The winners of this year’s Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards have been announced for Switzerland. Based entirely on quantitative criteria, the industry’s premier awards programme recognises the country’s best performing funds through a rigorous and independent assessment process.
- For over 30 years and in 17 countries worldwide, the Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards have honoured funds and fund management companies that have outperformed their peers on a risk-adjusted basis.
- The awards recognise mutual funds and fund families from across all asset classes, including equity, bond, mixed-asset, commodity and alternatives, with additional awards presented to pension funds and exchange-traded funds in specific fund award universes.
- 2020 was a year like no other. Read what winners say about their achievement and the value these awards create for their firms, clients, and the industry.
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Explore key industry insights and predicted trends from the 2021 fund industry leaders.
In a year where market volatility reached record levels, and where business and operational models were completely upended, recipients of the 2021 Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards for Switzerland deserve a special mention for their resilience to a myriad of market risks, and commendation for their vision, innovation and mastery of today’s rapidly evolving financial markets. Congratulations to each winner.
The Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards, granted annually, highlight funds and fund companies that have excelled in delivering consistently strong risk-adjusted performance relative to their peers.
The awards are based on the Lipper Leader for Consistent Return rating, which is a risk-adjusted performance measure calculated over 36, 60 and 120 months. The fund with the highest Lipper Leader for consistent return (effective return) value in each eligible classification wins the Refinitiv Lipper Fund Award.
Winners of the 2021 Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards for Switzerland
Individual classifications of three-, five-, and ten-year periods, as well as fund families with high average scores for the three-year period are also recognised. The awards are based on Refinitiv Lipper’s proprietary methodology.
Watch: Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards
With a 48-year track record of providing independent content, Refinitiv Lipper data encompasses over 345,000 share classes across over 80 countries. Refinitiv Lipper Leader ratings are available for mutual funds registered for sale in 47 markets with over 500 global and 174 U.S. fund classifications.
A message from Refinitiv Lipper
Robert Jenkins, Head of Research, Lipper, Refinitiv, said: “This year’s Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards recognised the steadfast resolve of award-winning managers and firms who successfully navigated one of the sharpest market downturns and recoveries on record, enabling investors to maintain a level of economic confidence amid a backdrop of uncertainty.
“In a year that endured the impacts of an unprecedented global humanitarian crisis, in which markets reflected investors’ emotions of shock and optimism, there was a degree of solace in having one’s financial fortunes overseen by the stewardship of professional money managers.
“The winners of the Refinitiv Lipper Find Awards for Switzerland 2021 deserve recognition for their exceptional work in mitigating substantial risks while delivering superior returns.”
Exclusive media partner coverage, Fundplat
View the winner coverage, interviews and industry insights from Fundplat, exclusive media partner for the 2021 Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards for Switzerland.
Messages from the winners
This year’s award winners share what their award means for their firm and clients.
Aberdeen Standard Investments
“Being awarded represents an excellent opportunity to share overall recognition with the investment management teams for their hard and excellent work within our industry.
“With a steadily increasing competitive landscape in the fund industry, it is more and more important to demonstrate steadiness in brand and performance excellence, and proven and robust track records, alongside strategies that meet investors’ appetites and expectations irrespective of whether it is a private banking or institutional point of view.
“The Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards represent a longstanding, well-perceived reputation in our Swiss home market and I am extremely happy and honoured that Aberdeen Standard Investments is part of this year’s success story and has received well-deserved recognition.”
Karsten-Dirk Steffens, Head of Distribution Switzerland, Aberdeen Standard Investments
Assenagon
“The Lipper Award for the Assenagon Multi Asset Conservative is the outcome of hard teamwork since 2015 at Assenagon, combined with expertise of almost 20 years in the multi-asset universe.
“The risk-return profile in particular reflects our main goal at Assenagon – to offer an outstanding product for a trustful and long-term investment.”
Thomas Romig, Head of Multi Asset, Assenagon
AXA Investment Managers
“We are very proud that Lipper has recognised our expertise across fixed income and Swiss equities at AXA IM.
“The Lipper Awards highlight the robustness of our investment process and provide independent recognition of our success in delivering good client outcomes. Coming so early in the year, they provide a strong foundation for us to build on in 2021, particularly with our exciting plans for Responsible Investment.
