AUSTRIA - Alternative investments specialist Absolute Return Consulting GmbH has started a partnership with London-based RMB International to represent the asset manager on the Austrian institutional market.

ARC is an independent consultancy which advises pension funds, banks, insurance companies and foundations on the development and implementation of their alternative strategies investment plans.

“We seek and find the best products and product providers in the field of alternative investments and we are a pool of information for alternatives,” ARC says on its web site, adding it analyses and runs institutional portfolios, and provides strategic advice.

ARC’s chief executive Alexander Hoyos said: "RMB International has an excellent reputation with a well-established track record in the fund of hedge fund market.”

“Their low-volatility funds of hedge funds, and consistent performance for over five years, make them very suitable for the needs of institutional investors in Austria and southern
Germany," he added.

He also told IPE that ‘active’ pension funds had enquired more about hedge funds, a market which could grow as Austria conforms to the European Union’s pension fund directive.

RMB, Hoyos continued, is taking steps to make their hedge fund products attractive. “They are making efforts to enable people to do it easily.

Jeremy Beswick, head of business development at RMB International, said he was “delighted” and added: "We have been looking at the Austrian institutional market for some time.”

South African-based RMB Asset Management, which was formed in 1989, says it has now over 130 billion rand (16.2 billion euros) under management.

Topics