GENEVA, September 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

SYZ Asset Management, the institutional arm of Swiss banking group SYZ & CO, announced today the arrival of Michael Clements as Head of European Equities. He will be heading up the London-based team of fund managers and analysts and will manage the OYSTER European Opportunities, OYSTER European Selection  and OYSTER Continental European Selection  funds. He is joined by Claire Manson, who will be taking over the management of the OYSTER European Mid & Small Cap  fund. Both were previously with Franklin Templeton. 

With a five-star fund (Morningstar rankings) and an AA in the Citywire ratings, Michael Clements holds a renowned franchise in European equities management. This success has been recognized by a strong influx of assets: the size of the fund he managed at Franklin Templeton increased ten times during his tenure, and the fund announced a "soft close" for new investors shortly prior to his departure.  

After six years with Franklin Templeton, Michael Clements has now been appointed Head of European Equities for SYZ Asset Management. Together with his team of London- and Edinburgh-based analysts and managers, he will be managing flagship funds OYSTER European Opportunities, OYSTER European Selection and OYSTER Continental European Selection. He is taking over the position from Eric Bendahan, who has chosen to follow new career opportunities after nine years spent at SYZ & CO.

Michael Clements's investment style is in line with that of the previous manager. His strategy is characterized by an active management style, with a focus on strong alpha generation based on a bottom-up approach, an absence of style or cap bias and strong convictions.

Claire Manson will be taking over the management of the OYSTER European Mid & Small Cap fund, replacing William Sharp. Claire Manson was part of Michael Clements' management team, having joined Franklin Templeton in 2009. She will be applying the same investment approach to small- and mid-caps.

"Michael Clements is one of those rare investors whose style rests on the management of convictions based on fundamental research. This approach is perfectly in line with our DNA and his results have been recognized by numerous awards," declared Eric Syz, CEO of SYZ Group and head of SYZ Asset Management.

"Claire Manson and I both found the entrepreneurial model and active management style of SYZ Asset Management particularly appealing," added Michael Clements.

Please check if the above-mentioned funds are registered in your country before considering this information. More information on:  http://www.oysterfunds.com   

For further information, please contact:

Notes to the Editor 

About SYZ Asset Management 

SYZ Asset Management is the institutional arm of the SYZ & CO Group. It provides traditional and alternative investment solutions to institutional investors such as pension funds, insurance companies, other companies and mutual funds. SYZ Asset Management meets the highest standards in terms of institutional asset management and client service through its proprietary resources in economic research and financial analysis as well as in portfolio and risk management.

About SYZ & CO 

Swiss banking group SYZ & CO was founded in 1996 and has established itself as a respected player in the financial sector through an original concept and a strong track record over several years. With a staff of 450 people and AuM of CHF35bn (EUR29bn), SYZ & CO focuses its activity exclusively on asset management. While its headquarters are located in Geneva, the Group also has offices in the rest of Switzerland - Zurich, Lugano and Locarno - and outside of Switzerland, in Milan, Madrid, London, Brussels, Luxembourg, Paris, Nassau and Hong Kong. The foundations of the Group's activities rest on two complementary cornerstones: high-end private banking and institutional asset management via mandates and investment funds.

http://www.syzgroup.com

About OYSTER Funds 

OYSTER is SYZ & CO's UCITS fund family, which was set up to meet the specific requirements of professional clients. With a clear focus on active management and performance, this Luxembourg SICAV is made up of 27 compartments which are licensed for distribution within and from Switzerland. It is also registered and distributed throughout various countries in Europe and in Asia via a widespread distribution network. In order to satisfy the needs of astute and demanding professional clients, SYZ & CO works with a combination of managers, both internal and external, who are among the best in the industry for the management of its OYSTER fund range. Furthermore, several of its strategies have achieved recognition by receiving international awards.

http://www.oysterfunds.com

Moreno Volpi

Head of Communications

Tel: +41-(0)58-799-16-98

E-mail : moreno.volpi@syzgroup.com

SOURCE SYZ Asset Management