Hedge Fund Operational Due Diligence: Understanding the Risks

Praise for Hedge Fund Operational Due Diligence: Understanding the Risks
"This book should be required reading for anyone who wants to successfully invest in hedge funds. As operational problems are reputed to cause over 50% of all hedge fund failures, it is essential that hedge fund analysts understand how to conduct proper operational due diligence—many firms are only now starting to understand the importance of this skill set. Mr. Scharfman′s book will go a long way towards educating analysts in this critical area."
—Ed Rogers, CEO, Rogers Investment Advisors, LLC
"Scharfman has written an excellent book! Highly accessible . . . covers crucial topics! This book should be read by all analysts who cover the hedge funds space. It also furnishes a very valuable and necessary addition to the MBA finance curriculum. Solid operational infrastructure is exactly what the smart institutional investors are demanding, and rightly so. Scharfman′s book is going to help make a lot of good decisions—that is, for those who are prudent enough to read it."
—Dr. Ranjan Bhaduri, Managing DirectorAlphaMetrix, LLC
A straightforward how–to guide for conductingeffective hedge fund operational due diligence
Providing a hands–on, step–by–step guide to the operational due diligence process involving hedge funds, Hedge Fund Operational Due Diligence: Understanding the Risks addresses essential issues including:
Why you should care about operational risk
Who is qualified to perform an operational risk review
How you can easily create an initial operational profile
The gray areas of operational due diligence
Ten tips when performing an operational due diligence review
Techniques for modeling operational risk
Packed with insight and tips to help you diagnose and monitor key hedge fund operational risks, Hedge Fund Operational Due Diligence: Understanding the Risks is required reading for every hedge fund analyst and investor.

Spis treści:
Preface.
Chapter 1. What is Operational Risk?
Brief History.
Modern Definition of Operational Risk in a Hedge Fund Context.
Operational Due Diligence versus Operational Risk.
Key Areas.
External Risks.
Internal Risks.
Fund Terms.
Transparency and Reporting.
Blended Risks.
The Five Themes.
Chapter 2. The Importance of Operational Due Diligence.
Why Should Investors Care About Operational Risk?
Morton′s Fork Or A Hobson′s Choice?
Outright Fraud Still Exists.
Hedge Fund Fraud Cannot Be Modeled.
Small Discrepancies Add Up.
Lack Of Standardized Regulation.
Each Hedge Fund Is Different.
Ability To Generate An Informational Edge.
Potential To Reduce Losses And Increase Returns.
Considering Operational Risk Factors Presents A Different View Into A Firm.
Common Misconceptions.
Other Considerations: There Is Not Necessarily A Positive Correlation Between Assets And Operational Quality.
A Study In Operational Failure: Bayou Hedge Fund Group.
Affiliated Broker Dealer.
Large Discrepancies Between The Performance Of Onshore And Offshore Funds.
Declining Capital Of Broker Dealer.
Board Of Directors: Members And Actions.
Lavish Expenses Of Broker–Dealers.
Fake Audits Prepared By A Phony Auditor.
Background Questions.
Lack Of Investor Communication.
Ties To People Barred From The Securities Industry.
Revision Of Conflicted Marketing Materials.
Other Anomalies.
Chapter 3. Who Is Qualified To Perform An Operational Due Diligence Review?
Essential Skills.
Primary Skills.
Primary, Secondary, Blended, And Other Skills.
In–House Versus Outsourcing.
Evolution Of Independent Operational Rating Agencies.
Benefits Of Third–Party Rating Agencies.
Criticisms Of Third–Party Rat ing Agencies.
Factors To Consider Before Performing An Operational Review Of A Hedge Fund.
Chapter 4. Creating An Initial Operational Profile.
When Does An Operational Due Diligence Review Begin.
Documentation.
The Piñata Problem.
Due Diligence Questionnaire:  To Use Or Not To Use?
Background Investigations.
Other Considerations.
Importance Of On–Site Visits.
Which Office To Visit?
Manager Interview Process.
What Topics Should I Cover During An On–Site Review?
Sample Topic Questions.
In What Order Should These Topics Be Covered?
Service Provider Reviews.
Qualitative Operational Report: Documenting The Operational Data.
Chapter 5. Evaluating the Gray Areas: Examples.
Scenario 1: It Was Not Me–Hedge Fund Manager Claims It Is Mistaken Identity.
Scenario 2: It Was Me But, Everyone Was Doing It–Are Regulatory Witch Hunts Real?
Scenario 3: It Was Me But, I Did Nothing Wrong––Manager Proved Not Guilty.
Scenario 4: The Low Profile Hedge Fund Manager–Is No News Good News?
Scenario 5: The Infrastructure Outsourcer–Can An Administrator Do Everything?
Scenario 6: The Mountain Climber – Can Plans For Large Fast Growth Trip You Along The Way?
Scenario 7: The Stumbling Giant–Can A Large Manager Lose Sight Of Small Controls?
Scenario 8: The Apologetic Headmaster–Are Junior Staff As Informed As Senior Management?
Chapter 6. Ten Tips When Performing an Operational Due Diligence Review.
Tip 1. Meeting With The Wrong People Or The Wrong Groups.
Tip 2. Get Out Of The Conference Room.
Tip 3. Little White Lies Can Turn Into Big Problems.
Tip 4. Be Wary Of Phantomware.
Tip 5. Focus On Documentation And Negotiation.
Tip 6. Read The Fine Print (Financial Statement Notes Etc.).
Tip 7. Reference Checking: The Importance Of In–Sample And Out Of Sample References.
Tip 8. Credit Analysis: Are F unds Financially Viable?
Tip 9. Long–Term Planning: Key Staff Retention, Succession Planning, And More.
Tip 10. Growth Planning: Is The Manager Pro–Active Or Reactive??
Chapter 7. On–going Operational Profile Monitoring.
How Often Should Background Investigations Be Renewed?
Remote Operational Due Diligence Monitoring.
Media Monitoring.
Litigation And Regulatory Monitoring.
Hedge Fund Communication Reviews.
Assets Under Management And Performance Monitoring.
Operational Events.
Effect Of Discovery On The Magnitude Of An Operational Event.
On–Site Visit Frequent And Operational Events.
Developmental Operational Traps.
Multi–Jurisdictional And Intra–Jurisdictional Regulatory Coordination.
Silo Creation.
Organizational Nesting.
Chapter 8. Techniques For Modeling Operational Risk.
Scoring Systems.
Building a Scoring System: Category Determination.
Category Definitions.
Category Definitions: Combinations of Approaches.
Category Weight Assignment.
Weighting Aggregation Model.
Weighting Disaggregation Model.
WAM versus WDM.
Category Weight Consistency and Re–weighting Considerations.
Factor marginalization.
Category Scale Determination and The Meaning of Scores.
Threshold Self–Assessment and Determination.
Score Assignment.
Discretionary Penalties and Bonuses.
Discretionary Magnitudes.
Score Aggregation: Sum Totaling and Weighted Averages.
Criticisms of scorecard models.
Benefits of scorecard models.
Visualization Techniques.
TreeMapping.
Chapter 9. Bridging the Gap: Incorporating Operational Risk Consideration Into the Portfolio Construction and Asset Allocation Process.
Pro–Active Monitoring: Graphical Universe Creation.
Pro–Active Management Of Operational Risks.
Protecting Against Conglomeration Risks: Multivariate Commonality Analysis.
Operational Directional View