Emerging ManagersFormation and Evaluation Brian T. Bares, CFA
1 EMERGING MANAGER INTRODUCTION
EMERGING MANAGER FORMATION
EVALUATING EMERGING MANAGERS
WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE
2
3
4
What is an EM?• Emerging Managers are:
– Small (low levels of AUM)– Young (less than 5 years old)– Owner/Operators
Typical Manager LifecycleA
UM
Time
Emerging Managers
Why Emerging Managers?
Better Performance
Supporting Comments“Hedge Funds under three years of age tend to perform better than do older hedge funds without necessarily adding to the volatility of returns.”
- Lazard Asset Mgmt Study
Supporting Comments“The annualized returns of Emerging Managers stood at 9.49% compared with 7.61% for bigger peers.”-Neuberger Berman 2011 strategy
outlook
Supporting Comments“Between 1996 and 2008, funds with less than $100mm delivered 13% annually compared with 10% for funds over $500mm.”- PerTrac Financial Solutions Study
Why Better Performance?• Freed of legacy positions• Freedom to be more
concentrated• Incentive fees• Flexibility with lower AUM• Niche/innovative strategies• Focused and dedicated talent
1 EMERGING MANAGER INTRODUCTION
EMERGING MANAGER FORMATION
EVALUATING EMERGING MANAGERS
WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE
2
3
4
Breakeven
Insufficient
Recurring Fees
Sufficient
Recurring Fees
What Does It Take?
What Does it Really Take?
Optimal AUM
Manager’s Interests
Client’s Interests
Optimal AUM
Inve
stm
ent R
etur
n
AUM
1
2
3 Asset Bloat
Optimal
Fundraising1
2
3
EM’s Time Choices
Research Fundraising
Marketing & Fundraising
Paradox of Investor Demands
Breakeven
Sufficient Recurring
Fees
EMs Need to Market• Target a receptive niche• Be proactive in raising your
profile• Market even at optimal AUM
1
Real
Assets 2
3
Private
Equity
4
Fixed
Income
Public &
Hedge
ExamplesLong/Short EquityGlobal MacroEvent Driven
Figure Out Your “Fit”
Strategic HNW
Seed Programs
Seeders
Emerging
Manager
Specialists
Fund of Funds
Family Offices
Endowments
Foundations
High Net Worth
Direct Investors
Our Story
One-on-Ones are Critical
Outsourcing Fundraising• Third Party Marketers
• Can Be Expensive• EM must still “close”• Personality must fit
• Prime Broker/Capital Introduction• Wholesale Relationships
Remember: Institutions rarely invest without meeting the investment
decision makers
Insourcing Fundraising• Inside Salesperson
• Captive 3rd-party marketing• Closer to the investment process• Expensive
Investors will still require one-on-ones with the decision makers
Informa
Morningstar
Manager
eVestment
Database entry is time consuming but worthwhile
Lipper
BarclayHedgeConsultants
Databases
1 2 3 4
Registration Service Providers Hire Team
Initial Funding
Emerging Manager
Low Barriers to Entry
New Manager Formation
$21,195.14
Startup Example
50%
18%
13%
3%
8%
7%
Compensation
Infrastructure
HR
Client
DevelopmentOther
Income
20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Source: Charles Schwab & Co.
Typical Expenses
• Carving out from an existing firm– Existing track record– Expertise– Relationships
• Initial Accounts or Partners– Breakeven is an easier hurdle– Existing investors make it easy to
attract more investors
Helpful Hints
1 EMERGING MANAGER INTRODUCTION
EMERGING MANAGER FORMATION
EVALUATING EMERGING MANAGERS
WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE
2
3
4
The Check BoxesProspective Institutions May
Require:
A Multi-Year Track Record A Limit on % of Strategy/Fund
Assets Expensive Infrastructure Transparency Prior History of Investment Team
Institutional Hurdles
Fewer/Better Check Boxes• Investors with EM-friendly Due
Diligence:– High Net-Worth Individuals– Family Offices– Specialty Fund of Funds– Some Foundations and Endowments– Specialty Institutions
Due Diligence for EMs• The Key Determinants for
Success:
– People– Philosophy– Process
– Historical Performance (if relevant)
People• Key Members of the team:
– History– Personality– How they work together– Drive and motivation– Intelligence– Investment Skill– Integrity
Philosophy• Value vs. Growth• Efficient vs. Inefficient• Macro
Process• Source of your investment edge• Is it repeatable?
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The Potential for Outperformance is
Everything
Performance
One-on-One Meetings• Nearly all Prospective Investors
Require One-on-Ones• Meetings Usually Cover:
– History of the Firm– Bios on Key Team Members– Investment Approach– Sample Ideas/Investments– Strategy/Fund Structure
Emerging Manager Fees• They are dependent on:
– Niche– Optimal Asset Base– Return Potential
• EMs should not need to excessively discount if capacity is limited
Emerging
Managers
AUM Hurdles
Agency Issues
Institutional
Due Diligence
Chicken and Egg Problem
• More than 10% of strategy AUM
• Alone in their allocation Social Proof
• Wrong about their decision Maverick Risk
Agency IssuesInstitutions want to avoid being:
Agency Issues
1 EMERGING MANAGER INTRODUCTION
EMERGING MANAGER FORMATION
EVALUATING EMERGING MANAGERS
WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE
2
3
4
Due Diligence Must…• Remove Barriers to EM
Allocations– Length of performance track record– AUM restrictions
• Focus on Qualitative Due Diligence– People– Philosophy– Process
• Be Proactive and Constructive
The Big Get Bigger
2001 2009
Top 30 Firms
Top 18 Firms
All Other Firms
$95B to $1.6T
Market ShareBy AUM
75%
25%
All Other Firms
$215B to $3.3T
Source: Northern Trust Global Advisors
Benefits of More EMs• Less “too big to fail”• More experimentation• Better institutional performance• More diversity• More industry jobs
In Summary• To BE an Emerging Manager
– Be an entrepreneur– Get to know your prospective
clients– Have a strategy that fits– Work your ass off
• To HIRE an Emerging Manager– Get rid of the impediments for
funding– Seek out People, Philosophy,
Process– Work your ass off
Thank YouBrian T. Bares, CFA