I am delighted to share the 125th edition of the AIMA Journal, the first publication for 2021. As the world looks ahead to a potential exit from the current pandemic, we are pleased to bring you a collection of in-depth articles on some of the most pressing matters concerning the alternative investment industry.  This bumper edition boasts no fewer than 21 articles from members and sponsoring partners.  We are extremely grateful to all the contributors and their excellent insights within.

Digital assets and the digitalisation of the investment process remain at the forefront of many fund managers’ to-do lists. BlueCrest Capital Management provides readers with a comprehensive review of the regulatory landscape for crypto assets in 2021. Meanwhile, RFA discusses how the business disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has led to more fund managers embracing new digital solutions.

As part of this continuous process of adapting to a “new normal”, the IR function has done an excellent job at accommodating client needs in an online environment. iConnections discusses how investor relations found a way forward under lockdown.

Continuing the theme of technology, Broadridge Financial Solutions argue the need for private debt firms to invest in technology infrastructure to enhance their reporting. Laven writes about the major challenges within the compliance industry highlighting a few technology solutions that a compliance officer can utilise.

Staying on the pandemic theme, Man Group takes us back to the Franklin Roosevelt administration and the lessons learned from policymakers back then which could help today’s peers navigate the current economic climate.

Interest in ESG continues unabated with no fewer than three pieces in this edition discussing this topic. KPMG discusses the opportunities and challenges for alternative investment managers in raising the bar on ESG, while Portfolio BI explains how hedge funds are implementing ESG across their businesses and allocation processes.  ACA Group examines how debt investors are tackling the challenge of incorporating ESG criteria into a private debt portfolio.

Regulatory-related topics remain a high priority for our members with the bulk of this edition dedicated to several regulatory issues. Dechert provide an overview of the FCA’s areas of focus as it relates to financial crime and regulatory enforcement. Simmons & Simmons offers thier analysis regarding what the new QFII/RQFII rules mean for the Chinese financial market when opening to the rest of the world. And speaking of international markets, Coremont looks at the cross border regulatory implications for alternative investment managers, PwC explores whether the reform of the Investment Limited Partnership in Ireland provides new opportunities for fund managers and Walkers looks at the Cayman Islands alternative investment fund structuring and the regulatory considerations that comes with it.  

Elsewhere SS&C GlobeOp discusses the opportunities and challenges for hybrid funds while Maples Group touches on the fund governance protocols for closed-ended structures and the “new dawn for Irish private funds”.  Hedge fund reporting requirements set by the CFTC have seen several changes over the past year, SEI explains what these changes are and the rationale for doing it. Larkstoke Advisors provide updated guidance on the UK’s disguised investment management fee and carried interest legislation.

Rounding off this bumper edition, AB Trading Advisors revisits issues involved in transferring trading positions examining what issues to watch out for when reviewing transfer provisions in trading agreements.  Larkstoke Advisors provides useful guidance on the disguised investment management fees and carried interest.

Finally, with US pension funds facing an ever increasing funding gap, Lombard Odier make the case for risk diversified portfolios describing some of the features that they believe position risk parity to respond well to current market conditions.

I hope you will enjoy this latest edition of the AIMA Journal. Please do not hesitate to share your thoughts and let us know if you are interested in contributing to any future editions.