As growth investors have been primarily focused on the US in recent years, it's time to explore growth opportunities closer to home. In this presentation, portfolio manager Darina Valkova will outline her investment strategy that seeks to benefit from the compounding power of owning shares in structurally growing, high-quality companies over the long term. With years of experience, the strategy has recently been relaunched at AllianceBernstein. Darina will explain how her team looks for visibility in companies’ long-term earnings and cash flow growth, supported by sustainable competitive advantages and high barriers to entry. The presentation will highlight a focused and disciplined approach to investing in high-quality companies for long-term growth.

Workshop Objective: Delegates will hear about growth opportunities in European companies. They will learn how this team find and invest in structurally growing, high quality companies, a process honed over many years.

Company Profile: AllianceBernstein is a leading investment-management firm with $725 billion in client assets under management, as of 31 December 2023. With a unique combination of expertise across equities, fixed-income, alternatives and multi-asset strategies, we aim to deliver differentiated insights and distinctive solutions to advance investors’ success. Across our global network, we’re fully invested in delivering better outcomes for our worldwide clients, including institutional, high-net-worth and retail investors. By embracing innovation, we seek to address increasingly complex investing challenges and opportunities. And we pursue responsibility at all levels of the firm—from how we work and act to the solutions we design for clients.

The secular rise of the emerging middle-class consumer overlaid with demographic changes offers long-term tailwinds for an investment strategy focused on leading consumer brands.  Investing in consumer brands companies has historically generated above-market returns at sub-market volatility, making this theme attractive to investors looking for growth, inflation protection from the companies’ superior pricing power; and optionality from high cash generation, which is reinvested to drive growth or returned to shareholders. Consumer preferences are evolving in terms of sustainability as well as towards experiences – active management is key to separating the winners from the losers.

Workshop Objectives: To highlight the investment potential of leading brands and their role as a diversifier in portfolios. Investing in beneficiaries of emerging middle-class expansion with pricing power can enhance long-term returns.

Company Profile: Artemis is a leading UK-based fund manager, offering a range of funds which invest in the UK, Europe, the US and around the world. As a dedicated, active investment house, we specialise in investment management for both retail and institutional investors.

Using commodities in your asset allocation is a great way to increase diversification and add alpha. During our workshop we will explore two funds - one directional, the other an absolute return approach- that could add value to your portfolio. Below is a snapshot of the two funds.

The THEAM Quant Alpha Commodity fund aims to generate absolute performance from a portfolio of quantitative strategies aiming at benefitting from key Commodities markets’ specifities. 
The aforementioned portfolio is a non-directional, market-neutral portfolio which seeks to provide access to distinct and unadulterated commodity alpha sources; it consists of three quantitative strategies which are broadly uncorrelated with each other, in order to benefit from diversification. 
Performance is harvested by capturing carry differentials that arise across commodity forward curves, in addition to the alpha derived from market inefficiencies and opportunities. 

The BNP Paribas Easy Energy & Metals Enhanced Roll UCITS ETF  offers:

-    a diversified allocation to the Commodities universe of the Bloomberg Commodity ex-Agriculture and Livestock Capped Index, with weights rebalanced to those of this benchmark index once a month. 

-    an Optimal investment on the forward curve thanks to the S&P GSCI® Dynamic Roll methodology, which aims at reducing the carry costs associated with long commodity futures positions.  

Workshop Objectives: Emphasize the benefits of having a systematic approach when investing in Commodities (directional or market neutral) for Alpha generation, as it increases the efficiency of diversification while reducing correlation to traditional asset classes.

With Eurizon's LTE Equity funds, you can efficiently track the MSCI World, US and Europe ESG Leaders indices. Our proven and rewarded investment approach represents a valid alternative to passive investment vehicles by  limiting active risks while controlling liquidity and volatility in frenetic market situations, and with transparent and competitive total costs.

Workshop Objective: Find out how you can elevate your portfolio's ESG Rating with Eurizon's LTE Equity funds range.

