The February 2024 Alternative Investor is out today with news from the past month and guest features looking at impact and crypto, and how they are being driven by positive change in their respective spaces.
Alternative News
Over the last month, hedge funds were largely up with India the standout market. We saw investors continuing to invest in the big brand private equity funds and moves by private equity and asset managers to acquire infrastructure assets. There are huge ‘mountains’ of dry powder waiting to be deployed, a noteworthy secondary market tailwind, stories on big hedge winners and losers in ‘23, some sizeable hedge launches, the disappearance of GLG, stuttering ESG fund flows and more…
Driven by change
- Lendable’s Chris Wehbé writes about the drive to standardise impact terminology, which is creating a more homogeneous data environment, helping the growth of impact investing.
- Aristata’s Rob Ryan looks at the emergence of impact litigation that has been a catalyst for social empowerment, fostering a more equitable legal landscape.
- 3iQ’s Louis LaValle changes tack from impact to look at how the digital asset environment is undergoing a transformation that is heralding a new era of investment possibilities as institutions, regulators, and active finance get behind it.
Letter from America
Prosek’s Mark Kollar writes about the new-found attraction of infrastructure investing, with BlackRock acquiring GIP and General Atlantic buying Actis. This is a case of private equity firms and asset managers buying into hard assets. It is a big market, with infrastructure one of the fastest-growing sectors, which also produces steady cash flows.
Regulatory Update
In the regulatory space, RQC Group unpacks Form ADV for Investment Advisers and how to avoid the pitfalls, as well as looking at FCA concerns about ‘flying’ and ‘printing’, the PRA’s action against a CEO for multiple conduct breaches, and wraps-up with the continuing evolution of The Consumer Duty that sets a higher standard of consumer protection in financial services.
In our next edition, out on 11 March, we take a look at developments in ESG, how it is being implemented in funds, both offshore and onshore, and where investors stand on fund positioning.
