In Practice January 10, 2011

New Regulations Main Cause for Concern at Hedge Funds

Hedge fund CFOs say addressing new regulatory requirements and meeting evolving investor expectations are the biggest challenges for 2011, according to a poll by SEI.
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Half of the CFOs attending SEI’s Hedge Fund CFO Forum cited new regulatory requirements as the most significant challenge facing their industry over the next 12-18 months. Nearly half (47%) said they anticipate the regulations will have a significant impact on their firm’s profitability, according to a press release.  

Forty percent of CFOs said besides investment performance, the biggest challenge is providing satisfactory risk data to investors. Thirty-nine percent said economic uncertainty was their biggest challenge.   

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The survey highlighted the increasing importance of operational systems and processes in addressing regulatory changes and investor expectations. In fact, nearly a third of those polled said getting investors comfortable with the firm’s operating infrastructure is their biggest challenge in satisfying investors. When asked about the biggest operational challenge, 44% of respondents said increasing efficiency and scalability.   

“Satisfying increasing investor expectations related to transparency and due diligence requirements continues to be the drumbeat for managers,” said Phil Masterson, Managing Director for SEI’s Investment Manager Services division, in the announcement. “While we asked our clients about their challenges, we do see opportunities for managers to differentiate themselves. There are opportunities to better educate investors. Opportunities to bolster operational infrastructures.  Opportunities to enable greater transparency, drive more efficiency, and enhance internal controls.  Ultimately, if done correctly, there are opportunities for managers to create stronger client relationships and build their businesses.”
Deals & People January 10, 2011

Schroders Expands Distribution Teams

Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. announced the addition of five U.S. Onshore Intermediary members, plus one Offshore hire.
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Benjamin Stevens joined the Intermediary Distribution Team as Sales Director for the West territory, based in Denver, Colorado.  Most recently, he was employed at Janus Capital Group.   

Christopher Ander also joined the Intermediary Distribution Team as Sales Director for the Central territory, based in Chicago. He spent the past six years employed at Van Kampen Investments.

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Kelly Klobucar joins in a dual role as Team Leader, managing the Internal Sales Directors and supporting John Maguire and Ben Stevens, Directors – Intermediaries, West.  Klobucar was previously at FBR Asset Management in several sales and marketing capacities.     

Marc DeCuffa joins the Schroders Intermediary Distribution Team as an Internal Sales Director, Northeast, supporting Steve Wagenbach and Julie Macalka, Directors for the Northeast territory, having joined from Bank of America – Merrill Lynch Wealth Management.  

Greg Bradley joins the firm as a Key Accounts Manager, reporting to Erin Brenner, Head of Intermediary Key Accounts. He joins from Hewlett Packard Company where he was a Global Account Manager, and has twelve years of distribution experience within the Asset Management industry, previously as a Senior Vice President at Wachovia/Evergreen Investments and Director at Bank of America/Columbia Management.  

Jason Shidler joins Offshore Intermediary Sales and will be covering Western U.S./Western Canada, based in Los Angeles, reporting to Jason Barger, Head of Offshore Intermediary Sales.  His most recent position was Vice President of Sales at Franklin Templeton in Los Angeles.

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