Company Profile: Eurizon Capital SGR is a prominent international player in the asset management industry offering a wide range of actively managed products. Eurizon is part of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group. For 37 years, Eurizon has continually innovated to grow and expand its business. Eurizon adopts a diversified investment approach, with a highly accomplished capability for Euro and EM Fixed Income, Equity and Multi-Asset. Eurizon integrates SRI principles and ESG criteria in the investment process. Managing over 180 sustainable and responsible sub-funds classified as SFDR Art. 8 and Art. 9.

This year’s developing trend is the divergence of monetary policies and inflation amongst the world’s major economies. These shift spans both developed and emerging markets and provide opportunities for global solutions to take capitalize on.
Using a disciplined, rules-based approach of applying carry, valuation and momentum factors to liquid global fixed income and currency markets, First Trust highlight how strategies can generate uncorrelated returns and strategies to capture the attractive yields available in emerging markets.
The First Trust FactorFX Strategy utilizes these factors to deliver attractive returns with low correlation to both equity and fixed income markets. While the First Trust Emerging Market Local Currency Bond Strategy targets the higher yielding emerging markets whist employing these factors to capture potential currency appreciation and moderate volatility.

Workshop Objectives: Discover strategies investors can use to harness divergence in monetary policies.

Gain insights into two of First Trust's leading strategies in this space, the First Trust FactorFX UCITS ETF and the First Trust Emerging Market Local Currency Bond ETF.

Company Profile: First Trust is a privately owned U.S. based financial services firm established in 1991. Our mission and approach are simple. We aim to offer investors a better way to invest by providing transparent and innovative solutions - through knowing what we own, investing for the long term, employing discipline and rebalancing our portfolios. 

These core principles are taken into consideration in all aspects of our business and are the building blocks of our reputation. It is through these principles that First Trust’s specialist investment managers apply a robust and disciplined approach to a range of methodologies. We have a strong track record in providing a variety of rules-based, thematic and actively managed strategies investing across a range of equities, fixed income and alternatives. 

In delivering our message, our regional sales teams work closely with prospects and clients to distribute First Trust’s range of single-country, regional and global solutions across the world.

-    Introducing GKB and the Investment Team
-    Why multi-asset investors should consider convertible bonds
-    What makes convertible bonds attractive in the current environment?
-    Deep dive into the fund and its investment approach
-    Performance review 
-    Current fund positioning

Workshop objectives: The objective of this workshop is to outline the unique characteristics of the GKB convertible bond fund and what makes it so useful to investors in the context of a multi-asset approach. 

Company Profile: Founded in 1870, Graubündner Kantonalbank is a universal bank and the market leader in its home market of Graubünden. With the established Investment Center more than 25 years ago, it has successfully positioned itself as an investment manager with a broad range of investment services and built its own investment competencies. We are an experienced provider of actively managed investment funds to private clients and institutional investors. Our relationship managers and investment management teams are made up of long-standing employees who have extensive know-how and have been operating successfully in the institutional market for many years. Further, we have a local presence and are therefore close to our clients. We have thus been successful in doubling the assets under management since 2016.

Duplicating exposures to Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500 constituents might seem counterintuitive at first glance when trying to mitigate risk. However, at-the-money covered call strategies like QYLD and XYLU seek to monetize the index’s volatility to create income that can act as somewhat of a hedge. That potential income can also supplement an existing growth strategy while offering a portfolio a positive relationship with volatility that other investment vehicles may not provide.

Implementing options in a portfolio effectively requires careful consideration of various key questions like how to determine the optimal timing for rolling or closing their positions. This decision can be challenging due to factors such as time, risk, and cost. In our opinion, the complexity involved highlights the advantages of passive ETFs that utilize option strategies. 

QYLD and XYLU are fully covered buy-write strategies that use the Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500 as their reference assets. Providing a potential stream of premium income, the funds act as a competitive total return solution that may boost a portfolio’s current yield.

