Man Group Explained

Man Group plc
Logo Alt:Man Group logo
Type:Public
Industry:Financial services
Founder:James Man
Area Served:Worldwide
Products:Investment products
Revenue: US$1,168 million (2023)[1]
Operating Income: US$279 million (2023)
Net Income: US$234 million (2023)
Aum:US$167.5 billion (2023)
Location:London, United Kingdom

Man Group plc is an active investment management business[2] listed on the London Stock Exchange.[3] It provides investment funds in liquid and private markets for institutional and private investors. It is the world's largest publicly traded hedge fund company, reporting $161.2 billion in funds under management .[4] The firm is headquartered at Riverbank House in London and employs over 1,600 people in various locations.[4] [5] The company was a sponsor of the Man Booker Prize from 2002 to 2019.[6]

History

The company was founded by James Man in 1783 as a sugar cooperage and brokerage, based in Harp Lane in Billingsgate. The following year Man Group won the contract to supply the Royal Navy with rum for its daily rum ration, a tradition under which all sailors were allocated a daily rum ration. This tradition continued until 1970, with Man Group holding the contract throughout.[7] The company expanded from sugar and rum into other commodities such as coffee and cocoa. The company traded as a commodities business throughout the 19th and 20th century, gradually diversifying into financial services following the advent of financial exchanges to hedge commodity exposures.[7]

The firm was renamed ED&F Man in 1869, based on the initials of James Man's grandsons Edward Desborough Man and Fredrick Man. ED&F Man listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1994. In 2000 the company divided into two separate businesses, with Man Group plc focusing on financial services and ED&F Man (the commodities division) taken private in a management buy-out.[8]

In 2007 Man Group transitioned to an investment management business, following the demerger and flotation of its brokerage business (known as MF Global) on the New York Stock Exchange.[9] Man Group attained its current structure through acquisitions. Man AHL, founded by Cyril Adam, David Harding, and Martin Leuck, was acquired from 1989 to 1994.[10] Man Group's other investment managers were formed via acquisition between 2010 and 2017, beginning with the 2010 acquisition of Man GLG (previously GLG Partners) for $1.6 billion, followed by Man FRM in 2012, Man Numeric in 2014,[11] Man GPM in 2017 and Man Varagon (previously Varagon Capital Partners) in 2023.[12]

In late 2017, Man Group announced the creation of a quantitative hedge fund in China. The firm has held licenses to operate in the country since 2012, but was provided clearance to operate as a private securities investment fund manager. Man is one of the first systematic investment managers to receive this accreditation. The fund was to be managed by Man's AHL division.[13] In 2020, Man AHL received approval for a Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor ("QFII") license in China.[14]

Structure and operations

Man Group has six investment engines that offer alternative and long-only strategies, run on a systematic and discretionary basis across liquid and private markets. It employs over 600 quants and technologists, offers over 75 investment strategies across a variety of investment approaches, styles and asset classes, and trades in over 800 markets around the world.[4]

Senior management

Robyn Grew was appointed as Man Group's CEO in 2023,[15] succeeding Luke Ellis who had held the role since September 2016.[16]

In September 2023, Man Group announced a number of changes to its senior management.[17] Anne Wade was appointed as Chair of the Board.[18] She replaced John Cryan who been Chair of the Board since January 2020.[19]

Mergers and acquisitions

RMF and Bernard Madoff

RMF, a former division of Man Group, invested 0.5% of its funds under management at the time with various third-party funds which, in turn, had positions in funds ultimately managed by Bernard Madoff. RMF was one of 107 financial institutions and 13,000 individuals to invest in such funds., 59% of all such funds have been recovered and returned to various institutions and individuals.[40]

Man Booker Prize

Man Group sponsored the Man Booker literary prize from 2002 to 2019.[41] [42] Described by The Telegraph as "...arguably the UK's most prestigious" literary prize, the £50,000 award was created in 1973 to increase the reading of quality fiction and attract "the intelligent general audience".[43] [44]

Corporate responsibility

Man Group supports various charitable initiatives focused on promoting education, which are run primarily through the Man Charitable Trust and the Man US Charitable Foundation.[45]

Man Charitable Trust and the Man US Charitable Foundation

Set up in 1978, The Man Charitable Trust is an independent registered charity that funds small to medium-size charities focusing on literacy and numeracy programmes. It also funds programmes in support of access to education for disadvantaged people. In 2019, Man Group launched the Man US Charitable Foundation to provide funding and volunteering opportunities in the US. In 2021, Man Group donated $4 million to both charities.[45] [46]

