Hedge IT Blog

Tomorrow, we are co-hosting an exciting seminar in New York City with our friends at KPMG on the topic of launching a hedge fund. The half-day event, Hedge Fund Launch 2.0: Navigating the New Environment, will feature expert panel sessions on variety of topics including technology, regulations, capital raising, application platforms and more.
 
One panel we’re particularly interested in – beyond the technology panels, of course – is Corporate Essentials, a program focused on the often forgotten-about aspects of launching a new business. These aspects include human resources, compensation, insurance and real estate. Here’s a sneak peek at some of the content our panelists will be discussing at tomorrow’s event:

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We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again. Starting a hedge fund is a thoughtful and time-consuming process that requires skillful considerations and supportive collaborations to drive success. But with the changes that have swept through the industry of late, now seems like as good a time as any to launch a new fund.
 
We recently hosted a webinar with KPMG to examine the current hedge fund landscape for startups and determine whether 2013 is the right time to begin the launch process. Below is a short summary of the topics discussed. To watch the full event replay, click here.
 
Forming a Hedge Fund
There is a wealth to consider when launching your first (or second or third) hedge fund. From organizational and personnel matters to grappling with regulatory and compliance requirements and infrastructure needs, the list seems to never end. With the help of experienced prime brokers and service providers, however, managing these tasks has never been easier.

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Hedge funds and investment firms are making the move to Asia, evidenced by the industry’s expansion to a record number of funds in Q3 2012 (according to Hedge Fund Research). With a healthy flow of both new startup funds and existing firms expanding their presence to the region, the Asian hedge fund market has quickly become the go-to locale for financial services.
 
Asia can be a challenging market to tap into, however, particularly as regulations take center stage. In addition to local regulations, Asian funds also need to keep an eye on what’s happening in the U.S. and Europe. According to HFMWeek, legislation handed down by the EU’s Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) “could make it very difficult for Asian managers to access European capital, affecting diverse facets of a fund’s operations including remuneration, leverage and custody.”

Technology is also on the minds of regulators – and investors too. HFMWeek states that “investors and regulators have shown little tolerance for allowing a fund’s infrastructure to ramp up over time, instead insisting that they feature best practice systems and processes at launch.” So if funds need to have a robust technology in place from day one, what are their options?

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Rounding out our coverage of the hedge fund real estate market, today’s article looks at hedge fund hotels.  Be sure to check out our other articles “A Look at London Hedge Fund Real Estate” and “Is Midtown Still the NYC Hot Spot?”

Hedge Fund Hotel: No, you can’t spend the night…
…But you can spend a year (or more or less).  A hedge fund hotel is a fully-managed business office suite that provides high-end space, usually in a premium location, complete with important necessities required to get up and running quickly and efficiently.  Hedge fund hotels typically provide premier technology, business solutions, telecommunications, and administrative and business support in an environment that is suitable for hosting potential investors and other important visitors.
 

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Last week, we took a closer look at the current state of the New York City hedge fund real estate market. Today, we're crossing the pond to provide some updates on new developments in the UK real estate arena.

London remains Europe's number one destination for hedge funds and private equity managers, with Mayfair and St. James's being the most-preferred neighborhoods. But have mounting economic pressures and increased interest from overseas for property pushed funds away from these areas? How are these factors affecting the popular "hedge fund alley" section of Curzon Street and Berkeley Square in Mayfair?

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In the land of U.S. commercial real estate for financial services companies, Midtown Manhattan has always been the spot.  But as the market has evolved, so too have the needs of hedge funds and investment firms – even when it comes to their office space.
 
Midtown Manhattan has long held the title of most expensive neighborhood for office rents, and this trend continues into 2012. According to a Q2 2012 report published by Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, the average asking price for office rentals in Midtown is $63.54 per square foot, which is significantly higher than the overall Manhattan average of $51.93.

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Last month, we proudly announced the promotion of one of our veteran company leaders to the position of Chief Financial Officer. Chris Holden, who previously served as our senior vice president of finance, has been with Eze Castle Integration for nearly a decade, and has led our efforts to expand the organization’s global reach. In his new position, Chris will continue to focus on corporate growth, while leading the way into new markets and regions around the world.

I recently sat down with Chris to pick his brain on the importance of continued international expansion, as well as to get his thoughts on some important lessons that he’d like to share with other CFOs and organizations that may be undertaking similar growth strategies.

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Whether you are preparing to launch a new hedge fund, considering expanding your established firm to another geographical location, or simply interested in relocating to a new space, there are a few important real estate options to consider.

In our previous article on “The Hedge Fund Real Estate Landscape: What's right for your fund?” we examined the various real estate options a firm has to choose from, including commercial space, subleases, and hedge fund hotels. Today, we will delve deeper into one of these primary options, hedge fund hotels (also known as “managed suites” or “executive suites”) to analyze the benefits of this type of real estate.

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Last week, we hosted a webinar in which our three experts discussed various factors that managers should keep in mind when starting a hedge fund. During our webcast, Launching a Hedge Fund: Legal, Financing & Technology Considerations for 2011, we heard from Sam Stock of Goldman Sachs on the financing aspect of a hedge fund launch as well as Gus Black of Dechert LLC, who shared insights regarding legal factors involved in the launch process.

Our final speaker, Serge Bukhar of Eze Castle Integration, talked about the technology aspects of a hedge fund launch. The following is an excerpt from his presentation on the topic.

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In a previous article we looked at some key aspects of expanding a hedge fund's operations internationally including the business and technology factors. Overseas expansion requires a number of strategic considerations. One of the most important steps a hedge fund must take in beginning the international expansion process is to understand the local government requirements for establishing a new business in the selected region.

Once a hedge fund manager understands the local regulations, he must look to leverage his partners and key vendors to help facilitate international expansion. A hedge fund prime broker is a key ally when establishing international operations.

There are several significant factors that should be taken into consideration when selecting a hedge fund prime broker. A hedge fund wants a prime broker who will help it grow, and the easiest way to do that is to make sure both the hedge fund and the prime broker understand local regulations. A hedge fund places a lot of trust into a prime broker; therefore, it should verify that the broker understands the international investor marketplace. The prime broker should be adjunct to the firm’s own marketing efforts. It is important for a prime to know what a good match for a firm is.

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