Barclays Capital and HFR Asset Management, LLC, (HFR) have announced the launch of a managed accounts relationship. The combined effort brings together HFR Group’s market leading managed account platform and client tools with Barclays Capital’s extensive distribution, structuring and fund-linked product expertise.
Under the arrangement, Barclays Capital will be able to offer its clients risk management and financing solutions linked to managed accounts on the HFR platform through a variety of bespoke delivery mechanisms including UCITS funds, certificates, notes, swaps and unit trusts. With more than 1,000 hedge fund strategies available, the HFR platform provides access to leading hedge fund managers while mitigating some of the risks associated with direct investing. The agreement builds on Barclays’ expertise in alternative investments and the services it provides to asset managers across securities, derivatives and structured solutions.
“As investors increasingly focus on the importance of transparency and liquidity, this relationship with HFR enables us to offer customised solutions to institutional investors with the full benefits of one of the leading platforms,” says Art Mbanefo, Head of Equities and Funds Structured Markets. “By combining our structuring expertise and client relationships with HFR’s robust infrastructure and industry benchmarks, we are able to offer a broad range of managed account solutions.”
HFR’s industry-leading platform offers clients the ability to segregate assets, access daily independent pricing and review manager due diligence. The platform also provides extensive reporting across portfolio and risk management as well as the ability to regularly monitor investments. Through the Hedge Fund Research database, the company tracks more than 6600 funds and provides more than 100 hedge fund indices which are used as benchmarks throughout the industry.
“HFR has experienced considerable growth given the demand for transparency and liquidity offered by managed accounts. The launch of this new initiative is a natural extension of our existing, long standing relationship with Barclays Capital. We are delighted to offer Barclays Capital’s clients the advantages of managed accounts,” says Joe Nicholas (pictured), HFR founder.
Barclays Capital is a global leader in structured investments. The firm was recognised as the Most Innovative Bank for Retail Structured Products by The Banker magazine in October 2010, and Structured Products magazine named the firm Equity Derivatives House of the Year in November 2010. Barclays Capital has over 90 ETNs listed globally, more than any other investment bank, and is the leading ETN provider in the US with approximately 60% market share and USUSD10bn assets under management (Bloomberg, Q1 2011).
