Rokos Capital Management, the $22bn macro hedge fund founded by Chris Rokos, is preparing to raise management and performance fees for clients — a move that underscores the intensifying cost pressures in an industry increasingly shaped by a bidding war for talent, according to a report by Bloomberg.

The report cites unnamed sources familiar with the matter as revealing that the London-based firm has informed investors it will incrementally raise its management fee by 75 basis points over the next three years, reaching 2.75%. Simultaneously, performance fees will rise from 20% to 25% over the same period.

Investors unwilling to accept the revised fee structure have been offered the option to redeem, though no redemptions have occurred to date, according to a firm representative.

The decision reflects Rokos Capital’s strategy to remain competitive by heavily investing in talent, research, and trading infrastructure. The firm delivered a 12.3% return in H1 2025, following a strong double-digit performance in 2024.

The move comes as elite hedge funds shift toward fee structures that better reflect their rising operational costs, especially those tied to recruitment and retention of star traders. While traditional "2 and 20" fee models are still standard, firms like Rokos – and multi-strategy giants such as Millennium and Citadel – are increasingly justifying premium pricing by emphasising differentiated alpha generation and institutional-scale platforms.

Two years ago, Marshall Wace introduced a “compensation surcharge” of up to 0.75% of fund assets, citing the need to remain competitive in the market for top-tier talent. Similarly, Rokos' fee hike suggests that macro-focused managers are now feeling the same pressure to match the pay scales and resource depth of multi-strategy rivals.