Side Letter Study by Seward & Kissel LLP Shows Sharp Increase in Deals with Newer Hedge Fund Managers

Research Also Reveals Significant Increase in Fund-of-Fund Investments and Growing Disparity Among Other Investors

NEW YORK--()--New research by the law firm Seward & Kissel LLP into the hedge fund industry’s use of side letters—special agreements between hedge funds and their investors—shows a dramatic increase in side letter deals with newer asset managers.

The Seward & Kissel 2016/17 Hedge Fund Side Letter Study, released today, reveals a sharp rise in side letters agreed to by hedge fund managers in business for less than two years. That rate nearly doubled from last year, when Seward & Kissel’s inaugural side letter study put it at 13% of all funds within the study.

The study also highlighted a growing delta between two investor types most likely to secure side letters: funds of funds accounted for 56% of all side letters (a large leap from last year’s 30%), and wealthy individuals/family offices (17% of side letters) also increased their numbers over last year. All other fund types—endowments, nonprofits, corporate pensions and government plans—collectively accounted for only 27% of all side letters, down from 56% last year.

Other significant findings include:

  • Fee discounts have replaced most-favored-nations (MFN) clauses as the most common term used in side letters. Fee discounts appeared in 49% of side letters, while MFN clauses appeared in 47%.
  • The average regulatory assets under management of managers in the study who have been in business for more than two years was $4.37 billion.
  • The average dollar amount invested via side letters with new managers ($53.65 million) was substantially less than that invested with managers having greater experience ($82.62 million).
  • With a number of investors preferring to invest through separately managed accounts (SMAs) rather than hedge funds, the study also tracked SMAs in 2016-17. As with side letters, SMAs were most likely to be executed with funds of funds (69%) and family offices (23%).

“Our second Side Letter Study has again unearthed valuable insights about where hedge funds are and where they are going,” said Steve Nadel, partner at Seward & Kissel and lead author of the study. “The Seward & Kissel 2016/17 Hedge Fund Side Letter Study paints a picture of an investor base that is sophisticated and that is focused on economics and fair treatment.”

About Seward & Kissel LLP

Seward & Kissel LLP, founded in 1890, is a leading U.S. law firm with an international reputation for excellence. The firm is particularly well known for its hedge fund and investment management work, having established the first hedge fund ever, A.W. Jones, in 1949, and having earned numerous best in class awards over the years.

Contacts

On behalf of Seward & Kissel LLP
Sarah Andries, 646-371-9807
sandries@baretzbrunelle.com

Release Summary

New research by Seward & Kissel LLP into hedge fund side letters shows a dramatic increase in side letter deals with newer asset managers

Contacts

On behalf of Seward & Kissel LLP
Sarah Andries, 646-371-9807
sandries@baretzbrunelle.com