Regulation

At the time of the original report for AREF, regulation had not been considered a major constraint on behaviour, other than for authorised funds. This has changed significantly with the introduction of the EU Alternative Investment  Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) and other regulatory changes. Many fund managers are only now beginning to get to grip with the full impact of the changes.

Product development

The report three years ago observed that some investors were attracted to open-ended funds because they provide the ability to deploy capital for the long term. Many investors wanting to invest for the long term are not attracted by the perceived short-term nature of the closed-ended fund model, where assets are divested and capital returned even though the investors may want to keep the capital deployed. The lack of attractiveness of the closed-ended model in this respect for some investors does not mean that such investors are attracted to the high degree of liquidity of the fully open- ended fund model either.

The report concluded that AREF should continue the dialogue regarding the fundamental issues that need to be considered for both the open- ended and closed-ended fund model. The range of fund vehicles already covers a spectrum, with funds that fall between the strict open and closed-ended model. The challenges in the downturn for open-ended funds of maintaining liquidity, and for closed-ended funds of raising capital outside the commitment period to meet loan-to-value covenant breaches, may encourage greater interest in hybrid vehicles with some of the characteristics of both.