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Cloud technology – The scale of a manager's IT infrastructure will largely depend on the type of trading strategy. A quantitative market neutral statistical arbitrage fund is likely going to spend more capital on front-office portfolio management, risk management systems and server storage capabilities than a specialist credit strategy that trades infrequently.
Either way, investors will expect the manager to have a well-oiled machine in place: well-established workflow processes, operational controls, and, as far as possible, front- to back-office system integration.
One of the most popular routes to establishing a sound technology infrastructure is to appoint an outsourced cloud provider. It
- 07/07/2016
- 07/07/2016
By Dean Hill, Executive Director, Eze Castle Integration – There is no shortage of threats to financial services firms, and the list of requirements from investors and regulators alike is growing at a rapid pace. As a startup, it's important to demonstrate to investors that you take your business seriously, hence, investments in operational excellence are required. On the cybersecurity front, that means leveraging technology infrastructure with robust, security-rich features including intrusion detection and ongoing traffic monitoring, regular vulnerability assessments and next-generation software, firewalls and patches to keep hackers out and firm assets secure.
But beyond technology safeguards, today's successful
- 07/07/2016
A recent survey by Preqin revealed that 60 per cent of hedge funds have less than USD100 million in AUM and that only five per cent of hedge fund flows go to funds operating below that AUM level.
There are now approximately 15,000 hedge funds in the industry, meaning investors are being bombarded by different funds every single day and thousands over the course of a year. They probably meet with 200 or so, engage in follow-up meetings with around 40 and allocate to two or three.
As such, there is one certainty that start-up managers can be sure of
- 07/07/2016
- 07/07/2016
There are a number of important considerations for a fund manager, especially a start-up, when it comes to selecting an onshore depositary to an onshore AIF. But before these are explored, it is perhaps worthwhile explaining exactly what the role of the depositary is under AIFMD, given that alternative fund managers have never had to use one before.
Safekeeping of the AIF’s assets
There are two parts to this. Firstly, providing custody of financial assets that are held directly by the depositary (i.e. stocks and bonds, options and futures). Secondly, performing record keeping and ownership verification of an AIF's assets,
- 07/07/2016
- 07/07/2016
There are a multitude of costs that a start-up alternative fund manager faces today, especially with respect to those looking to establish a hedge fund under AIFMD. From regulatory costs and waiting to receive FCA authorisation, to office and IT and staffing costs, the amount of burn capital that managers initially account for can rapidly disappear down the drain.
Which is why Linear Investments is proving to be a whole lot more than merely a boutique prime broker. In short, Linear has spent a number of years building out its trading and risk management systems to provide start-ups with a
- 07/07/2016
For those wishing to set up a standalone Alternative Investment Fund, getting the right service providers in place is crucial to the manager's long-term success and reputation. The following sections detail what to look for when it comes to appointing four key service providers:
• The Fund Administrator
• The third party AIFM
• The depositary
• The Prime Broker (for hedge funds).
Onshore depositary
"An AIFMD Depositary Bank is tasked with: oversight of assets, activity, and the manager; safekeeping of assets (where required); cash flow monitoring; strict liability for restoration of lost financial assets and reporting breaches. In short,
- 07/07/2016
- 07/07/2016
On 30 June 2016, the European Securities and Markets Authority ('ESMA') is expected to announce further details on the timing and the composition of the third country passport for the first wave of countries that include Guernsey, Jersey and Switzerland. This follows ESMA's announcement last summer that Guernsey had demonstrated the ability to satisfy the criteria required under AIFMD.
For Guernsey, being in the first wave is important for two reasons. Firstly, because it demonstrates that it has a strong regulatory framework in place and meets the OECD's tax transparency guidelines – both of which are significant if you are
- 07/07/2016
For start-up managers wishing to run an onshore European AIF, the compliance and regulatory complexities might, at first glance, appear overwhelming. There are significant reporting obligations under Annex IV and regulatory capital considerations, whilst risk management is far broader in scope, extending into every facet of a fund manager's operations.
Luckily, however, there are solutions in the market that remove the burden of acting as the AIFM to an AIF, which provide start-ups the option of using a so-called hosted third party provider. One such firm is London-based Lawson Conner, a market leader in investment management solutions for the alternative
- 07/07/2016
Such is the complexity of the regulatory landscape in Europe that it is enough for any new start-up manager to resemble Edvard Munch's `The Scream'. Alongside the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID), is the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) and just to add to the complexity, MiFID II is scheduled to go live in 2018.
At first glance, one could be forgiven for thinking it's all too complicated.
But there are numerous forks in the road available to start-ups, and indeed solutions that can make adapting to life as a regulated entity somewhat more palatable.
The first thing
- 07/07/2016
- 07/07/2016
By Dr Isabelle Agius, Senior Manager, MFSA Regulatory Development Unit – The transposition in Malta of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive1 ('AIFMD') strengthened the Maltese regulatory framework applicable to Alternative Investment Fund Managers ('AIFMs') and further reinforced the integrity of the financial system. Even though the AIFMD focussed on establishing a European framework aimed at regulating and supervising AIFMs, the Malta Financial Services Authority ('MFSA') went beyond the AIFMD and made provision for a structured framework for the regulation and supervision of Alternative Investment Funds ('AIFs').
Since July 2013, the authorisation and regulation of AIFs runs parallel with the
- 07/07/2016
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