The Adviser is an investment adviser with its principal place of business in London, United Kingdom. The
Adviser was founded in 2000 by Martin Hughes and was initially established as Toscafund Limited. The
Adviser is registered and domiciled in England under Partnership number OC320318. The Adviser’s
business was transferred from Toscafund Limited (Company number 3992877) on October 31, 2006. Old
Oak Holdings Limited is the parent company (“Parent Company”) of the Adviser. Martin Hughes is the
principal owner of the Parent Company.
The Adviser provides investment advisory services on a discretionary basis to its clients, which consist of
pooled investment vehicles intended for sophisticated investors.
The Adviser provides advice to its clients based on specific investment objectives and strategies.
Investment advice is provided directly to each client according to the client’s particular investment
objectives and not individually to the client’s investors. The Adviser tailors its advisory services to the
individual needs and specified investment mandates of each client.
Clients generally may not impose restrictions on investing in certain securities or certain types of
securities.
As of December 31, 2019, the Adviser had approximately $2.3 billion in regulatory assets under
management. All of these assets are managed on a discretionary basis.
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Asset-Based Compensation
The Adviser generally charges each client an investment management fee based on the value of the
client’s assets under management that ranges from 1.5% to 2.0% per annum.
Investment management fees are generally charged each month in arrears based on the total market
value of the assets in the client account (including net unrealized appreciation or depreciation of
investments and cash, cash equivalents and accrued interest) on the last day of the month. If a new
client account is established during a month or a client makes an addition to its account during a month,
the investment management fee will be prorated for the number of days remaining in the month. If a
client’s investment management agreement is terminated during a month, the fee payable to the Adviser
will be calculated based on the value of the assets on the termination date and prorated for the number of
days during the month in which the investment management arrangement was in effect.
Generally these fees are not negotiable.
Performance-Based Compensation
The Adviser may also be paid a performance-based fee, which is compensation that is based on a share
of capital gains on or capital appreciation of the assets of a client. This compensation may be paid to the
Adviser or to a related person of the Adviser and ranges from 15% to 20%, subject to a high watermark.
Generally these fees are not negotiable.
The Adviser receives the investment management fee from client accounts held by the client’s custodian.
In addition to paying investment management fees and, if applicable, performance-based fees or other
compensation, client accounts will also be subject to other investment expenses such as, without
limitation, fees and expenses for legal, auditing and other professional services, registration and filing
fees and other expenses due to regulatory, supervisory and fiscal authorities or agencies in various
jurisdictions in relation to the obtaining and maintenance of authorizations, registrations or stock
exchange listings of the client or its securities or otherwise and all professional and other fees and
expenses in connection therewith and the cost of publication of the net asset value and other fees, costs
and expenses incurred in connection with the conduct of the client’s business, including the payment of
premiums for directors and officers liability insurance and such similar insurance and the offering or
promotion of the client’s securities. Client accounts will also be responsible for all operating expenses
and extraordinary expenses which may be incurred from time to time.
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The Adviser and its investment personnel provide investment management services to multiple portfolios
for multiple clients. The Adviser is entitled to be paid performance-based compensation by its clients. In
addition, the Adviser’s investment personnel are typically compensated on a basis that includes a
performance-based component. The Adviser and its investment personnel, including investment
personnel that share in performance-based compensation, manage both client accounts that are charged
performance-based compensation and accounts that are charged an asset-based fee, which is a non-
performance-based fee. In addition, certain client accounts may have higher asset-based fees or more
favorable performance-based compensation arrangements than other accounts. When the Adviser and
its investment personnel manage more than one client account a potential exists for one client account to
be favored over another client account. The Adviser and its investment personnel have a greater
incentive to favor client accounts that pay the Adviser (and indirectly the portfolio manager) performance-
based compensation or higher fees.
The Adviser has adopted and implemented policies and procedures intended to address conflicts of
interest relating to the management of multiple accounts, including accounts with multiple fee
arrangements, and the allocation of investment opportunities. The Adviser reviews investment decisions
for the purpose of ensuring that all accounts with substantially similar investment objectives are treated
equitably. The performance of similarly managed accounts is also regularly compared to determine
whether there are any unexplained significant discrepancies. In addition, the Adviser’s procedures
relating to the allocation of investment opportunities require that similarly managed accounts participate in
investment opportunities in accordance with factors including the investment cycle of the client’s
investments, the suitability of the investment with regard to the client’s current structure and weightings,
the relative client weightings determined the portfolio managers at the time of investment, the relative
liquidity of the client and existing subscriptions and redemptions from clients. To the extent orders are
aggregated, the client orders are price-averaged. Finally, the Adviser’s procedures also require the
objective allocation for limited opportunities (such as initial public offerings and private placements) to
ensure fair and equitable allocation among accounts. These areas are monitored by the Adviser’s Chief
Compliance Officer.