“On behalf of everyone at AXA IM, I would like to thank Lipper for these awards and their acknowledgment of the hard work done by our fixed income and equity teams for investors.”
André Thali, Head Client Group DACH
Banque Cantonale de Geneve
“Banque Cantonale de Geneve is truly honoured to receive a 2021 Refinitiv Lipper Fund Award for the Synchrony (LU) Swiss All Caps (CHF) A.
“Winning this award is a confirmation that our high-conviction approach of selecting companies makes sense and, most importantly, creates long-term value for our clients.”
Bruce Crochat, CFA, Vice President, Head of Institutional Portfolio Management, Banque Cantonale de Geneve
Bellevue Asset Management
“2020 was the year of health. The Coronavirus pandemic moved the healthcare sector into the focus of investors. We are very pleased that we, as a healthcare investment specialist, were able to repeatedly generate added value for our investors.”
Marcel Fritsch, Portfolio Manager, Bellevue Asset Management
Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management
“We’re delighted to win this award, which is testament to the hard work and dedication of our investment teams.
“We are very fortunate that the fund benefits from the input of our team of experienced investment professionals, in what truly is a collaborative effort across the whole of Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management.
“For our clients, we hope that this award serves as independent recognition that we continue to do all we can to deliver exemplary performance based on an investment process which is rigorous, robust and repeatable.”
Justin Oliver, Deputy CIO and Lead Fund Manager, CGWM Affinity Fund, Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management
Credit Suisse Group
“We are very proud of having been recognised by the Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards in consecutive years. The awards are an industry-wide accepted and objective measure of our capability to deliver consistent investment performance to our clients. Thank you very much!”
Simon Götschmann, Fund Manager, Credit Suisse
DPAM
“We are delighted to have received two Lipper Fund Awards, which recognise the outstanding performances of our Eurozone equity strategy and our unconstrained global bonds strategy.
“These awards clearly showcase the success of DPAM’s three key pillars: ‘Active Sustainable Research’. Going forward, we will work tirelessly to maintain and develop our expertise, know-how and commitment to excellence.”
Hugo Lasat, CEO, DPAM
Earth Resource Investment Group
“The Lipper Fund Award is a very prestigious award for our team in Earth Resource Investment Group and for our clients. It demonstrates the superior returns that have been delivered to our clients in the precious metals sector over the past 13 years since inception, and it acknowledges the level of passion and expertise which we put into our work.
“I think that it also demonstrates the importance of combining the practical experience in mining/geology with extensive financial markets experience in identifying those companies that will outperform.”
Georges Lequime, Senior Investment Advisor, Earth Resource Investment Group
Eyb & Wallwitz
“Established in 2004, our company has proven to be a reliable partner for established institutional clients in German-speaking countries and is now one of the largest independent asset managers in Germany.
“For our team, Winning a Refinitiv Lipper Fund Award means that their hard work, dedication and passion has paid out. For our clients, it is a confirmation that their money is in the right place. Such a well-known and respected award shows to our clients and the industry that Eyb & Wallwitz can deliver a high and solid quality over a long-term period in respect to all required criteria.
“This award has been one of the highest respected awards in the industry for many years.”
Uwe Diehl, Head of Sales, Eyb & Wallwitz
Heptagon Capital
“Lipper is one of the most used databases among our client base and the award should therefore come with a high recognition factor. Winning the award signals that Driehaus, through partnership with Heptagon, offers investors access to robust investment capabilities and the ability to meet our investors’ investment objectives.”
Jeff James, Lead Portfolio Manager, Heptagon Capital
IFP Investment Management
“IFP Investment Management is thrilled to have won two Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards this year, for its three-year and ten-year performance in its IFP Global Environment Fund for the absolute return category.
“Being able to win a Lipper Fund Award two years in a row with a new double award this year means a lot to us, and even more in these exceptional times that we all live. The Lipper Fund Award represents one of the, if not the most, recognised awards in our industry and that, of course, gives us a lot of pride.
“Winning again rewards our hard work and the passion we put into it. The IFP Global Environment has quite a unique approach, with its asset allocation on different sub-sectors related to the environment coupled with a sustainability risks approach that has been used since its launch in 2009, and its environmental objectives.
