GIPS Flashcards
Why was GIPS created
To make meaningful comparisons of manager investment performances without misleading practices
Misleading Practices in reporting
- Representative Accounts
(represent only top performers, remove outliners/low performing funds) - Survivorship Bias
(average history, not including terminated funds) - Varying Time Periods
(presenting time periods with stellar performance)
What is GIPS
“A practitioner-driven set of ethical principles that
establish
a standardized, industry-wide approach
for
investment firms to follow
in
calculating and presenting
their
historical investment results to prospective clients”
To whom does GIPS apply to
Investment Management Firms that ONLY manage assets.
It should be a firm wide process, not a single product/or composite compliance.
Finally, comply with ALL GIPS rules, not just a select few.
A multi-national financial services holding company is unlikely to be solely operating as an investment firm, and the scope of the business could also make it more difficult to claim compliance on a firm-wide basis.
Who is served by the GIPS
The clients
- They get a historical track record that is complete and fairly presented
- Easily comparable when the same standard is used by different research companies
What are composites
Composite is an aggregation of one of more portfolios
managed according to a similar investment mandate, objective or strategy
How to construct a composite?
The construction of the composite should be done by a
pre-established criteria,
not an ex-ante basis.
This prevents the firm from excluding bad-performers
Purpose of Composites in Performance Reporting
Easily comparable across the board/industry
Requirements for verification
Not mandatory, but once a GIPS claim has been made, it is recommended an independent 3rd party perform a verification to increase confidence in the firm’s compliance claim
Accrual accounting
The recording of financial transactions as they come into existence rather than when they are paid or settled
Additional Information
Information that is required/recommended under GIPS
and
is not considered supplemental information
Administrative Fee
All fees other than Trading Expenses, Investment Management Fees. Includes \:-Custody, \:-Accounting, \:-Auditing, \:-Consulting, \:-Legal, \:-Performance measure fees \:-and other fees
All-In-Fee
A type of bundled fee that can include any combination of
1) Investment Management Fees,
2) Trading Expenses,
3) Custody
4) & admin fees.
All-In-Fees are
:- client specific
:- and typically offered in certain jurisdictions where
asset management, brokerage and custody services
are offered by the same company
Benchmark
A point of reference
against
which the composite’s
performance and/or risk is compared
Benchmark Description
General information regarding
the
investments, structure, and/or characteristics
of the benchmark.
The description must include the key features of the benchmark for a readily recognized index or other point of reference
Bundled Fee
A fee that combines multiple fees into one total fee.
Can include any combo of investment, trading, custody, and admin fee. Ex: Wrap Fee & All-In-Fees
Capital Employed (Real Estate)
- Denominator of the return calculations
- Defined as the “weighted average equity” during the measurement period.
- Does not include any income or capital return earned during the measurement period.
- Beginning capital is adjusted by weighting the External CF that occurred during the period
Capital Return (Real Estate)
Change in value of the Real Estate Investment
and
cash and/or cash equivalent assets held throughout
the measurement period,
adjusted for capital expenditures (-)
and
net proceeds from sales (+).
Computed as a percent of Capital Employed.
Carried Interest
Real Estate & Private Equity
Profits that General Partners are allocated
from
investment profits made by the investment vehicle.
Carve-Out
Portion of portfolio that is representative of a distinctive investment strategy.
Used to create a track record for a narrower mandate
from
a multiple-strategy portfolio managed to a broader mandate
Closed-end Fund (Real Estate & Private Equity)
A type of investment vehicle where the \:- # of investors, \:- total committed capital \:- and life are fixed and not open for subscriptions and redemption.
Close-ended funds have a capital call process in place, controlled by the general partner.
Committed Capital (Real Estate & Private Equity)
Pledges of capital to an investment vehicle by investors or by the firm.
Not drawn at once, but over time
Compliant Presentation
A presentation for a composite
that
contain all the information required by the GIPS
and
may also include
additional information or supplemental information
Composite
An aggregate of one or more portfolios
managed according
to a similar investment mandate, objective or strategy