmental, social and governance principles, exchange-traded funds, the quest for alpha, global investment performance standards, cross-border distribution, sustainability and green bonds.

• The 2020 investment management industry concussion
  Lessons learnt from the COVID-19 crisis for the investment management industry
  
• Advancing environmental, social, and governance investing
  A holistic approach for investment management firms
  
• New horizons for ETFS
  Regulatory change opens doors for all exchange-traded funds including active nontransparent ETFs
  
• Righting the ship
  Transforming active equity in a competitive world
  
• Managing investment costs and aligning interests 
  An article written by Kim Bowater, Director of Consulting Frontier Advisors
• Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS®) 2020
  A new impetus for GIPS standards
• Art & Wealth Management
  Creating a personal and emotional connection with clients through passion-related wealth
  
• 53 pages for 45 Questions
  Deloitte Luxembourg’s 2020 Cross-Border Fund Distribution Conference explored the future of the asset management industry and what opportunities the next decade will hold
  
• Sustainability corner
  EU Green Bonds according to the EU