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Andrew Baker

The members of the group comprise AIMA manager member firms in Europe with $250 million or less in assets under management. The group is expected to meet on a regular basis to discuss issues of common concern including regulatory matters; sound practices; due diligence; interactions with service providers; and business pressures.

The founding AIMA Smaller Managers' Group held its first meeting earlier this month and appointed Jim Kandunias, Principal of Esemplia Emerging Markets, as its Chair.

Andrew Baker, AIMA CEO, said: "It is well documented that smaller managers in general have faced considerable challenges since the financial crisis. But smaller managers are an important source of innovation and fresh ideas. Even today's giants of the industry started out small.

"Smaller managers are very important to AIMA. More than half of our manager members globally have $250m or less in assets under management. The new Smaller Managers' Group will help us to represent their interests in the most relevant and constructive way possible.

"Of course, larger managers are also absolutely vital to the work that we do. They make significant contributions in terms of time and resources to the work of the association, and a considerable amount of the work that we do delivers tangible benefits to them.

"The reality is that all managers, regardless of size, need the proper regulatory and market infrastructure in order to thrive. As the global hedge fund industry association, AIMA will continue to strive to represent the views of all managers and the industry as a whole."

Jim Kandunias said: "Our industry and its future growth depend on a healthy and vibrant group of smaller managers. The establishment of the AIMA Smaller Managers' group is a clear recognition of the importance AIMA places on this. It is both an honor as well as a privilege to be part of this exciting and very important AIMA initiative." Press release: Source
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