Workshop Objective: This workshop aims to highlight the diversification, visibility and risk mitigation potentials of covered call products and their ability to work within an equity growth portfolio amid different macro environments

Company Profile: Global X ETFs was founded in 2008. For more than 15 years, our mission has been empowering investors with unexplored and intelligent solutions. Our  expansive product lineup features a wide range of ETFs and includes more than $51 billion in assets under management.   While we are distinguished for our Thematic Growth, Income and International Access ETFs, we also offer Core, Commodity, and Risk Management funds to suit a wide range of investment objectives. Explore our ETFs, research and insights, and more at www.globalxetfs.eu.
Global X is a member of Mirae Asset Financial Group, a global leader in financial services, with more than $560 billion in assets under management worldwide.    Mirae Asset has an extensive global ETF platform ranging across the US, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Europe, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam with over $80bn in assets under management. 

[1] Source: Global X, as of December 2023

[1] Mirae Asset, as of February 7, 2024

After a challenging two years across financial markets, sovereign bonds are again offering the kind of value to investors that the asset class is known for. In this session, investment manager Vikram Aggarwal will discuss a modern and efficient approach to investments in sovereign bonds, leveraging the full opportunity set offered by the risk components (interest rate, spread and FX). Vikram will discuss how this active approach to investing across both developed and emerging markets aims to deliver better returns with a similar risk profile and with a focus on protecting investors from geopolitical risks.

Workshop Objectives: Following this session, attendees will have a greater understanding of how a modern active  approach can help to extract the maximum value from an allocation to government bonds.

Company Profile: Jupiter is a specialist, high conviction, active asset manager. We exist to help our clients achieve their long-term investment objectives. From our origins in 1985, Jupiter now offers a range of actively managed strategies available to UK and international clients including equities, fixed income, multi-asset and alternatives. Jupiter is a constituent member of the FTSE 250 Index, and has assets under management of £52.2bn /$66.5bn /€60.3bn as at 31/12/2023.
Independence of thought and individual accountability define us. Our fund managers follow their convictions and seek those investment opportunities that they believe will ensure the best outcome for our clients. They do this through fundamental analysis and research, a clear investment process and risk management framework, with a focus on good stewardship.


https://www.jupiteram.com/ch/en/professional/ 

After a volatile start to 2024, the Chinese equity market experienced a sharp recovery in February. The positive momentum was further aided by policy support measures established during March’s Two Sessions, high-level government meetings where economic goals and growth targets are set. Investors also welcomed the government's 2 trillion RMB market stabilization fund, with an estimated 410 billion RMB already deployed. Simultaneously, Mainland listed A-Shares have seen record inflows driven by China’s National Team, financial services firms backed by the government.
 
These focused efforts are starting to yield results, but can the positive momentum be sustained? Join Dr. Xiaolin Chen, Head of International as she discusses her recent trip to Mainland China and her firsthand account of the consumer recovery, China market performance, tech sector outlook and potential catalysts ahead.

Workshop Objectives:
-    Analyse the implications of China's expanding and accelerating economic recovery and stimulus measures on the economy and stock market dynamics.
-    Identify key catalysts driving the rebound in China's equity market in the near term and the emerging trends.
-    Explore strategies for investing in China for a winning portfolio amidst dynamic conditions. 

Company Profile: Krane Funds Advisors, LLC is the investment manager for KraneShares ETFs. KraneShares offers innovative investment solutions tailored to three key pillars: China, Climate, and Uncorrelated Assets. Since 2013, KraneShares has become one of the largest China ETF providers. This focus continues with product launches worldwide and a constant stream of China-focused research.

Given China’s importance in addressing the global climate crisis, our entrance into broader climate ETFs in 2020 was a natural extension of our focus on China. KraneShares is now one of the largest global carbon/climate ETF providers.