“We really hope that this Refinitiv Lipper Fund Award will increase both the awareness of this beautiful sustainable fund and the growth that the IFP Global Environment Fund deserves.
“I also want to thank the team behind me that helped IFP Investment Management accomplish this achievement.”
Pamela Zell, Director, IFP Investment Management SA
Janus Henderson Investors
“We are delighted to have been recognised by Refinitiv, with a number of awards highlighting our expertise across all major asset classes. These awards demonstrate our commitment to delivering on our strategy of simple excellence by producing dependable investment outcomes for our clients.”
Fedor Plambeck, Director of Sales Switzerland, Janus Henderson Investors
JMS Invest
“It is an honour and at the same time a great pleasure for us to be recognised and rewarded for our passion. The first year of the pandemic was a test for every long/short strategy, and the disruptions in the real economy led to huge volatility in markets and to tangible advantages for fundamental strategies.
“We worked hard to continue the successful 12-year track record and are thrilled by the fact that our success is now rewarded by this prestigious Lipper Fund Award.”
JMS Invest
Mobiliar
“Winning the Refinitiv Lipper Award confirms the success of our long-term and active investment approach.
“With the compact MobiFonds range of funds, we have now won our sixth Refinitiv Lipper Fund Award within the last four years. This serves as proof of our ability to offer our customers excellent funds.
“The award provides renewed confirmation for our customers and the sector that our approach (active and responsible investment, security over return and a focus on quality) offers the aspired to added value in the long term.”
Thomas Läng, Head of Asset Allocation & Equities, Schweizerische Mobiliar Asset Management AG
Muzinich & Co
“We are proud recipients of the 2021 Lipper Fund Award in the Best Bond Global Short Term category over three years. We believe this award highlights our expertise in income generation and focusing on delivering risk-adjusted returns for our clients, underpinned by our capital preservation mindset.”
Tatjana Greil-Castro, Portfolio manager of the Muzinich Enhanced Yield Bond Fund, Muzinich & Co
NN Investment Partners
“We are honoured to receive fours awards from Refinitiv Lipper and are very grateful for the trust and confidence our Swiss clients and partners place in us.
“As a pioneer in EMD investing, NN IP has helped investors navigate shifting market conditions for over 28 years. Our investment process has been tested in virtually every environment.
“In the USA, the NN IP partnership with Voya Investment Management not only speaks about the consistency of our investment process but also about the strong culture of collaboration in our teams.
“It is these partnerships across the world that set us apart from our competitors. It truly is a team effort to deliver consistent results for our clients over a complete cycle.”
Joep Huntjens, Head of Asian Fixed Income, Marcin Adamczyk, Head of Emerging Market Debts, and Leo Hu, Co-Lead Portfolio Manager, NN Investment Partners, and Anil Katarya, Global Head of Investment Grade Credit, Voya Investment Management
Nordea Asset Management
“We are truly honoured to receive these prestigious awards from Lipper and to be recognised among our peers for the strong risk-adjusted performance of two of our Emerging Markets solutions.
“Putting risk at the heart of our investment process has allowed us to deliver consistent returns over time for our clients. We continuously work with their needs in mind, and being acknowledged by the industry for our day-to-day work is truly gratifying.”
José Machi, Head of Institutional and Wholesale Distribution, Switzerland, Nordea Asset Management
Pharus
“Within the current asset management industry, which is very crowded and hit hard by times of crisis such as that of 2020, it is doubly proud for Pharus to compete and win the Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards 2021 Switzerland for one of our flagship funds.
“Receiving this award from a reputable company like Refinitiv increases Pharus’ prestige and brand reputation.
“Pharus Sicav Conservative is a historical sub-fund. Launched in 2007, it is an unmissable evergreen in investors’ portfolios. The experience and skills of the management team, a consolidated investment process, careful stock picking, combined with the skilful use of diversification and decorrelation, have always allowed it to obtain positive returns, as well as the first places in the rankings among balanced funds.
“This award confirms the value of this product and our reality, makes us proud of our daily teamwork, and encourages us to continue on the path of innovation.”
Stefano Reali, Fund Manager, Pharus
Seilern Investment Management
“We are pleased that our fund, Seilern Global Trust – which was registered in Switzerland only in autumn 2020 – could qualify directly for the highly respected Lipper Fund Awards in all categories, for the 3-, 5- and 10-year periods, within a group of 112 funds (for the 3-year period).
