Accounting for nearly 30 percent of total regional deal and exit volume in 2025, Japan has solidified its position as the premier bright spot in the APAC private capital market. Accommodative monetary policy and favorable currency conditions have sustained momentum that experts expect to persist through 2026.
New York-based Kudu Investment Management has secured a minority interest in Australian boutique firm Drummond Capital Partners for an undisclosed sum. The deal marks a strategic expansion for Kudu into the Australian wealth management market, leveraging Drummond’s established footprint across Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, and Perth.
London-based investment firm Queensgate Investments has returned to independence following a full buyout from AlTi Tiedemann Global. CEO Jason Kow finalized the acquisition this week, effectively severing ties with the $77 billion wealth manager to pivot the firm toward a specialized focus on real estate and hospitality across Europe and the Gulf.
London-based Zennor Asset Management is targeting Japan's cash-rich large-cap market with its new Himawari Fund, while African EV platform Spiro secures $270 million in funding and Dubai's Magellan Capital launches a $50 million institutional vehicle focused on asset-backed lending.
The Association of Swiss Asset and Wealth Management Banks has appointed Georg Schubiger, co-chief executive of Vontobel, as its new president. The leadership shuffle comes as the organization, which represents 23 institutions managing over SFr267 billion in assets, reshapes its board to navigate the evolving financial landscape.
With $495 billion in assets, Asset Management One is leveraging its market clout to force change within Japanese firms. The manager held 2,215 separate engagements with 718 companies over the past year, reflecting a broader push to prioritize financial returns and disciplined capital allocation across the country’s corporate landscape.
London-based Zennor Asset Management is targeting undervalued Japanese large-caps with its new Himawari Fund, while African EV platform Spiro secures $270 million in funding and Dubai’s Magellan Capital debuts an asset-backed vehicle, signaling a diverse shift in global capital allocation strategies across specialized markets.
The resignation of Sir Keir Starmer marks the latest chapter in a volatile era for British governance, leaving wealth managers to contend with renewed economic uncertainty. As the Labour Party faces its second leadership transition in a decade, investors are bracing for potential shifts in fiscal policy and tax strategy.
After securing a significant private equity investment, European third-party management firm Carne has appointed former PwC Luxembourg leader John Parkhouse as president. Parkhouse joins the firm to bolster its operational capabilities as the company scales its footprint across complex global asset management markets.
As AI-driven demand for data storage surges, US-based issuer Defiance has debuted Europe’s first memory exchange-traded fund. Listed on Xetra and Borsa Italiana, the Defiance Memory UCITS ETF targets companies specializing in the manufacturing and development of semiconductors, positioning investors to capitalize on a tightening global supply chain.
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Four Swiss cantonal banks have tapped fintech provider Avaloq to overhaul their digital infrastructure, a move expected to affect one million customers. By migrating to a unified mobile platform, these institutions aim to streamline their services while establishing a standardized technical framework for the country’s regional banking sector.
“I want to see if managers are doing what they’re trying to do,” says Elizabeth Foos, research manager at Morningstar. For fund managers, being tracked by the firm is a career-defining validation, yet the evaluation process hinges less on raw data and more on the consistency and temperament of the people behind the portfolio.
With global equities climbing 12 percent since January, Standard Chartered remains bullish on a soft economic landing, even as it warns investors to prepare for volatility. The bank anticipates further gains in the S&P 500 and gold, despite rising geopolitical tensions and shifting central bank policies complicating the second half of the year.
Geopolitical volatility and rapid technological shifts are forcing independent wealth managers in Singapore to prioritize reliability and deep expertise. At a recent conference, industry leaders emphasized that while the sector remains leaner than traditional banking, it faces mounting pressure to maintain rigorous standards while navigating complex, evolving client demands.
Investment giants are moving to capture shifting market demand through specialized vehicles, with M&G targeting European CLOs, BlackRock deploying AI-driven thematic equity rotations, and Baillie Gifford launching a Shariah-compliant fund to serve an underserved global demographic of professional and retail investors.