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The Adviser’s clients consist of pooled investment vehicles. The initial and additional subscription
minimums for these clients are disclosed in their respective offering memoranda.
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The Adviser primarily takes a fundamental research approach to making investment decisions and
recommendations.
The Adviser employs the investment methods and strategies described below. In each case positions
may be taken within the strategy which are ancillary to the main strategy description.
Financials. The Adviser engages in a strategy focused on taking long and short positions in global
financial sector equities (including banks, insurance companies and other financial sector companies).
Mid-Cap. The Adviser engages in a strategy of taking long and short positions largely in mid-market
capitalization equities. This strategy is largely focused in Europe.
New Issue Strategy. The Adviser engages in a strategy of buying positions in initial public offerings and
follow-on offerings from issuers globally.
Hedging. The Adviser may utilize a variety of financial instruments for risk management purposes.
Leverage. The Adviser's investment program may utilize a significant amount of leverage which involves
the borrowing of funds from brokerage firms, banks and other institutions in order to be able to increase
the amount of capital available for marketable securities investments.
Relative Value. The Adviser pursues relative value strategies by taking long positions in securities
believed to be undervalued and short positions in securities believed to be overvalued.
Short Selling. The Adviser engages in short selling strategies. In a short sale transaction, the Adviser
sells a security it does not own in anticipation that the market price of that security will decline. The
Adviser makes short sales (i) as a form of hedging to offset potential declines in long positions in similar
securities, (ii) in order to maintain flexibility and, (iii) for profit.
These methods and strategies involve risk of loss to clients and clients must be prepared to bear the loss
of their entire investment. The following summary identifies the material risks related to the Adviser’s
investment methods and strategies and should be carefully evaluated before making an investment with
the Adviser; however, the following does not intend to identify all possible risks of an investment with the
Adviser or provide a full description of the identified risks.
Hedging. There can be no assurances that a particular hedge is appropriate, or that certain risk is
measured properly. Further, while the Adviser may enter into hedging transactions to seek to reduce risk,
such transactions may result in poorer overall performance and increased (rather than reduced) risk for
the Adviser’s investment portfolios than if the Adviser did not engage in any such hedging transactions.
Issuer-Specific Changes. Changes in the financial condition of an issuer or counterparty, changes in
specific economic or political conditions that affect a particular type of security or issuer, and changes in
general economic or political conditions can increase the risk of default by an issuer or counterparty,
which can affect a security's or instrument's value. The value of securities of smaller, less well-known
issuers can be more volatile than that of larger issuers. Smaller issuers can have more limited product
lines, markets, or financial resources.
Lack of Diversification. Client accounts may not be diversified among a wide range of types of securities,
countries or industry sectors. Accordingly, client portfolios may be subject to more rapid change in value
than would be the case if the Adviser were required to maintain a wider diversification among types of
securities and other instruments.
Leverage. Performance may be more volatile if a client’s account employs leverage.
Relative Value Risk. In the event that the perceived mispricings underlying the Adviser’s relative value
trading positions were to fail to converge toward, or were to diverge further from, relationships expected
by the Adviser, client accounts may incur a loss.
Short Selling Risk. The Adviser’s investment program includes a significant amount of short selling.
Short selling transactions expose the Adviser to the risk of loss in an amount greater than the initial
investment, and such losses can increase rapidly and without effective limit. There is the risk that the
securities borrowed by the Adviser in connection with a short sale would need to be returned to the
securities lender on short notice. If such request for return of securities occurs at a time when other short
sellers of the subject security are receiving similar requests, a “short squeeze” can occur, wherein the
Adviser might be compelled, at the most disadvantageous time, to replace the borrowed securities
previously sold short with purchases on the open market, possibly at prices significantly in excess of the
proceeds received earlier.
Risks associated with the types of investments that are primarily recommended (including significant, or
unusual risks) include:
Derivatives. Swaps, and certain options and other custom derivative or synthetic instruments are subject
to the risk of nonperformance by the counterparty to such instrument, including risks relating to the
financial soundness and creditworthiness of the counterparty. In addition, investments in derivative
instruments require a high degree of leverage, meaning the overall contract value (and, accordingly, the
potential for profits or losses in that value) is much greater than the modest deposit used to buy the
position in the derivative contract. Derivative securities can also be highly volatile. The prices of
derivative instruments and the investments underlying the derivative instruments may fluctuate rapidly
and over wide ranges and may reflect unforeseeable events or changes in conditions, none of which can
be controlled by the client or the Adviser. Further, transactions in derivative instruments are not
undertaken on recognized exchanges, and will expose the client’s account to greater risks than regulated
exchange transactions that provide greater liquidity and more accurate valuation of securities.
