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SEB: Best Prime Broker – Although client interaction has increased through the shift to virtual working, the importance of relationships in the hedge fund business means physical meetings remain critical.
“When things normalise I think we will see a mix of physical and digital interaction, especially now that everyone has learnt to use digital tools efficiently,” suggests Fredrik Beyer (pictured), Head of Sales and Origination, SEB Prime Finance, “The pandemic has completely changed the way we interact with clients. Setting up quick meetings with clients has become easier, thus increasing client interaction. However, we still believe this is a relationship business
One Ten Associates: Best Hedge Fund Recruitment Firm – The pandemic has changed the way fund managers recruit professionals. The industry has embraced the new, virtual way of working and post-lockdowns the majority of the process will continue to be performed through video conferencing, meeting only end-stage candidates face-to-face.
Linedata: Best Data Management Solution – Existing in a constantly evolving environment means that the ability to be nimble and capture value when it presents itself is a differentiator in the world of hedge funds. Technology is a driver in this as it supports managers getting value faster.
“Speed is key. No one wants a two-year implementation project when they need to pivot their business quickly to capture an opportunity, or to deal with a new regulation. When we reimagined our Asset Management Platform – AMP, we looked through this client lens and built solutions that can be delivered quickly and
AlternativeSoft: Best Risk Management Software Provider – In the year since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, investors and managers have had to grapple with shifting due diligence processes to virtual platforms. This has driven innovation among service providers who sought to ensure their clients’ operations remained smooth.
One such example is AlternativeSoft. The firm has built a due diligence exchange software where the hedge funds and allocators can share due diligence questionnaires, returns for their own investment series, exposures by geographies / sectors, fund fact sheets and investment memorandum in a web format.
Launched in March 2021, the firm’s Due Diligence
BMLL Technologies: Best Data Science Solution Provider – An increasing number of market participants are depending on more granular quality data to improve alpha generation and manage risk exposures. This results in new resource and cost challenges which many are alleviating by looking at alternatives to building these systems in house and buying-in data and analytics capabilities from third parties.
Crestbridge: Best Regulatory Advisory & Compliance Firm – The alternative funds industry has continued to see a shift from unregulated structures to funds, a trend which is expected to persist. With increased scrutiny from regulators, managers will have to invest in additional resources covering for independent control functions.
“Managing the increased regulatory requirements alongside growing operations are the primary challenges the industry is facing. Increasing regulatory and substance requirements are making asset management operations more expensive to run and compressing margins,” details Daniela Klasén-Martin, Group Head of ManCo Services, Crestbridge, “In order to manage growing operations in line with the regulator’s
Arcesium: Best Treasury Management Solution Provider – As the dust settled following the initial surge of the Covid-19 pandemic, many hedge funds began re-evaluating their internal infrastructure and operations. As more look to centralise their technology infrastructure, there is now renewed interest in understanding how to best leverage technology within their business.
Sanne: Best Administrator – Hedge funds reinforced their value as risk managers in times of volatility and market shocks. Their position in the market will be further strengthened as market intelligence shows investors most likely will be increasing their allocation to these funds.
RFA: Best Cybersecurity Provider – The past year highlighted the importance of tenacity alongside the agility to absorb shocks and respond rapidly to new ways of working. In addition, the drive to build sustainability into a business has also come to the fore.
“It takes strong resilience and resourcefulness to sustain great performance in challenging times, and to keep going when the outlook is not very positive. I think the people at RFA have shown this,” reflects George Ralph, Global Managing Director and CRO of RFA.
The firm’s client assigned IT managers and remote support engineers faced the greatest challenge in
FIS: Best Fund Accounting & Reporting Software – The past year has seen the role of the technology service provider evolve from a more transactional function to a coveted consultative partner.
