Alternative Market Briefing

Managed accounts evolve to meet investor demands

Friday, November 16, 2012

Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York:

In the aftermath of Bernie Madoff, more investors are turning toward separately managed accounts in order get a handle on transparency and greater liquidity – especially at the institutional investor level. In a recent Opalesque TV interview, two players in the space, Nathanael Benzaken and Lionel Paquin of the Lyxor Managed Account Platform, discuss the evolution of managed accounts and what they now mean for the industry.

In the interview, both men note that since Madoff, managed accounts have evolved to provide more protection of investor funds and improve overall portfolio management. "Clearly there is a growing appetite, a great need actually, from institutional investors to absolute return type of strategies, and the managed account route is key because it has obviously helped access hedge funds in a secured way, but more importantly at this stage is a more transparent way," says Benzaken.

He explains that managed accounts can provide a way forward for investors to understand at a deep level how managers are positioned, what the risks are, and do so on a much more frequent basis than they would have previously. Managed accounts can also serve as a hybrid structure allowing funds to deal with big-ticket investors in their own space and ease compliance concerns.

"If you invest in hedge fund direct, the standard is typically t......................

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