1 May 2019, London: The Alternative Investment Management Association (‘AIMA’), in partnership with Simmons & Simmons, has today published its Responsible Investment Primer (‘the Primer’) to provide an overview as to how hedge fund managers may approach responsible investment, and to encourage dialogue between investors and hedge fund managers.

Hedge fund managers around the world are responding to rising investor interest in responsible investment. In order to facilitate conversations between managers and their investors, the Primer includes definitions of key responsible investment terms and explanations of how the most common forms of responsible investment may apply to hedge funds.

The Primer also seeks to answer some of the more frequently asked questions on responsible investment and hedge funds. Topics discussed include the compatibility of responsible investment and short selling, how hedge fund managers can demonstrate their commitment to responsible investment, and how the principles of responsible investment can apply to the management of a hedge fund.

The Primer also contains a set of principles to help inform the debate on effective responsible investment regulation. Among other issues, the principles stress the need to allow room for innovation and to ensure that any shift towards responsible investment is led by investors.

AIMA will continue to engage with its members and other stakeholders on this crucial topic.

AIMA CEO Jack Inglis commented: “Hedge fund managers understand that investors want their principles to be reflected in their investments. AIMA is committed to working with our members and other industry stakeholders to ensure that hedge fund investors have the opportunity to invest in accordance with responsible investment principles should they wish to do so. We hope that this Primer will contribute to a constructive dialogue between managers, investors, and policymakers on how to ensure a sustainable future whilst acknowledging the need to grow investors’ capital over the long term.”

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Notes to editors

The Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) works to grow the alternative investment industry to benefit the world’s economy, savers and investors. To achieve this, we strengthen the links between fund managers, investors, regulators and industry service providers.

Our thirty-year heritage means AIMA understands our members’ priorities, who access our resources to grow their businesses, create lasting connections using our events and benefit from the effect our advocacy work has on the environment in which they must operate. Since our formation the industry has grown by 60 times.

AIMA’s capacity to deliver local support across the globe has made us connected, knowledgeable and influential, and means our 2,000 members are now based in over 60 countries.