Oxford-Man Institute

In June 2007 Man launched a joint project with the University of Oxford, the Oxford-Man Institute of Quantitative Finance. Man Group's initial financial commitment to the institute was £13.75 million, one of the largest single donations to a British higher education institution in recent years.[47] In 2016 the Oxford-Man Institute expanded its focus on machine learning and data analytics, becoming part of the University of Oxford's Department of Engineering Science. The development of the OMI's focus creates a hub for machine learning and data analysis at Eagle House, the current home of the OMI and Man AHL's Oxford Research lab.[48]

In December 2019, The University of Oxford and Man Group announced that funding support for the Oxford-Man Institute (OMI) had been agreed for a further five years.[49]

Former sponsorships and charitable initiatives

Man Group is a former sponsor of the Man Group International Climate Change Award and the Man Asian Literary Prize.[50] [51] In the 1990s, Man was a founding member of the East London Partnership, which became the East London Business Alliance, a business-community outreach charity promoting corporate social responsibility and employee volunteering.[52]

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Annual Results 2023. Man Group. 29 February 2024.
  2. News: Man Group boss confident that performance will pick up. Financial Times. 23 January 2017 . 30 October 2017. subscription.
  3. Web site: Stock . 27 May 2022 . www.londonstockexchange.com .
  4. Web site: Investor Relations . 24 October 2023 . www.man.com .
  5. http://www.thehedgefundjournal.com/magazine/200908/research/global-50-funds-of-hedge-funds.php Global 50 Funds of Hedge Funds
  6. News: The Booker's Big Bang. Sutherland . John. New Statesman. 9 October 2008. 3 September 2009.
  7. Web site: Man Group: Timeline . 18 April 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110216220802/http://www.mangroupplc.com/assets/pdf/media/timeline.pdf . 16 February 2011 .
  8. Web site: Corigins. strauscom.com. 30 March 2015.
  9. http://uk.reuters.com/article/hedgeFundsNews/idUKNOA12848620070601 Man Group's MF Global unit files for IPO
  10. Web site: A Brief History of Man AHL, Winton & Aspect. 14 February 2014 . RCM Alternatives. 24 October 2023.
  11. News: Man Group to Buy Numeric Holdings of Boston. 19 June 2014. New York Times. 24 October 2023.
  12. Web site: Completion of Acquisition of Varagon Capital Partners . 24 October 2023 . www.man.com .
  13. https://www.ft.com/content/cf0ac192-dc3e-11e7-a039-c64b1c09b482, Man Group to launch quant hedge fund in China
  14. Web site: Man AHL receives approval for QFII license in China. 29 September 2020. Man Group. 27 May 2022.
  15. Web site: Man Group appoints Robyn Grew as next CEO as Luke Ellis announces retirement . 24 October 2023 . www.man.com .
  16. News: Eschenbacher. Stefanie. Luke Ellis, the New Man in Charge at Man Group. Wall Street Journal. 20 July 2016 . Dow Jones. 10 November 2016.
  17. Web site: Directorate Changes . 24 October 2023 . www.man.com .
  18. Web site: Anne Wade . 24 October 2023 . www.man.com .
  19. Web site: Man Group announces Anne Wade to take over as Chair in late 2023 . 24 October 2023 . www.man.com .
  20. https://web.archive.org/web/20041204214452/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_44/b3906150_mz035.htm Man Is Feeling The Pull Of Gravity
  21. http://www.alacrastore.com/storecontent/Thomson_M&A/ED_F_Man_Group_PLC_acquires_Glenwood_Capital_Investements-1061433020 ED&F Man Group PLC acquires Glenwood Capital Investements
  22. http://www.efinancialnews.com/story/2000-12-01/man-buys-australian-hedge-fund-group Man Group buys Australian hedge fund group
  23. http://www.alacrastore.com/storecontent/Thomson_M&A/Man_Group_PLC_acquires_RMF_Investment_Group-1297361040 Man Group PLC acquires RMF Investment Group
  24. http://www.alacrastore.com/storecontent/Thomson_M&A/Man_Group_PLC_acquires_a_minority_stake_in_BlueCrest_Capital_Management-1453385040 Man Group PLC acquires a minority stake in BlueCrest Capital Management
