With the US Securities and Exchange Commission calling private equity fund managers to the carpet for their fees and expenses, managers had better start preparing to be a lot more forthcoming about their practices to investors. Regulatory exams are just around the corner, warn operations and legal experts. At issue is what expenses should be absorbed by private […]
Futures Commission Merchant: Four Steps to the Right Choice
It’s the phone call no operations manager wants to get. The trading desk just tried to execute a swap contract, and discovered that the newly hired futures commission merchant (FCM) doesn’t handle transactions in that currency. Or doesn’t accept that kind of collateral. Or isn’t a member of the necessary clearinghouse. Who’s to blame? Good question, […]
New Criteria for US Accredited Investors: Looming Pain for Alt Funds?
The Securities and Exchange Commission might think it is protecting Americans from risky investments as it considers changing the criteria for defining accredited investors, but middle and back-office executives at hedge fund management shops are worried their livelihoods and client service levels are at risk. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act requires the SEC to […]
Collateral Management: Shifting from Cost to Profit Center
Once considered a dreary administrative task, collateral management is moving to high visibility for fund management shops, forced by new regulations to rethink their the use of the assets that back numerous transactions. Now a target for cost control with the ultimate goal of wringing revenue out of it, collateral management is coming out of the back room. “Depending on the types of […]
Compliance Officers: Taking the Regulatory Heat, Personally
Chief compliance officers at financial firms have always had it tough. Working long hours to address changing regulatory, investor and internal requirements, are an accepted part of everyday life. Yet, chief compliance officers and legal experts now say that the stress is hitting closer to home on a personal level. Securities watchdogs are drawing even […]
EMIR: One Little Number Can Make or Break Reporting
With the European regulatory requirements for reporting exchange-traded and over-the-counter swap transactions less than a month away, fund managers can’t afford a leap of faith that they will be ready, warn regulatory and operations experts. There is a key nagging issue they must resolve before February 12: just who will create the 52-character unique trade […]