Featured Pathways

More pathways

Banking Essentials - Part I

This pathway will walk us through the basics of banks, starting with some of the different types and their main functions, then starting to look at the regulation faced by the banks, both before and after the Global Financial Crisis.

Greenwashing

Greenwashing is the act of distributing false information about something being more environmentally friendly than it actually is.

More pathways

Book a demo

Pricing

Ready to get started?

Plans & Membership

Our Platform

Expert led content

+1,000 expert presented, on-demand video modules

Learning analytics

Keep track of learning progress with our comprehensive data

Interactive learning

Engage with our video hotspots and knowledge check-ins

Testing & certification

Gain CPD / CPE credits and professional certification

Managed learning

Build, scale and manage your organisation’s learning

Integrations

Connect Finance Unlocked to your current platform

Featured Content

More featured content

Tackling the Cost of Living Crisis

In this video, Max discusses the cost-of-living crisis currently enveloping the UK. He examines its impact on households as well as the overall economy.

CSR and Sustainability in Financial Services

In the first video of this two-part video series, Elisa introduces us to sustainability. She begins by looking at the difference between sustainability and corporate social responsibility, two terms that can be easily confused.

More featured content

Book a demo

Pricing

Ready to get started?

Featured Pathways

More pathways

Banking Essentials - Part I

This pathway will walk us through the basics of banks, starting with some of the different types and their main functions, then starting to look at the regulation faced by the banks, both before and after the Global Financial Crisis.

Greenwashing

Greenwashing is the act of distributing false information about something being more environmentally friendly than it actually is.

More pathways

Book a demo

Pricing

Ready to get started?

Plans & Membership

Our Platform

Expert led content

+1,000 expert presented, on-demand video modules

Learning analytics

Keep track of learning progress with our comprehensive data

Interactive learning

Engage with our video hotspots and knowledge check-ins

Testing & certification

Gain CPD / CPE credits and professional certification

Managed learning

Build, scale and manage your organisation’s learning

Integrations

Connect Finance Unlocked to your current platform

Featured Content

More featured content

Tackling the Cost of Living Crisis

In this video, Max discusses the cost-of-living crisis currently enveloping the UK. He examines its impact on households as well as the overall economy.

CSR and Sustainability in Financial Services

In the first video of this two-part video series, Elisa introduces us to sustainability. She begins by looking at the difference between sustainability and corporate social responsibility, two terms that can be easily confused.

More featured content

Book a demo

Pricing

Ready to get started?

Book a demo

Pricing

Ready to get started?

How is a Hedge Fund Set Up?

How is a Hedge Fund Set Up?

Trevor Pugh

20 years: Trading & hedge funds

To conclude this series, Trevor explains the setup of a Hedge Fund. This includes the Master & Feeder funds, Prime Brokers, along with all the other associated parties. Such as the administrators and regulators, all with important roles.

To conclude this series, Trevor explains the setup of a Hedge Fund. This includes the Master & Feeder funds, Prime Brokers, along with all the other associated parties. Such as the administrators and regulators, all with important roles.

Subscribe to watch

Access this and all of the content on our platform by signing up for a 7-day free trial.

How is a Hedge Fund Set Up?

4 mins 41 secs

Overview

Hedge funds tend to consist of a management company or partnership that directs the investment of the fund and a separate legal entity, frequently in a jurisdiction such as the Cayman Islands which holds the actual assets. There may also be Feeder Funds which are more tax efficient for investors when placing their assets before these assets are moved to the Master Fund. In order to run such a fund, hedge funds tend to be large users of other services from Prime Brokers, Administrators, accountants and others. Legal counsel and compliance are especially important given the potential for hedge funds to be regulated in multiple jurisdictions.

Key learning objectives:

  • Describe a master fund and feeder fund structure

  • Identify the main services used by a hedge fund

  • Understand how are hedge funds regulated

Subscribe to watch

Access this and all of the content on our platform by signing up for a 7-day free trial.

Summary

What is a master fund and feeder fund structure?

Although the term hedge fund is used quite loosely, in reality most hedge funds actually consist of two or more legal entities. There is the fund itself, and there is the management company. The fund (or Master Fund) is likely to be based in a jurisdiction such as the Cayman Islands which is tax neutral; in other words, it does not impose corporation tax. This Master Fund is where the assets are actually held. The management of the fund will usually be done by a separate entity, either a company or a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), based in perhaps London or New York.  In addition to the Master Fund where the hedge fund assets sit, Feeder Funds are frequently set up to assist investors find the right tax structure. For example, it is not unusual for a hedge fund to have a Cayman Islands Master Fund as well as feeder funds. These feeder funds might be, for example, in Delaware for US investors who want an onshore investment or there may be a feeder fund in the Cayman Islands for investors in the US who want an offshore investment.

What are the main services used by a hedge fund?

The Prime Broker relationship is a key one for hedge funds, and these are usually, but not always, divisions of investment banks, providing securities financing, derivatives clearing, custody of securities and collateral management. The other major hedge fund relationship is with the Administrator. The Administrator provides two vital functions for the fund itself. These are the fund accounting role and the investor relation role. In essence, this provides comfort for investors that the funds are being handled properly. A fund will also need specialised accountants for the management company, legal counsel, trade processing and settling functions (otherwise known as middle and back office), as well as risk management and trade booking and execution services (also known as front office).

How are hedge funds regulated?

There are multiple regulators that impact the business of a regular London hedge fund for example. The FCA in the UK will require the registration of the London entity. The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority requires a Fund Annual Return. The EU’s Alternative Investment Fund Management Directive will apply, which includes onerous Annex Four reporting for transparency. On the US side, the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act or FATCA will apply. And further regulation may come from other entities depending on what products are traded, such as EMIR for derivatives (which stands for European Market Infrastructure Regulation) or the National Futures Association rules in the US.

Subscribe to watch

Access this and all of the content on our platform by signing up for a 7-day free trial.

Trevor Pugh

Trevor Pugh

Trevor has worked in finance since 1995. He started his career in investment banking after studying Law at Cambridge and taking a Masters Degree in Financial Services from University College Dublin. Trevor spent 18 years at Barclays investment bank where he became a Managing Director and head of Gilt trading. He currently works as Chief Operating Officer for a hedge fund.

There are no available videos from "Trevor Pugh"