News
FCA ACD industry review...
Wednesday 30th June 2021
Ryan Johnson
FCA ACD Review Publication https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/fca-review-finds-weaknesses-some-host-authorised-fund-management-firms-governance-and-operations In response to the FCA ACD findings and publication today (see link above), as leading experts in the ACD market place, much of the FCA findings will come as no surprise to the industry regardless of how strong the wording used is 'significant findings'. Whilst the FCA is right to identify the concerns and lack of sufficient due diligence performed by the ACD, it must recognise the lack of understanding or support in providing guidance and advice to…
ACD Review, the FCA needs to go deeper and spend more time understanding the industry
Monday 1st March 2021
Ryan Johnson
Following the FCA engagement into the host ACD marketplace in December 2020, it can only be seen as a positive step that they are starting to try and understand the industry and how it has developed over time. However we would like to see…
Recommendation: Fund failures, ACD take over, Fund suspension or put on risk, what can the FCA do
Sunday 7th February 2021
Ryan Johnson
We believe in order to best serve the investor, industry credibility and integrity as a whole, when a fund is put at risk or suspended the ACD who manages the oversight of that fund should resign as the ACD and a new ACD be allocated for the fund which has been placed into a category of suspension or failure. This will immediately remove any further conflict or damage to both the fund manager and ACD but we appreciate this is easier said than done. By creating a clear criteria of what happens when a fund reaches prolonged difficulty and by removing the, now conflicted parties, from the fund oversight we believe…
A definitive guide to determining if MPS managers no longer need to pay VAT on an MPS service
Tuesday 12th January 2021
Ryan Johnson
Brooks MacDonald, Brewin Dolphin, 7IM and AJ Bell are just a few familiar names you may recognise as recently and successfully removing the VAT from the MPS service it provides. In this guide and referring to these companies we provide a step by step guide in order that managers can determine if VAT can also be cut from the MPS service which it deliveries. Full article available to clients, to subscribe and receive access to all articles please email, requests@lloydexpert.co.uk
FCA ACD change predictions for 2021
Tuesday 22nd December 2020
Ryan Johnson
With the FCA engaging with all host ACDs over the December period there will be a raft of changes and recommendations that will be concluded over 2021 which sole aim…
How confident are investors that there money is safe with a fund manager?
Tuesday 1st December 2020
Ryan Johnson
After conducting a poll sample we explore what a group of investors think and feel about how safe their money is by fund managers in todays climate... Full article…
ACD Fund Value Assessment - Challenges
Sunday 8th November 2020
Ryan Johnson
The majority of issues in relation to the value assessment is the conclusion of the assessment that results in the Authorised Corporate Director (ACD) insisting that the fees, Annual Management Charge (AMC), to which the fund manager receives, minus the ACD costs, is reduced to ensure it is providing value for money in line with the ACD expectations, according to the market data. The problem with this is the difference in quantifying and assessing value for the overall investor within any particular fund. It is not as simple as comparing 'apples v apples' as each ACD within a fund…
Is 2021 the year of consolidation for ACD and ManCo services?
Monday 26th October 2020
Ryan Johnson
Let us not underestimate the amount of work, responsibility and risk that the fund oversight function whether as an ACD or ManCo takes on versus the revenue it recieves from funds. The fund oversight function is essential and crucial to the industry but for which the profit margin is much smaller than the fund managers which they provide services for. As a result the pressure on fund oversight functions are ever greater and without the neccessary scale required it can become a challenging enviornment. Therefore we have already seen a number of potential mergers / consolidations to support a sustainable model and we believe 2021 will…
'Value for Money' considerations that must be added by the ACD to the FCA 7 categories
Thursday 6th August 2020
Ryan Johnson
The current FCA category guidelines for 'at least' seven areas as according to COLL 6.6.21R, 1. Quality of service 2. Performance 3. AFM costs - General 4. Economies of scale 5. Comparable market…
FCA Review - What is the point of the depositary, if nothing changes?
Sunday 12th July 2020
Ryan Johnson
The time has come for the role of the depositary to be scrutinised and questions asked is the current model fit for purpose? The FCA recently at the Funds Congress earlier in the year made it clear that the role of the depositary is an area that needs to be reviewed and considered as part of the fund oversight review that is scheduled to be delivered by Q4 2020. It was always inevitable and will come to no surprise of those in the industry that the role of the depositary is being scrutinised in this way. There is a collative responsibility between the ACD and depositary as to the oversight of funds. It is important that when…
FCA concerns with the current ACD model and indication of what measures it is looking to put in place
Friday 8th May 2020
Ryan Johnson
Full article available to clients, to subscribe and receive access to all articles please email, requests@lloydexpert.co.uk
Crucial role the depositary plays or should play in the oversight and management of funds
Sunday 19th April 2020
Ryan Johnson
Full article available to clients, to subscribe and receive access to all articles please email, requests@lloydexpert.co.uk
Guide to selecting the right manager to manage your mandate
Thursday 5th March 2020
Ryan Johnson
Full article available to clients, to subscribe and receive access to all articles please email, requests@lloydexpert.co.uk
What does a good ACD do?
Wednesday 26th February 2020
Ryan Johnson
Full article available to clients, to subscribe and receive access to all articles please email, requests@lloydexpert.co.uk