The latest news in investment offerings, financial products and other services relevant to wealth advisors and their clients.

Aberdeen Investments
This week, Aberdeen Investments told its investors of its proposal to combine two of its real estate funds to create a flagship global real estate strategy with over £700 million ($954 million) under management.

The proposed merger would join the abrdn Real Estate Fund and abrdn Global Real Estate Fund, creating a larger, more diversified real estate solution for investors, the firm said in a statement.

The voting deadline is 30 October 2026, with the transaction expected to be completed on 13 November 2026, subject to investor approval. The proposal, which follows a review of Aberdeen's real estate fund range, is designed to simplify the fund offering while bringing together assets into a larger, more diversified vehicle.

Upon completion, investors would gain access to a high-conviction, research-led global real estate portfolio, combining direct property investments in the UK and international markets with a diversified allocation to global listed real estate securities, including REITs and listed property companies. The enhanced portfolio would broaden investors' direct real estate exposure beyond the UK, providing access to a wider opportunity set across global real estate markets while maintaining Aberdeen's active, research-driven investment approach.

Aberdeen believes that a larger combined fund would offer investors the benefits of greater diversification, increased scale and enhanced flexibility in managing liquidity, while maintaining exposure to the long-term opportunities available across global real estate markets.

The merger comes after the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has stated that it will consult on a framework for notice periods and other liquidity restrictions for funds with substantial direct real estate exposure.

"We welcome the FCA's focus on ensuring that fund liquidity arrangements remain aligned with the underlying assets held on behalf of investors,” Euan Anderson, investment director, real estate at Aberdeen Investments, said. "We believe that greater scale, diversification and liquidity management flexibility will be increasingly important going forward, which is reflected in our proposal to combine the abrdn Real Estate Fund and abrdn Global Real Estate Fund into a single flagship solution.”

The proposal also follows changes introduced in 2024 which repositioned the former abrdn UK Real Estate Fund as a hybrid strategy, combining direct property holdings with global indirect real estate investments, the firm continued. The current proposal would simplify the range by bringing together two funds that already share similar investment objectives, portfolio structures and risk profiles.

If approved, investors in the abrdn Real Estate Fund would receive equivalent holdings in the abrdn Global Real Estate Fund. Aberdeen expects ongoing charges for investors to remain unchanged or to be slightly lower following completion of the transaction.

Weatherbys Private Bank
Weatherbys Private Bank has enhanced its Lombard lending capabilities in a move that reflects a long-term commitment to combining a “people-first” ethos with technological innovation, it said in a statement.

The bank has always offered Lombard facilities, which allow clients to access funds secured against their existing investments, but it is now able to do so at a highly competitive rate. Subject to a portfolio being suitable for Lombard lending, Weatherbys will now charge an interest rate margin of 1.48 per cent above the Bank of England base rate.

“The arena of Lombard lending is undergoing significant tech-driven disruption at present, giving rise to a number of exciting opportunities,” Oliver Barnett, head of private clients, said. “Technology is making Lombard lending faster and more efficient, with real-time portfolio monitoring and dynamic risk management. By embracing such advances, we’re taking advantage of important innovations in this space while at the same time continuing to put our clients at the heart of everything we do.”

Lombard lending supports investors who require liquidity, for example, to seize business opportunities, meet tax liabilities or even reinvest further in their portfolios, while preserving their existing investment strategies.

As well as being available against investments under the bank’s own advice, one advantage of the Weatherbys Lombard lending offering is that clients are able to arrange facilities against portfolios managed elsewhere, without the inconvenience of changing investment managers or custodians.

“This new offering features not only what we consider very competitive terms but significant flexibility, and our incorporation of financial technology has played a substantial role in making that possible,” Barnett added. “We see this as attractive not just for our investment advice clients but also for other advisors in our market, who can support their clients in this way without any disruption to the provision of advice or the underpinning relationship.