Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA)

  
Formed in 1990, the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) is the global trade association for the hedge fund and related industries.  With more than 1250 member companies in 47 countries, it is the authoritative voice of the global industry.  AIMA represents the full range of hedge fund industry disciplines - including hedge fund and fund of funds managers, legal and accounting services, prime broking and audit. 

AIMA remains the only professional trade association with worldwide membership representing the hedge fund industry. It is also the only such association which represents all practitioners in the alternative investment management industry - including funds of funds managers, underlying hedge fund managers and the full range of service providers, including prime brokers, lawyers, auditors and administrators.  AIMA is pleased to have launched its Institutional Investor Steering Committee to ensure that the global investor community is able to offer its input on future developments and initiatives to the association and its members.

AIMA's membership is corporate and now comprises over 1,250 firms, in 47 different countries.  AIMA's hedge fund manager members manage in excess of 75% of global hedge fund assets. Furthermore, AIMA represents over 70% of global fund of hedge funds assets.

AIMA's growth has been commensurate with the development of the hedge fund industry worldwide.

AIMA's objectives are specifically:

• to provide an interactive and professional forum for its membership and act as a catalyst for the industry's future development;

• to be the pre-eminent voice of the industry to the wider financial community, institutional investors, the media, regulators, governments and other policy makers; and

• to offer a centralised source of information on the industry's activities and influence, and to secure its place in the investment management community.

The central pillars of AIMA's activity are:

• Education

AIMA is proud to be one of two co-founders of the CAIA Association.  AIMA is committed to creating and gathering informative and educational materials for the use of its members, the financial industry, institutional investors and the financial regulatory community. 

• Regulation and Government Affairs

AIMA is recognised as the global voice of the industry.  It has built positive relationships with the world's leading national, international and supra-national financial and fiscal authorities. It is the liaison with policy makers around the world.

• Sound Practices

While AIMA is not a self-regulatory organisation, its members regularly review their practices.  Key documents issued include Guides to Sound Practices for managers and administrators and a series of illustrative due diligence questionnaires for the selection of managers and their service providers.