  25. Web site: Jones. Sam. Man Group sells BlueCrest stake. Financial Times. Pearson. 16 July 2015. 23 March 2011. subscription.
  26. http://www.hedgefundsreview.com/global/hedgefundsreview/fund_profiles/P/Pemba%20Credit%20Advisers%20april07.pdf Man Group sets sail with Pemba into credit
  27. http://www.alacrastore.com/storecontent/Thomson_M&A/Man_Group_PLC_acquires_Ore_Hill_Partners_LLC-1965362020 Man Group PLC acquires Ore Hill Partners LLC (pending)
  28. http://www.cpifinancial.net/v2/News.aspx?v=1&aid=147&sec=Alternative%20Investments Man ECO announces $635 million raised for China Methane Recovery Fund
  29. http://www.alacrastore.com/storecontent/Thomson_M&A/Man_Group_PLC_acquires_a_minority_stake_in_Nephila_Capital_Ltd-1984852040 Man Group PLC acquires a minority stake in Nephila Capital Ltd
  30. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8a49881c-6186-11df-aa80-00144feab49a.html Man agrees takeover of GLG
  31. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4e6f5c12-a32a-11e1-8f34-00144feabdc0.html#axzz36b6HX4kM Man Group to acquire rival FRM
  32. https://www.maninvestments.com.au/about/media-centre/acquisition-of-frm-holdings-limited-by-man-group Acquisition of FRM Holdings Limited by Man Group
  33. Web site: Man Group closes Pine Grove Asset Management acquisition. Hedgeweek.com. 5 August 2014 . Hedgeweek. 20 July 2015.
  34. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ae30931a-3747-11e4-b45c-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3d1d4y9CJ Man Group's flagship funds stage continued recovery
  35. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-12-08/man-group-buys-merrill-lynch-s-1-2-billion-fund-of-hedge-funds Man Group Buys Merrill Lynch's $1.2 Billion Funds of Hedge Funds
  36. Web site: Man Group trading statement – March 2015. Man.com. Man Group. 18 March 2019.
  37. http://www.hedgeweek.com/2014/12/17/214872/man-group-acquire-silvermine-capital-management/ Man Group to Acquire Silvermine Capital Management
  38. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/96fe6422-b872-11e4-a2fb-00144feab7de.html#axzz3d1d4y9CJ Man Group to buy asset manager NewSmith
  39. http://www.investmentweek.co.uk/investment-week/news/2474119/man-group-acquires-aalto-to-launch-private-markets-arm Man Group acquires Aalto to launch private markets arm
  40. News: Madoff Trustee Tops $10 Billion Recovery With Bank Deal. Bloomberg.com. 14 July 2015. Erik. Larson. 8 January 2014.
  41. Web site: The Man Booker Prize . The Man Booker Prize . 18 April 2011.
  42. Web site: Booker Prizes Lose Major Sponsor. 27 January 2019.
  43. News: Top 25 Literary Prizes. Telegraph.co.uk. 17 June 2015. London. Jon. Stock. Kealey. Rigden. 15 October 2013.
  44. Web site: The Prizes. Man Booker. 17 June 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150618182115/http://www.themanbookerprize.com/background. 18 June 2015.
  45. Web site: 1 March 2022 . Man Group annual report 2021 – page 45 .
  46. Web site: Our Supporters. Beanstalk. 14 July 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140720033822/http://www.beanstalkcharity.org.uk/support-us/our-supporters. 20 July 2014.
  47. http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/po/news/2006-07/sep/19.shtml Oxford-Man Institute of Quantitative Finance officially opened
  48. Web site: Areas of research. Oxford-man.ox.ac.uk. Oxford Man Institute. 17 June 2015.
  49. Web site: Man Group extends Oxford-Man Institute funding . 27 May 2022 . eng.ox.ac.uk .
  50. Web site: MALP News . Man Asian Literary Prize . Man Asian Literary Prize . 18 April 2011.
  51. Web site: Allen . Katie . Asian Literary Prize seeks new sponsor . The Bookseller . 18 October 2012 . 19 November 2012.
  52. Book: Ball . Stephen J. . Junemann. Carolina. 2012 . Networks, New Governance and Education . 89: 'And Man was a founding member of what was called East London Partnership, which became East London Business Alliance, a business-community outreach charity promoting corporate social responsibility (CSR) and employee volunteering. Policy Press . 9781847429797 . 1 September 2014.