SWITZERLAND – Dutch bank Oyens & van Eeghen has launched an asset management company in Switzerland called Altis Investment Management in partnership with two former Morgan Stanley executives.

Dutch investment consulting firm Ortec is also involved in the venture.

“Altis works as a multi-manager, client assets are delegated to a combination of selected specialist portfolio managers, each of whom has been identified as ‘best of breed’ in his area,” Oyens said in a release.

Zug-based Altis makes “intensive use of passive investments in market segments where active portfolio management is proving ineffective”.

Oyens added the client base consists of institutional investors such as pension funds, as well as rich people’s own “family offices”.

Oyens added that the venture would be run by former Morgan Stanley people Oscar Vermeulen and Richard Jacobs as well as Oyens’ institutional markets head Martin Mlynár. Oyens director Joost Rietvelt also joins the Altis board.

Vermeulen, 36, is a former executive director at Morgan Stanley while Jacobs, 30, was at the firm as a vice president/portfolio manager, Oyens said.

Altis will offer a liability-driven approach “powered by” the asset-liability modelling expertise of Ortec.

“The value proposition to our clients is twofold,” Mlynár said. “The use of specialist managers brings a far greater amount of expertise into a portfolio than any single ‘global’ manager can offer. It allows us to diversify our portfolios, with solid expertise, into less efficient niche markets and alternative investments.

“With the launch of Altis, we centralise the institutional asset management activities in a separate, independent entity,” said Rietvelt.

“The start of Altis is a continuation of our strategy to leverage the know-how and strengths present in the group. It allows us to serve our clients with a broader portfolio of expertise, services and solutions.”

Oyens & van Eeghen was founded in 1797 and is part of IMC Holding. Altis is hosting a seminar in Lucerne on October 7.

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