The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence is creating a paradox in the UK equity market: while software valuations face turbulence, the resulting market displacement is uncovering undervalued assets. According to Ben Needham, portfolio manager at Ninety One, this volatility provides a unique entry point for active, quality-focused investors.
Switzerland represents one of the most significant concentrations of multi-generational private wealth and institutional capital in the world, according to Partners Capital. The London-based firm, which manages over $77 billion in assets, has officially established a Zurich presence to tap into this dense market of sophisticated investors.
While the Bank of Japan broke from the pack this week by raising interest rates to their highest level in three decades, the Bank of England and the US Federal Reserve opted to hold steady, leaving investors to navigate a landscape of conflicting signals and shifting monetary strategies.
Four seasoned private bankers have joined RBC Wealth Management’s Hong Kong office, marking a strategic push to capture the region’s growing demand for complex, multi-jurisdictional financial planning. The Canadian firm is positioning these veteran hires to bolster its advisory capabilities for high-net-worth clients navigating increasingly intricate wealth structures.
The Bank of Japan has moved to normalize monetary policy with a surprise rate hike to 1 percent, marking a three-decade high. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve, Bank of England, and Reserve Bank of Australia opted to hold rates steady, revealing a growing disconnect between global central banks and their inflation outlooks.
With over two decades of experience navigating the trust and fiduciary landscapes of Europe and Asia, industry veteran Chris Marquis joins Suntera Global as the new global head of private wealth. Based in the UK, he now takes a seat on the firm’s executive committee to oversee international expansion.
After nearly two decades navigating the high-net-worth landscape, James Charlton has joined Quilter Cheviot as an investment manager in Liverpool. The veteran advisor, formerly of Barclays Private Bank, steps into the role to oversee tailored portfolios for business owners and executives under the leadership of Nigel Hibbert.
Kamran Djavadi, a seasoned banking veteran with experience at Barclays, HSBC, and CMB, has been named group chief operating officer at Azura Partners. Based in the firm's Monaco headquarters, he will report directly to founder and CEO Ali Jamal as the company looks to scale its global wealth management operations.
BNP Paribas has introduced its THEAM Quant Transatlantic Target Premium fund to core European markets, while M&G Investments is taking its global value strategy international with the launch of a new Luxembourg-domiciled fund, signaling a broader push to capture investor demand for diversified, systematic income.
A 16 percent share price drop forced Rathbones to announce a £20 million stock buyback program this week, following the wealth manager’s decision to halt inflows from clients requiring enhanced due diligence. The firm faces £60 million in net costs linked to compliance failures identified during a regulatory review.
London-based asset manager Fasanara Capital has established its first American presence, securing space in Manhattan’s Rockefeller Center. The firm, which specializes in alternative credit and fintech-driven financing, aims to leverage this base to deepen ties with North American institutional investors, family offices, and strategic wealth platforms.
With regional assets under management projected to hit $34.5 trillion by 2030, Singapore is outpacing the broader Asia-Pacific market growth rate. According to a new PwC report, the city-state is leveraging its deep sovereign wealth base and progressive regulatory framework to cement its status as a critical cross-border financial anchor.
Michael Slater has been named managing director for the Middle East at global investor services group IQ-EQ. Based in the Dubai International Financial Centre, Slater takes the helm as the firm seeks to capitalize on surging institutional capital and increasing demand for specialized investment solutions across the region.
With three decades of experience navigating the financial landscapes of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, Michael Slater has been appointed managing director for the Middle East at global investor services group IQ-EQ. Operating from the Dubai International Financial Centre, he will spearhead the firm’s regional growth and institutional partnerships.
London-based Fenchurch Advisory Partners has secured a definitive agreement to acquire Broadhaven Capital Partners, a boutique firm operating out of New York and Chicago. The deal consolidates two specialized teams into a single entity boasting over 110 investment bankers focused exclusively on the global financial services sector.