KraneShares strives to deliver innovative first-to-market strategies based on strong partnerships and deep investing knowledge. KraneShares helps investors stay current on global market trends and provides meaningful diversification.

Krane Funds Advisors, LLC, is a signatory of the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investing (UN PRI). The firm is majority-owned by China International Capital Corporation (CICC).

Recent years proved to be challenging for emerging markets. Troubles in the Chinese property sector and the disappointing recovery after the reopening were a major drag for the asset class. While China is indeed an important factor, it is important to remember that EM equities are not a homogeneous group – they comprise many distinctive economies with different drivers.

Looking into the future, we believe that a number of dynamics are changing, leaving the asset class well placed for the next economic cycle. Furthermore, low valuations could offer a good starting point for attractive returns going forward. In our view, an active and value-oriented approach can identify attractive opportunities and represents an ideal way for investors to gain exposure.

Workshop Objectives: Meet George Rolls, Investment Specialist of the M&G (Lux) Global Emerging Markets Fund, and discuss the diverse opportunity set in global emerging market equities.

Company Profile: M&G Investments is a global asset manager with extensive expertise in the public and private markets. Our investment strategies include fixed income, equities, multi-asset, real estate, private equity, private debt and infrastructure.
M&G manages over € 353 billion (as at 30 June 2023). Our clients include insurance companies, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, banks and private investors.
M&G takes an active approach to responsible investing and strives to continuously improve the sustainability of its investments. Therefore M&G is committed to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across all its assets under management by 2050, as well as to reduce CO2 emissions as a company to zero by 2030.

The repricing of credit markets towards more favourable yield levels has created a more compelling long-term entry point for fixed income investors which remains, despite the recent rally in spreads.

We will discuss some of the broader uncertainties facing investors moving forward and explain how strong fundamental credit research and focused security selection can still provide excellent opportunities for active managers.

We will introduce both the MFS Meridian Global Credit and Euro Credit Bond Funds and explain the unique features behind the investment team, approach and resources. We will outline how such factors have been fundamental to past strong performance and why we believe they can continue to contribute to future robust excess returns amid a background of heightened volatility.

Workshop Objectives: Analyse the key themes driving global credit markets and to introduce both the MFS Euro and Global Credit bond funds, explaining the key risks and opportunities ahead.

Company Profile: In 1924, MFS launched the US’ first open-end mutual fund to give everyday investors access to the markets. One hundred years later, as a full-service global investment manager serving financial advisors, intermediaries and institutional clients, we celebrate a century of active management. Tested and refined across market environments, our investing approach combines collective expertise, long-term discipline and thoughtful risk management to create value responsibly for clients. Supported by our culture of shared values and collaboration, our teams of diverse thinkers actively debate ideas and assess material risks to uncover what we believe are the best investment opportunities in the market.

Moneta Long Short stands out in the realm of European equity investing, offering investors a unique blend of upside potential coupled with reduced volatility. 

The fund aims to capture at least 40% of the upside of the European equity market whilst maintains less than half of the market volatility, offering a smoother investment journey during market dislocation. 
The fund employs a pure fundamental stock-picking approach, free from the constraints of benchmark indices. This strategy allows for independent investment decisions based on rigorous analysis of individual companies. 
Moneta Long Short benefits from the firm's broad analyst resources, enabling investments across a diverse range of market segments. 
Approximately 30% of the fund is allocated to small and mid-cap opportunities, further enhancing diversification. 

Workshop Objectives: 

-    How to navigate the European stock market with a proper downside protection during market stress 

-    Explore how to seize alpha with limited market exposure and produce uncorrelated returns 

Company Profile: Moneta AM is an independent asset management firm, 100% founder and employee owned with  €3.8 bn firm AUM as of 31st December 2023. Since its creation in 2003, Moneta has dedicated all its business in fundamental stock picking of European equities and manages 3 equity strategies: Moneta Multicaps (European all-cap long-only), Moneta Long Short (European Long Short) and Moneta SMID cap strategies (Moneta Micro Entreprises and 3 close-ended funds MME 2026, MME2027 and MME2028).

