Just how are prime brokers going to make sure they are just that – a hedge fund’s prime broker? Competition is heating up among them as they make the startling discovery that hedge fund managers are not averse to using more than one prime broker at the same time [see Fund Management news, Hedge funds go outsourcing, this issue].
Now that hedge fund managers have squeezed prime brokerage fees, the only means of differentiation is levels of service, and managers are rightly prepared to shop around and use several specialists if need be. Furthermore, software companies have facilitated the cost-efficient and simple use of multiple brokers by managers.
As competition for new asset inflows grows, hedge funds are increasingly turning to prime brokers for capital introduction services. According to a survey by Greenwich Associates, the proportion of hedge funds citing capital introduction as an important factor in evaluating prime brokers has doubled from 7% to 14% since last year.
Financing and repo capabilities are also important criteria for selection. The pressure on dealers to meet hedge fund demands in this area and hold on to the lucrative fees they pay is obvious.