Monthly Archives: October 2013

INDOS participates in “How to choose a depositary” web discussion

INDOS Financial’s Bill Prew participated in a COO Connect group discussion alongside senior representatives from the Citigroup and JPMorgan trustee/ depositary businesses, Deutsche Bank Prime Finance, the law firm Dechert and the data services business, Thomas Murray.  The discussion focussed on considerations for hedge fund managers when considering their AIFMD depositary or depositary-lite solution. A full video replay is available on the COO Connect website (link below) and a full transcript will be available soon.

The video can be viewed by clicking here.

Exploring AIFMD Depositary-Lite with ADI

In this article published in the October 2013 edition of Alternative Domicile Intelligence magazine, Bill Prew explains the AIFMD depositary-lite regime, timing considerations for EU managers of non-EU funds, the different depositary-lite models which are emerging, and a number of considerations for managers, investors and fund directors when considering how best to comply with these new requirements.

We highlight frustration on the part of many managers with the lack of clarity and terms of offerings from many established depositary businesses, why independence and transparency is important and why, if implemented well, depositary-lite will add real value to investors.

At Indos Financial, we are now substantially ready to commence providing independent oversight services to funds. Contract terms and a detailed due diligence questionnaire are available for review to any fund wishing to consider our services and we would be pleased to meet to discuss how pragmatic and flexible solution will add value.

The full article can be downloaded by clicking on this link: ADI-Depository-Light-Article

Depositary-Lite: It’s more expensive to be single

Following the introduction of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD), UK and other EU hedge fund managers who wish to market their non-EU, offshore hedge funds to EU investor through private placement will need to comply with the so-called Depositary-Lite regime.  This requires managers to ensure one or more firms are appointed to perform the depositary duties of safe keeping of assets, cash flow monitoring and oversight.  Two fundamentally different depositary-lite models have emerged: single or multiple firm. 

“We see clear advantages to a multiple-firm model over the single model and believe most managers will have a strong preference for the multiple model,” said Bill Prew, CEO of Indos in a recent discussion paper.  “While there are obvious benefits to depositaries offering the single model – including consistency of operations and higher potential returns [to the depositary], by far the majority of managers will have a strong preference for the multiple-firm model.”

“At Indos we have met over 40 London-based hedge fund managers, from large to small, over the past six weeks and we have yet to meet a firm which prefers the single model,” Bill Prew added.

The discussion paper points out key differences between the two depositary-lite models:

Many existing depositaries are proposing a ‘one stop’ solution whereby they will perform all three depositary-lite duties, which explains that the second model is where the duties are performed by a combination of existing prime brokers and custodians (safe keeping of instruments), existing administrators (cash flow monitoring and record keeping of other fund assets such as derivatives) and an oversight provider performing the oversight duties.

Depositary-lite compliance should largely be a pragmatic, flexible and cost-effective ‘plug and play’ solution. The main action for managers is to identify an appropriate firm to perform the oversight duties.

“The issue of cost-effectiveness is key,” said Bill Prew.  “In the multiple-firm model, funds really ought only to be paying for the oversight function.  This should start at 2 basis points reducing as assets grow and there are strong arguments that fees should be capped at a certain level depending on the complexity of the strategy, fund structure and terms.”

“The single model is naturally going to cost more since the depositary is taking responsibility for safe keeping and daily cash flow monitoring, Bill Prew added.  “Some reports suggest the costs for a single model could start as high as 5 basis points – if true, this will be a significant drag on fund performance and high relative to fees already paid for administration.” 

“Several managers have commented they view these fee levels as an attempt to use AIFMD to increase margin and reverse the fee compression seen in the administration industry over recent years.  That’s why it’s going to be more expensive to remain single,” Bill Prew concluded. 

To obtain a copy of the Indos Financial Limited Discussion paper please complete the form below.

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AIFMD Depositary-Lite podcast with Indos and Cummings Law

Bill Prew of INDOS Financial talks to Cummings Law in a podcast about the AIFMD depositary-lite regime. The podcast covers the different depositary requirements of the Directive and then focusses on the depositary-lite regime which will apply to EU managers of non-EU funds. Bill shares his thoughts on the different models which are emerging and a number of considerations for managers. Click here to listen to the podcast visit the Cummings Law website and click on the podcast called AIFMD ‘Depositary-Lite’ Issues for Managers.