“Although available in Switzerland only for a few months, the ’10 Golden Rules’ that are the basis of our investment strategy were defined more than 30 years ago, around the same time when Lipper first honoured fund managers with their prestigious awards for consistently strong risk-adjusted performance.”
Michael Faherty and Marco Lo Blanco, Portfolio Managers, and Karl D. Safft, Investment Specialist and Sales D-A-CH, Seilern Investment Management
Quaero Capital
“Quaero Capital is very proud of the Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards. It is a strong recognition of the commitment we make to investment excellence and sustainable investing in the interests of our clients.”
Jean Keller, CEO, Quaero Capital
Quantex
“Quantex – no nonsense.”
Peter Zeier, CEO, Quantex
Swan Asset Management
“I’m very honoured that our fund managers have been recognised by Refinitiv Lipper for the results obtained in the last five years. This is a strong validation of the Swan AM investment philosophy and approach to global credit markets, which is committed to efficiency through the generation of excess returns combined with low volatility.
“Strict adherence to our principles and careful credit selection will continue to be pillars of our methodology, with the goal to create value for our investors.”
Enrico Angella, President, Swan Asset Management SA
Union Bancaire Privée
“We are delighted to have received a Refinitiv Lipper Fund Award for two of our distinctive strategies and particularly on UBAM – Global High Yield Solution’s 10th anniversary.
“With this fund, our goal is to deliver consistently strong, risk-adjusted performance for our clients and this award recognises this achievement.
“We are also very proud of this first win for UBAM – Angel Japan Small Cap Equity. Japan is an important market for UBP and together with our local partner Angel, we intend to continue to seek out the most innovative and fastest-growing small companies.”
Nicolas Faller, Co-CEO Asset Management, Union Bancaire Privée
UTI Asset Management
“The Refinitiv Lipper Award is a reflection of our investment philosophy and the processes that we have followed assiduously at UTI, and which we will continue to follow to generate sustainable wealth for our clients around the globe.”
Ajay Tyagi, Portfolio Manager , UTI Asset Management Company Ltd.
VTB Capital Investments
“We are honoured to be recognised as a top performing fund by Lipper. The award is validation of our high performance and further evidence of our team’s strong dedication and talent as the leading Russia-dedicated active manager.”
Vladimir Potapov, CEO, VTB Capital Investments
Vontobel
“The awards are a testament to our passion for high conviction active management and the strong performance culture inherent in our specialised and talented investment teams.
“As investors, our mission is clear: we aim to create added value for our clients and are committed to pursuing this objective with discipline and transparency. The active approach employed by our portfolio managers enables them to exploit investment opportunities, which is vitally important in this low-yield environment. We support independent thought, strong convictions and a forward-looking mindset.
“Thank you for these awards, Refinitiv,”
Simon Lue-Fong, Head of Fixed Income, Vontobel
Zuger Kantonalbank
“Receiving the Refinitiv Lipper Fund Award highlights the fact that Zuger Kantonalbank achieves an outstanding performance in asset management with a small, skilled team.
“Short decision-making paths, team spirit and a high level of commitment across all team members are reflected in above-average risk-adjusted investment returns for our clients. The award motivates us to keep going the extra mile in the funds business.
“The award is recognition for Zuger Kantonalbank’s high level of professionalism in investment business. On the one hand, it confirms to our clients that they have the right financial partner at their side. And on the other, it gives our investment products a higher profile in the marketplace.”
Alex Muller, Chief Investment Officer, Zuger Kantonalbank
Disclaimer:
The Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards, granted annually, highlight funds and fund companies that have excelled in delivering consistently strong risk-adjusted performance relative to their peers.
The Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards are based on the Lipper Leader for Consistent Return rating, which is a risk-adjusted performance measure calculated over 36, 60 and 120 months. The fund with the highest Lipper Leader for Consistent Return (Effective Return) value in each eligible classification wins the Refinitiv Lipper Fund Award. For more information, see lipperfundawards.com Although Refinitiv Lipper makes reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained herein, the accuracy is not guaranteed by Refinitiv Lipper.
