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The Volker Rule prohibits banks from proprietary trading while also significantly restricting their ability to invest in a hedge fund or private equity vehicle.

Dr Andrew Aziz, Executive Vice President of Risk Solutions at Algorithmics, commented:  “Due to its strong presence on both the buy and sell side, Algorithmics is uniquely placed to appreciate the issues that proprietary trading desks are likely to face as they set up risk processes on their own.  These groups have long been accustomed to 100% asset class coverage for valuations and the luxury of significant IT support. As they establish themselves as standalone firms, we anticipate that the adjustment to ‘business as usual’ will be a challenge for many, especially if they want to replicate the level of support infrastructure they have been used to.”

Already the market is beginning to see proprietary trading desks being spun out of major banks and this trend will intensify as the July 2012 deadline imposed by the Dodd Frank Act approaches.  This trend is occurring at just the same time as greater risk scrutiny is being demanded of hedge funds in general.

Dr Andrew Aziz continued: “As independent hedge funds, they face a number of challenges. First, they will be subject to more regulatory oversight than they have been used to as the hedge fund industry becomes subject to the new requirements of UCITS IV, AIFMD and Dodd Frank. Second, in addition to providing position-level reports to regulators, they will also face the growing demands of their investors for greater risk transparency. Finally, they will need to attract capital without a track record as independent funds. These are all fundamental requirements for entry into this market. In our view, if new funds can demonstrate that they have put in place best practice risk management then they will be in a stronger position to meet these regulatory and investor requirements and build credibility with potential investors.”

For further insight into the Dodd Frank Act, particularly the Volker Rule, please see the Algorithmics white paper ‘Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act: Business Model Implications’ http://www.algorithmics.com/EN/media/pdfs/Algo-WP0111-Dodd-Frank.pdf

For more information about Algorithmics’ solutions for the hedge fund industry, visit:
http://www.algorithmics.com/EN/solutions/myindustry/hedgefund.cfm

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Heather Smith, Senior Communications Manager, Algorithmics (UK) Ltd
Direct line +44 (0) 20 7392 5820  Mobile +44 (0) 7515 974223
E-mail Heather.smith@algorithmics.com

Notes to Editors:

Algorithmics is the world's leading provider of risk solutions. Financial organizations from around the world use Algorithmics' software, analytics and advisory services to help them make risk-aware business decisions, maximize shareholder value, and meet regulatory requirements. Supported by a global team of risk experts based in all major financial centers, Algorithmics offers proven, award-winning solutions for market, credit and operational risk, as well as collateral and capital management. Algorithmics is a member of the Fitch Group. http://www.algorithmics.com/

Portfolio Construction and Risk Management for Hedge Funds
Algorithmics has a range of risk solutions for all hedge funds irrespective of their strategy, level of sophistication or assets under management.  With a clear migration path from pre-configured risk reports (Standard Edition) to fully customized risk systems (Enterprise Edition), Algorithmics can support our hedge fund clients as they develop and as their needs evolve. This means that hedge funds have the reassurance that their investment in the Algorithmics risk systems is fully scalable as their needs change in response to emerging client, regulatory, business model drivers. 

Fitch Group is the parent company of Fitch Ratings, a global ratings agency committed to providing the world's markets with independent, timely and prospective credit opinions. With 49 offices worldwide, Fitch Ratings’ global expertise spans across capital markets in over 150 countries. Fitch Ratings is headquartered in New York and London.

The Fitch Group also includes Fitch Solutions, a distribution channel for Fitch Ratings products and a provider of data, analytics and related services; and Algorithmics, the world's leading provider of enterprise risk solutions.

The Fitch Group is a majority-owned subsidiary of Fimalac, S.A., headquartered in Paris, France.

For additional information, please visit http://www.fitchratings.com/  http://www.algorithmics.com/ and http://www.fimalac.com/

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