According to KPMG‘s 2016 Global Women in Alternative Investments Report: The Time is Now: Real Change, Real Impact, Seize the Moment, mandates and programs for women-owned and managed fund increased to 10 percent in 2016 from just two percent in 2013. At a majority of investors, women-led funds represent less than 5 percent of their total portfolio.
This year’s report highlights that emerging manger mandates are on the rise among investors, presenting additional opportunities for women-owned and managed funds. Forty percent of women-owned and managed fund respondents have pursued emerging manager mandates, up from 31 percent last year. Nearly half who pursued mandates this year won them.
However, while 32 percent of investors polled said they expect an increase in their allocations to emerging managers over the next 18 months, only 16 percent expect allocations to women-owned and managed funds to increase over the same timeframe.
Alternative Investments Audit partner Kelly Rau, also a co-author of this year’s report, added: «Although we have not seen considerable improvement in some areas since last year, there are signs of progress. Firms are embarking on creative initiatives designed to better retain and advance women in alternatives, and there are greater numbers of investors considering allocations to women-owned and managed funds.»
Alternative Investments Sector Outlook Is Mixed for the Next 18 months
- 48 percent expect hedge fund performance will improve. However, 18 percent of investors expect to decrease allocations to hedge funds while the same percentage plans to increase allocations to the sector.
- 30 percent expect improved performance for private equity; 30 percent of investors plan to increase allocations to the sector
- 18 percent expect improved performance for real estate funds; and 22 percent of investors plan to increase their real estate allocations