The new UK Long Term Asset Fund (LTAF) – policy statement and supporting rules now in place
Following the recent publication of the policy statement and supporting rules for the new UK Long Term Asset Fund (LTAF), Waystone is starting to formalise its governance, risk, and compliance solutions for the new fund structure.
The Long-Term Asset Fund (LTAF) is intended to offer investors access to alternative asset classes, such as venture capital, private equity, private debt, real estate, and infrastructure, therefore providing an alternative to open-ended funds that invest in illiquid assets.
A working group composed of the FCA, the Treasury, the Bank of England, and representatives from the funds industry spent much of the earlier part of this year reviewing the impact of changes to UK fund rules to help support the development of the LTAF.
The background to the LTAF
The LTAF was first proposed in June 2019 in the Investment Association’s Vision 2020 report and has been proposed specifically to offer investors access to alternative asset classes that have previously been almost exclusively available to professional investors. Distribution of the product is intended to be limited to professional investors and sophisticated retail investors at first, with defined contribution pension funds a key objective, given the long-term investment horizons of such schemes.
It’s clear that the UK Government and regulators wish to seize an opportunity to achieve several of their key objectives with the creation of the LTAF and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, has set an ambitious timeline to have the first LTAF launched in the market by the end of 2021.
As the UK emerges from the challenges of both Brexit and COVID-19, the UK Government is looking to ‘level up’ economic growth across the country, increase investment in infrastructure, property, and debt, always with a view to ‘building back greener’. For policymakers, being able to direct the large amounts of capital sitting in defined contribution pension pots towards these longer-term asset classes has been a long-term goal. The LTAF could be an example of a single initiative that may help achieve these objectives.
Benefits and Challenges of LTAFs
The benefits for managers are clear; an expanded investor base and increased sources of capital, with the potential to increase AUM. The main challenge will be finding a suitable structure, whether this is a fund vehicle or an alternative investment platform that is suitable for retail investors. An additional challenge will be finding distributors to bring the product to market.
Among the UK’s authorised fund range, the LTAF has a key distinguishing feature. LTAFs will not be dealing daily, instead, they will give managers the option to align the funds’ dealing and redemption opportunities with the liquidity of underlying assets. Using the example of a private debt strategy, managers may choose quarterly or annual redemption opportunities to allow time to manage the flow of capital into and out of the fund. Consequently, investors would have more transparency in their investments, therefore avoiding more ‘Woodford’ situations.
The momentum for the LTAF continues to gather pace following the closing of the consultation period earlier this year.
The role of the Authorised Corporate Director (ACD)
Whilst the role of the ACD is expected to evolve in line with the proposed structure of the LTAF, we expect there will be various specific governance requirements that will need to be fulfilled over and above the requirements for other types of UK authorised funds, including:
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- Annual assessment of valuations, due diligence, conflicts of interest, and liquidity management – LTAF managers will be required to conduct an (at least) annual assessment of how it has managed the LTAF in the best interests of the LTAF, its investors, and the integrity of the market. For example, how the valuation methodologies maintained by the manager represent good market practice (if the manager performs the valuation function itself rather than appointing an external valuer) and how the liquidity profile of the LTAF has been consistent with its redemption policy.
- Expansion of senior management responsibilities – The senior manager responsible under SMCR for the prescribed responsibility relating to authorised funds will be responsible for ensuring that the authorised fund manager manages the LTAF in the best interests of the fund, its investors, and the integrity of the market, that an annual assessment of value is carried out and that there are enough independent directors on the board.
- Quarterly reports – In addition to the half-yearly and annual reports required for authorised funds, an LTAF will also be required to report quarterly to its investors on the investments in the portfolio, transactions undertaken during the period, and any significant developments in the investments of which the investors should be aware. This report must be published no more than 20 business days after the end of each quarterly reporting period.
- Appointment of an external valuer – LTAF managers must appoint an external valuer to perform the valuation of an LTAF, unless (i) the LTAF manager has the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to be able to carry out a proper and independent valuation of the assets and types of assets which the long-term asset fund holds or is to hold, and (ii) the depositary has determined that the LTAF manager possesses such knowledge, skills, and experience.
- Monthly valuations – Notwithstanding the flexible dealing frequency, the LTAF‘s assets must be valued at least monthly and that price published.
The Waystone proposition
As the leading provider of institutional governance, risk, and compliance services to the asset management industry and acting in its capacity as an Authorised Corporate Director (ACD) for UK-regulated funds, Waystone is well-placed to ensure managers are able to seize the opportunities provided by the creation of the LTAF.
Our experience of supporting funds investing in alternative assets in domiciles such as Ireland and Luxembourg will provide clients with the assurance that they will be working with a provider that understands both the dynamics of the asset class and the UK funds regime.
If you would like to discuss further the possibilities of the LTAF and find out more about how Waystone can assist you when it goes live, please contact our ACD team.
