Industry Updates

Infovest21 Survey: 19% of managers who subadvise '40 Act funds plan to launch '40 Act funds

Tuesday, August 06, 2013

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Opalesque Industry Update - In its second '40 Act Survey entitled "Subadvisors: Their Goals and Plans" Infovest21 delved into the mindset of managers about subadvising '40 Act mutual funds i.e. what managers are trying to achieve by being a subadvisor, their rationale for becoming a subadvisor, the challenges they have encountered, why they took the subadvisory route as opposed to launching a '40 Act fund, and what their next step might be in the space.

Of the managers who responded to Infovest's survey, one-half currently subadvise a '40 Act fund, while another 22% are considering subadvising a '40 Act fund. Another 28% are not current subadvising nor considering subadvising a '40 Act fund.

Lois Peltz, president of Infovest21, observed, "Almost 30% of the respondents said they see subadvising '40 Act mutual funds as a way to build assets while another 26% said it was another way to broaden their investor base. Another 18% see '40 Act funds as a way to develop relationships while another 15% see it as way to differentiate from their peers."

Other major findings are:

• When asked why they subadvise to the mutual funds that they subadvise to, one-third cited a longstanding relationship with the sponsor while 27% highlighted the reputation of the sponsor. A better fee structure was mentioned by 13% of those surveyed.

• Almost 46% of the managers said they decided to subadvise a '40 Act fund rather than set up a '40 Act fund because they would be expending fewer resources. Another 32% said they lacked the required resources. Developing existing relationships and generating another source or revenue without too much effort were also cited.

• Almost 60% of the managers said their biggest challenge was lower fees relative to hedge fund fees. Almost 32% didn't like that they could be terminated. Cannibalization of existing hedge fund product and increased compliance were each cited by more than one-quarter of the respondents.

• While 55% of the respondents plan to continue as a subadvisor, another 19% plan to find out more about launching '40 Act funds and another 19% plan to offer a '40 Act fund.

Infovest21 conducted this survey in July 2013 by phone and e-mail.

In June, Infovest21 conducted its first '40 Act fund survey, "Hedge Fund Use of '40 Act Registered Investment Funds"; to determine hedge fund manager use of '40 Act registered investment funds. For a copy of either part 1 or part 2 of the survey, contact Lois Peltz at Infovest21 at 212-686-6440.

www.infovest21.com

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