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

Wedbush Fund Advisers, HANetf
Wedbush Fund Advisers and HANetf, an independent provider of UCITS exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have launched the Dan IVES Wedbush AI Revolution UCITS ETF. The ETF gives European investors access to 30 companies at the heart of the AI revolution, based on research by Dan Ives of Yorkville Ives & Co. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange, Xetra and Borsa Italiana.

The US-listed Dan IVES Wedbush AI Revolution ETF (IVES) surpassed $1 billion in assets under management in under five months from launch, the firm said in a statement. The strategy targets AI infrastructure and deployment across semiconductors, hyperscalers, cybersecurity, consumer platforms, robotics and cloud infrastructure.

The launch is Wedbush Fund Advisers’ first product on the HANetf platform.

“Since launching IVES in the US, we have seen strong demand for direct, research-driven access to the companies powering the AI revolution. We are pleased to partner with HANetf to offer European investors that same access through a UCITS ETF, and we look forward to building on this momentum,” Cullen Rogers, chief investment officer, Wedbush Fund Advisers, said.

A number of firms have been continuing their expansion into ETFs, for example, Amundi, Schroders, Pictet Asset Management, Invesco, and Franklin Templeton. See here.

State Street Investment Management, Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Management
State Street Investment Management and Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Management are introducing two active exchange-traded funds focused on US small caps and Europe ex-UK small caps. The ETFs are being launched as part of the strategic partnership between Van Lanschot Kempen and State Street IM.

The new ETFs, named the State Street Kempen US Small Cap Active Equity UCITS ETF and the State Street Kempen Europe ex-UK Small Cap Active Equity UCITS ETF, will be established within State Street IM’s existing ETF umbrella and will be sub-advised by Van Lanschot Kempen.

Small-cap equities are attracting growing interest from European investors, the firm said in a statement. The new active ETFs will each provide exposure to a portfolio of small-cap companies based on Van Lanschot Kempen’s fundamental investment approach. 

The launch of the ETFs continues the expansion of State Street IM’s active ETF range, which has grown significantly over the last year in keeping with the evolving needs of its clients. For Van Lanschot Kempen, the active ETF range extends its franchise and offers investors an efficient and transparent way to access its expertise in US and European small-cap stocks.

The strategies bring together Van Lanschot Kempen’s active small-cap investment expertise and State Street IM’s global ETF platform, extensive distribution network, and scale. The ETFs will be Article 8 funds under the EU’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) and will integrate sustainability characteristics into the investment process.

Octopus Energy
As the energy transition accelerates, Octopus Energy is helping to speed up the transition in Asia. It is launching a new fund to turbocharge low-cost, homegrown renewables, starting with a first investment in the Philippines.

The Octopus Asia Electrification Fund (OAEF) will invest in local green energy developers to help them build out large numbers of clean energy projects. It is managed by Octopus’ generation arm which has over $11 billion renewables projects worldwide, the firm said in a statement.

The fund is also an Article 9 fund under the EU’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), which means that making a positive impact is at its core.

Octopus said it aims to catalyse $600 million from institutional investors to get these projects built, helping to cut reliance on expensive fossil fuels and protect customers from energy price shocks. The fund is already backed by $50 million from Japanese investors.

Announced at COP31 in Antalya, Turkey, taking place from 9 to 20 November, the fund's first investment is in Octali Energy Development, a solar and storage developer based in Manila, marking Octopus' first move into the Philippines. See more here about COP31 in which Jean-Philippe Desmartin at Edmond de Rothschild Asset Management says why he is optimistic about progress being made in investment in the energy transition.

Working with Octali’s team on the ground, Octopus will help develop their targeted 450 MW of solar and 350 MWh of battery storage. These projects could generate enough clean electricity to power more than 300,000 Philippine homes every year by 2030.

This comes as polluting coal still makes up more than 60 per cent of the country’s electricity, while 98 per cent of its oil imports are from the Middle East. The Iran war exposed many South East Asian countries’ reliance on imported fossil fuels. With the region’s energy demand soaring, renewables could help meet this demand and boost energy security.

As well as the Philippines, the fund will target opportunities in markets including Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam. Alongside solar, onshore wind and storage, it will also explore microgrids, electric vehicle charging and other energy transition technology.

The launch is the latest step in Octopus Energy Generation's wider Asia strategy with its Singapore-based team. It already manages around 2 GW of clean energy projects in development in Asia. These include deals with solar developers Yotsuya Energy in Japan and Skygreen Energy in South Korea, and offshore wind developer Deep Wind Offshore with projects in South Korea.

“Asia is at the heart of the global energy transition. Demand for electricity is soaring, and countries across the region want cheaper, homegrown power so families and businesses aren't at the mercy of volatile fossil fuel prices,” Zoisa North-Bond, CEO of Octopus Energy Generation, said. “Our first investment in the Philippines is an exciting step. We’re now combining our experience in renewable energy across the region with capital to help ambitious local developers scale, bring more clean power to consumers, and help build Asia’s clean energy future.”

“It’s fantastic to see British companies like Octopus leading the way around the world, unlocking hundreds of millions in investment in clean energy and creating new opportunities in fast-growing markets across Asia,” reindustrialisation minister Blair McDougall added.

Ardian
Ardian, a global private investment firm, has raised €1 billion ($1.12 billion) for Ardian Semiconductor, one of the first private equity strategies dedicated to the semiconductor value chain. The platform will invest across the semiconductor value chain, in particular in Europe, to enable companies to grow into global leaders in their markets, the firm said in a statement.

The €1 billion platform has close to €700 million of fund commitments alongside co-investments. The successful fundraise reflects strong investor demand for a specialist strategy targeting scalable companies in growing segments of the semiconductor industry, at a time when AI adoption and the strategic importance of semiconductor supply chains are accelerating globally.

Ardian Semiconductor combines detailed analysis of technology megatrends with disciplined asset selection focused on non-cyclical value creation drivers. It is positioned around an active pipeline of opportunities, primarily in Europe, as well as North America and Asia.

The platform has been created as AI is reshaping demand throughout the semiconductor industry. Global semiconductor sales exceeded $1 trillion in the first eight months of 2026, a level previously not expected before 2030, the firm continued. The market is now forecast to reach about $1.6 trillion in 2026 and about $2.5 trillion by 2030. Growth is also broadening beyond advanced processors and memory. AI data centres require more specialised semiconductors as power delivery, interconnect and testing have become new bottlenecks. Physical AI, through smart vehicles, robotics and AI-enabled devices, will extend this demand further.

“Semiconductors are a highly specialised market where expertise is critical to identifying the strongest opportunities. We are delighted to have already invested in VSORA, centrotherm, Synergie Cad and Ion Beam Services, four companies that span key links of the semiconductor value chain, from AI chip design to production and test equipment,” Lise Fauconnier, co-head of Ardian semiconductor and senior managing director at Ardian, said.