Why ESG will be even more important in a post COVID-19 world

This week on our AWM video and podcast series the PwC experts Dr. Jean-Claude Spillmann (Director, Head AWM and Banking Regulatory) and Erol Baruh (Legal Counsel, Regulatory & Compliance Specialist) give us an "back to the office" regulatory update. The Financial Services Act and the Financial Institutions Act have a major impact on the Swiss regulatory landscape for the AWM industry. In particular, many asset managers and trustees are expected to apply in the next months for a FINMA license for the first time. In order to ensure a timely and efficient implementation, the experts tell you the answers to the most important questions you need to consider. 

During the first half year of 2020 there was a broad decline on earnings of asset managers. Costs became top of the agenda of Swiss Asset Managers, but what is changing with COVID-19? In this week's AWM video Utz Helmuth Director and Member of the Management Team at Strategy& will discuss strategies to master this challenge.

The Principality of Liechtenstein is as much affected by the COVID-19 crisis as any other country. However, Liechtenstein has no national debt, therefore the economic damage to the country will be limited compared to other countries. But how is Liechtenstein’s asset management industry affected? And why is Liechtenstein attracting assets in these turbulent times? This and other questions will be answered in this weeks AWM video by Claudio Tettamanti, Martin Meyer and Simon Bandi from PwC Lichtenstein.

Why is the COVID-19 crisis impacting the PE industry and how is it different to the 2008 crisis? As the COVID-19 situation leads to a crisis in the "real economy", the PE industry may be affected more significantly than in 2008 in the industry sectors that are suffering especially from the lockdown measures. Watch this weeks AWM video or podcast to hear our PwC experts Adrian Keller, Maja Baiocco and Dimitri Senik that talk about on what issues the PE investors should be alerted to. Watch our video or listen to the podcast to learn more.

Clear client segmentation is key to survive nowadays within the asset and wealth managed industry. Especially in times of COVID-19, it’s important to understand the client's needs, and create a personalised experience for them. In this week's episode, Marcel Tschanz and Nadia Mouzo share their thoughts on how asset and wealth managers should be more client-centric, in order to differentiate themselves from others.

Will a post-pandemic world be less sustainable? Will ESG become even more important after the crisis? This and other questions will be answered in the second episode of Stephan Hirschi. In the video and podcast he will talk about how the regulation is still evolving and why you have to monitor these developments, how important is is to define ambitions that allow to remain competitive in the market, and how ESG also needs to become a key element in building trust towards your clients and stakeholders overall. ESG remains a key element in the financial services sector to be considered now in a COVID-19 world and in the future.

Even when the overall effects of the crisis are still difficult to estimate and the associated feeling of uncertainty is impacting the real estate market, there is one topic that has kept our real estate clients busy – cash collection. Even though lock-down is over, this topic will not disappear and the insecurity about it’s long-term impact is still here. On the other side, there are several capital increases planned for the next couple of months, which gives positive signs on the upcoming market activity.

Welcome to the Asset and Wealth Management podcast series, the ultimate guide to the latest insights and trends every week in three minutes. Our experts across the globe will cover topics in the industry to give you the 360° perspective of the most pressing topics that the industry is currently facing.
 

The experts will have a look on the main asset classes such as traditional funds / ETF, HF/PE and Real Estate / Infrastructure, with always the same objectives:
 

1. Keeping you posted on the latest trends and how the industry, already grappling with fee competition, rising costs and consolidation, will navigate post COVID-19
    
2. Sharing insights and market views from PwC specialists across the globe on topics such as PE valuation in times of COVID-19, why we believe ESG would matter even more post COVID-19, how can COVID-19 be an opportunity to reduce cost and many other matters that are closed to you.