Our investment style is deliberately emphasized by active management and our passion in independent research of companies. Our disciplined research process led us to discover companies neglected or misunderstood by other investors. Valuation and governance are two key criteria in our assessment of companies.

The size of the market for Corporate Hybrid Bonds has grown from close to zero in 2012 to over 200 billion dollars – equivalent - today. The issuers are mainly very high quality, ‘household name’ non-financial companies – such as SSE and National Grid – and the structure is relatively investor-friendly. Furthermore, Corporate Hybrid bonds are becoming an increasingly significant part of the major Investment Grade bond indices. Yet, many investors have little understanding of these bonds’ characteristics and often mistake them for ‘Coco’s’. This session will look to explain what corporate hybrid bonds are, why they are currently attractive and discuss how they can enhance the risk-adjusted returns of a fixed income portfolio.

Workshop Objective: Understand what Corporate Hybrid bonds are, why they are attractive and how they fit into a fixed income portfolio.

Argonaut invests in small and micro caps listed on European stock markets. The Fund focuses on little-known or poorly followed smaller companies and situations that have been ignored by mainstream investors. The investment process is based on in-depth fundamental research through direct contact with company management and primary extra-financial analysis. The Fund applies a rigorous “Value Investing” philosophy with a wilfully open mind, aiming to ensure a “margin of safety”, with the intention to accumulate a portfolio of ‘good’ companies acquired at ‘great’ prices. With significant minority stakes, the managers apply ‘constructive engagement’ to ‘encourage best practice’ on portfolio companies to further enhance performance, improve ESG metrics and shape the exit strategy.

Workshop Objectives: The PM will present the Fund's investment philosophy and dedicated process for investing 'under the radar screen' in European smaller companies, with examples of investments where 'constructive engagement' added further value.

Company Profile: Founded in 2005 in Geneva, QUAERO CAPITAL is an independent, specialist fund management firm which brings together independently minded investment managers who use original research to provide actively managed strategies for clients in the institutional and wholesale markets.
QUAERO CAPITAL is 100% employee-owned and its founding partners take an active role in its investment processes.
QUAERO CAPITAL provides a wide range of liquid, high conviction investment strategies. In private markets, the Group also offers European Infrastructure and French Real Estate investment strategies.
The Group manages close to EUR 3 billion and is present in Geneva, Zurich, Paris, London and Luxembourg.

After a decade of passive approaches dominating Emerging Markets Equity investments, valuation and dispersion dynamics provide evidence-based and tangible reasons to reconsider active opportunities in this space. 

The RAM Emerging Markets Equities Fund offers a solid, diversified core solution for this attractive region, having consistently captured fundamental inefficiencies within for close 15 years.

Artificial intelligence has become an essential aspect in continuing to do so – and RAM AI’s technological infrastructure has been built with the aim to capitalise on novel opportunities arising from this paradigmatic shift. From Deep Learning models to unstructured data and beyond.

Workshop Objectives: Discuss the current Emerging Markets Equity environment, leveraging RAM AI's models & positioning. Unlock new opportunities in valuation dynamics through an AI-driven bottom-up stock-picking lens.

Company Profile: RAM Active Investments (RAM AI) is a Geneva-based systematic asset manager created in 2007 with the conviction that harnessing data, technology and human experience is pivotal to delivering sustainable returns and fulfilling investors' needs for innovative and active solutions.
With research at the forefront of their disciplined investment approach, RAM AI harnesses scientific data analysis and risk-led portfolio construction techniques to identify and exploit new market inefficiencies. Committed to providing a clear sustainable objective to stakeholders, the company has progressively integrated Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) elements across its strategy range, recognising the escalating environmental issues and the potential unique investment opportunities. The company manages EUR 1.7bn across ten strategies and three categories: Systematic Equity, Alternatives and Fixed Income.