Emerging Markets. The risks of foreign investments typically are greater in less developed countries,
sometimes referred to as emerging markets. For example, political and economic structures in these
countries may be less established and may change rapidly. These countries also are more likely to
experience high levels of inflation, deflation, or currency devaluation, which can harm their economies
and securities markets and increase volatility. Restrictions on currency trading that may be imposed by
emerging market countries will have an adverse effect on the value of the securities of companies that
trade or operate in such countries.
Equity Securities. The value of equity securities fluctuates in response to issuer, political, market, and
economic developments. Fluctuations can be dramatic over the short as well as long term, and different
parts of the market and different types of equity securities can react differently to these developments.
For example, large cap stocks can react differently from small cap stocks, and "growth" stocks can react
differently from "value" stocks. Issuer, political, or economic developments can affect a single issuer,
issuers within an industry or economic sector or geographic region, or the market as a whole. Changes
in the financial condition of a single issuer can impact the market as a whole. Terrorism and related geo-
political risks have led, and may in the future lead, to increased short-term market volatility and may have
adverse long-term effects on world economies and markets generally.
Illiquid Instruments. Certain instruments may have no readily available market or third-party pricing.
Reduced liquidity may have an adverse impact on market price and the Adviser’s ability to sell particular
securities when necessary to meet liquidity needs or in response to a specific economic event, such as
the deterioration of creditworthiness of an issuer. Reduced liquidity in the secondary market for certain
securities may also make it more difficult for the Adviser to obtain market quotations based on actual
trades for the purpose of valuing a fund’s portfolio.
Non-U.S. Securities. Foreign securities, foreign currencies, and securities issued by U.S. entities with
substantial foreign operations can involve additional risks relating to political, economic, or regulatory
conditions in foreign countries. These risks include fluctuations in foreign currencies; withholding or other
taxes; trading, settlement, custodial, and other operational risks; and the less stringent investor protection
and disclosure standards of some foreign markets. All of these factors can make foreign investments,
especially those in emerging markets, more volatile and potentially less liquid than U.S. investments. In
addition, foreign markets can perform differently from the U.S. market.
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There are no legal or disciplinary events to report that are responsive to the requirements set forth in the
instructions published by the SEC relating to Part 2A of Form ADV.
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Neither the Adviser nor any of its management persons is registered, or has an application pending to
register, as a broker-dealer or a registered representative of a broker-dealer.
Neither the Adviser nor any of its management persons is registered, or has an application pending to
register, as a futures commission merchant, commodity pool operator, a commodity trading advisor, or is
an associated person of any of the above.
A United States-based affiliate of the Adviser provides the Adviser with certain support and investor
relations services.
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The Adviser has adopted a code of ethics, which is contained within its Compliance Manual (the
“Manual”) that obligates the Adviser and its related persons to put the interests of the Adviser’s clients
before their own interests and to act honestly and fairly in all respects in their dealings with clients. All of
the Adviser’s personnel are also required to comply with applicable federal securities laws. Clients or
prospective clients may obtain a copy of the portions of the Manual required by Rule 204A-1 under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, by contacting Robert Lord (Chief Compliance Officer) by
email at
[email protected], or by telephone at 44 (0) 20 7845 6100. See below for a discussion of the
provisions of the Manual as they relate to the preclearing of securities transactions by related persons.
The Adviser, in the course of its investment management and other activities (e.g., board or creditor
committee service), may come into possession of confidential or material nonpublic information about
issuers, including issuers in which the Adviser or its related persons have invested or seek to invest on
behalf of clients. The Adviser is prohibited from improperly disclosing or using such information for its
own benefit or for the benefit of any other person, regardless of whether such other person is a client.
The Adviser maintains and enforces written policies and procedures that prohibit the communication of
such information to persons who do not have a legitimate need to know such information and to assure
that the Adviser is meeting its obligations to clients and remains in compliance with applicable law. In
certain circumstances, the Adviser may possess certain confidential or material, nonpublic information
that, if disclosed, might be material to a decision to buy, sell or hold a security, but the Adviser will be
prohibited from communicating such information to the client or using such information for the client’s
benefit. In such circumstances, the Adviser will have no responsibility or liability to the client for not
disclosing such information to the client (or the fact that the Adviser possesses such information), or not
using such information for the client’s benefit, as a result of following the Adviser’s policies and
procedures designed to provide reasonable assurances that it is complying with applicable law.
