Performance remains a central consideration when selecting an investment fund. Yet the ability to attract capital also depends on decisions made before the first investment: where the fund is domiciled, how its management is organised and which distribution networks will connect it with investors.
For alternative investment managers, structuring and distribution are integral to investment strategy. The choice of jurisdiction influences operations and costs, while access to different investor groups requires suitable products, partnerships and an understanding of local marketing rules.
These connections will be explored through the participation of Steve Sabatier, AIFM Managing Director & Conducting Officer at Chenavari Investment Managers, Luxembourg, at the 12th International Funds Summit. The event takes place on 16 November 2026 at Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Limassol, under the theme “The European Alternative Funds Landscape.”
Sabatier brings experience in establishing and operating cross-border investment structures. He created the Chenavari Group’s alternative investment fund manager in Luxembourg, relocating there in 2017 after seven years with the group in London as General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer.
Before joining Chenavari, he spent 13 years working in derivatives and alternative asset management, holding positions at AXA Investment Managers and Société Générale. His career combines legal and operational expertise with an understanding of complex financial products — a relevant perspective for managers building and expanding international fund businesses.
The Summit session will focus on raising capital across different markets and investor segments. Institutional investors and private wealth channels have distinct requirements concerning investment duration, liquidity, reporting and subscription processes. Reaching them effectively requires a distribution strategy that aligns the product’s characteristics with the appropriate investor base.
Partnerships with platforms and placement specialists, alongside the role of semi-liquid and evergreen structures, will form part of this discussion. The central consideration is how managers can broaden access to capital while maintaining consistency between investor expectations and the underlying investment strategy.
Meanwhile, AIFMD II places operational planning within a broader regulatory discussion. The session will examine liquidity management, reporting, delegation and substance requirements, together with their implications for managers’ business models. For firms establishing new vehicles or reviewing existing arrangements, these considerations are closely connected to operational effectiveness and costs.
Domicile selection is another consequential decision. Luxembourg, Ireland, Cyprus and other European centres will feature in the discussion of jurisdictional competition. Relevant considerations include structuring flexibility, regulatory responsiveness, tax and operational factors, and access to specialist service providers.
For Cyprus, the opportunity lies in strengthening its position as a base for investment strategies with European and international reach. Access to investors in the Middle East and other non-EU markets adds another dimension, requiring an understanding of different regulatory frameworks and investor requirements.
For fund managers, lawyers, advisers and fund services professionals, Sabatier’s participation offers an opportunity to assess these decisions through the experience of an executive who has helped establish and operate international investment structures.
The 12th International Funds Summit provides a forum for examining how investment propositions reach capital providers. As managers prepare their strategies for 2027, their ability to connect a compelling proposition with the appropriate structure, jurisdiction and distribution network will be an important determinant of fundraising success.
For more information and registration, click here.
Event Details
Organisers: Cyprus Investment Funds Association (CIFA) and Invest Cyprus
Coordinator: IMH
Gold Sponsors: Athlos Capital, Bank of Cyprus, Eurobank Cyprus, KPMG Cyprus, PwC Cyprus
Silver Sponsors: Alpha Bank, Alter Domus
Supporters: Association of Cyprus Banks (ACB), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), Cyprus Bar Association, CFA Society Cyprus, Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI), Cyprus Fiduciary Association (CYFA), The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus (ICPAC), The Institute of Internal Auditors Cyprus
Media Sponsors: IN Business magazine, CBN portal, GOLD magazine
Contact IMH:
Tel: +357 77777741
Email: events@imhbusiness.com
Website: www.cyprusfundssummit.com