The Adviser or its related persons are generally prohibited from investing in the same securities (or
related securities, e.g., warrants, options or futures) that the Adviser or a related person recommends to
clients. The Adviser requires its staff to preclear all transactions in their personal accounts with the Chief
Compliance Officer, who may deny permission to execute the transaction if such transaction will have any
adverse economic impact on one of its clients.
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The Adviser considers a number of factors in selecting a broker-dealer to execute transactions (or series
of transactions) and determining the reasonableness of the broker-dealer’s compensation. Such factors
include net price, reputation, financial strength and stability, efficiency of execution and error resolution,
offering to the Adviser on-line access to computerized data regarding a client’s accounts. In selecting a
broker-dealer to execute transactions (or series of transactions) and determining the reasonableness of
the broker-dealer’s compensation, the Adviser need not solicit competitive bids and does not have an
obligation to seek the lowest available commission cost. In accordance with EU regulations that require
the “unbundling” of execution and research costs, it is the Adviser's practice to negotiate “execution only”
commission rates with its brokers. Research is paid for by a client in accordance with the Markets in
Financial Instruments Directive II (“MiFID II”) requirements via a Research Payment Account (“RPA”). A
research budget is established each year and research providers are paid for their research services
through the RPA. A client may be paying for research, brokerage or other services provided by a broker-
dealer if the broker-dealer provides such services to the Adviser. Some research providers do not
provide any brokerage services.
The Adviser will limit the use of “soft dollars” to services that constitute research within the meaning of
Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Section 28(e)”) and that are consistent with the
MiFID II requirements related to inducements and payments for research. Research services within
Section 28(e) may include, but are not limited to, research reports (including market research); certain
financial newsletters and trade journals; software providing analysis of securities portfolios; corporate
governance research and rating services; attendance at certain seminars and conferences; discussions
with research analysts; meetings with corporate executives in furtherance of individual company or sector
research; consultants’ advice on portfolio strategy; data services (including services providing market
data, company financial data and economic data); advice from broker-dealers on order execution; and
certain proxy services.
The Adviser has retained an independent third party to perform monthly compliance audits that include
best execution analyses. In addition, the Chief Compliance Officer will annually review the Adviser’s best
execution policy.
The use of client commissions (or markups or markdowns) to obtain research raises conflicts of interest.
For example, the Adviser will not have to pay for the products and services itself. This creates an
incentive for the Adviser to select or recommend a broker-dealer based on its interest in receiving those
products and services. The Adviser currently “unbundles” broker execution costs from research costs as
required by MiFID II.
During the Adviser’s last fiscal year, as a result of client brokerage commissions (or markups or
markdowns), the Adviser and/or its related persons, to the extent permitted by MiFID II and other
applicable law, may have acquired research reports (including market research); certain financial
newsletters and trade journals; software providing analysis of securities portfolios; corporate governance
research and rating services; attendance at certain seminars and conferences; discussions with research
analysts; consultants’ advice on portfolio strategy; data services (including services providing market
data, company financial data and economic data); advice from broker-dealers on order execution; and
certain proxy services.
The Adviser often purchases or sells the same security for many clients at or near the same time. It is the
Adviser's practice, where possible, to aggregate client orders for the purchase or sale of the same
security submitted at or near the same time. The Adviser will also aggregate in the same transaction, the
same securities for accounts where the Adviser has brokerage discretion. Such aggregation may enable
the Adviser to obtain for clients a more favorable price or a better commission rate based upon the
volume of a particular transaction. When an aggregated order is completely filled, the Adviser allocates
the securities purchased or proceeds of sale in accordance with factors that include, without limitation, the
investment cycle of the client’s investments, the suitability of the investment with regard to the client’s
current structure and weightings, the relative client weightings determined the portfolio managers at the
time of investment, the relative liquidity of the client and existing subscriptions and redemptions from
clients. If the order at a particular broker is filled at several different prices, through multiple trades,
generally all such participating accounts will receive the average price and pay the average commission,
subject to odd lots, rounding, and market practice.
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Each client account is reviewed by the portfolio manager on a continuous basis to determine whether
securities positions should be maintained in view of current market conditions. Matters reviewed include
specific securities held, adherence to investment guidelines and the performance of each client account.
Significant market events affecting the prices of one or more securities in client accounts, changes in the
investment objectives or guidelines of a particular client or specific arrangements with particular clients
may trigger reviews of client accounts on other than a periodic basis.
A client’s investors receive reports from the client pursuant to the terms of each client’s offering
memoranda or as otherwise described in the offering document of the client.
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The Adviser receives certain research or other products or services from broker-dealers through “soft-
dollar” arrangements. These “soft-dollar” arrangements create an incentive for the Adviser to select or
recommend broker-dealers based on the Adviser’s interest in receiving the research or other products or
services and may result in the selection of a broker-dealer on the basis of considerations that are not
limited to the lowest commission rates and may result in higher transaction costs than would otherwise be
obtainable by the Adviser on behalf of its clients. Please see Item 12 for further information on the
Adviser’s “soft-dollar” practices, including the Adviser’s procedures for addressing conflicts of interest that
arise from such practices.
The Adviser has and may in the future make cash payments to third-party solicitors for investor or client
referrals, provided that, to the extent required, each such solicitor has entered into a written agreement
with the Adviser pursuant to which the solicitor will provide each prospective client with a copy of the
Adviser’s Form ADV Part 2, and a disclosure document setting forth the terms of the solicitation
arrangement, including the nature of the relationship between the solicitor and Adviser and any fees to be
paid to the solicitor. Where applicable, cash payments for client solicitations will be structured to comply
fully with the requirements of Rule 206(4)-3 under the Advisers Act and related SEC staff interpretations.
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The Adviser may be deemed to have custody of client assets and intends to comply with Rule 206(4)-2
under the Advisers Act by meeting the conditions of the pooled vehicle annual audit provision.
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The Adviser provides investment advisory services on a discretionary basis to clients.
Prior to assuming discretion in managing a client’s assets, the Adviser enters into an investment
management agreement or other agreement that sets forth the scope of the Adviser’s discretion.
Unless otherwise instructed or directed by a discretionary client, the Adviser has the authority to
determine (i) the securities to be purchased and sold for the client account (subject to restrictions on its
activities set forth in the applicable investment management agreement and any written investment
guidelines) and (ii) the amount of securities to be purchased or sold for the client account. Because of
the differences in client investment objectives and strategies, risk tolerances, tax status and other criteria,
there may be differences among clients in invested positions and securities held.
Allocations will be made among client accounts eligible to participate in initial public offerings (IPOs) and
secondary offerings in accordance with the Adviser’s allocation policy. Securities acquired by the Adviser
for its clients through a limited offering will be allocated pursuant to the procedures set forth in the
Adviser’s allocation policy.
The Adviser may effect cross transactions between discretionary client accounts, except as otherwise
noted below. Cross transactions enable the Adviser to effect a trade between two clients for the same
security at a set price, thereby possibly avoiding an unfavorable price movement that may be created
through entrance into the market and saving commission costs for both accounts. Cross transactions
include rebalancing transactions that are undertaken so that, after withdrawals or contributions have
occurred, the portfolio compositions of similarly managed accounts remain substantially similar. The
Adviser has a potentially conflicting division of loyalties and responsibilities regarding both parties to cross
transactions. Cross transactions between client accounts are not permitted if they would constitute
principal trades or trades for which the Adviser or its affiliates are compensated as a broker unless client
consent has been obtained based upon written disclosure to the client of the capacity in which the
Adviser or its affiliates will act.
If it appears that a trade error in excess of $50,000 has occurred, the Chief Compliance Officer and Chief
Operating Officer will review the relevant facts and circumstances and change the Adviser’s procedures
and systems as is appropriate. Any trade errors that are not a result of a violation of the standard of care
in the applicable investment management agreement will be borne by the relevant clients of the Adviser.
Depending on the circumstances, a loss in excess of $50,000 that is attributable to a trade error may be
covered under the Advisor’s liability insurance policy.
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To the extent the Adviser has been delegated proxy voting authority on behalf of its clients, the Adviser
complies with its proxy voting policies and procedures that are designed to ensure that in cases where
the Adviser votes proxies with respect to client securities, such proxies are voted in the best interests of
its clients.
The Adviser’s clients are not permitted to direct their votes in a particular solicitation.
If a material conflict of interest between the Adviser and a client exists, the Adviser will determine whether
voting in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the proxy voting policies and procedures is in the best
interests of the client or take some other appropriate action. The Adviser does not make any qualitative
judgment regarding its client’s investments.
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This Item is not applicable.
Appendix: Item 2. Material Changes There have been no material changes to this brochure since the last annual update to the Adviser’s
brochure, which was filed in March 2019.
SK 02338 0009 8497772 v1
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Open Brochure from SEC website