New Report: Venture Capital & COVID-19 Trend Outlook

We have published a new white paper examining the initial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis on the venture capital industry. Venture Capital & COVID-19: The State of Fundraising, Historical Downturn Insights & Startup Trends analyzes the effects on venture capital of the first four months of the pandemic crisis and the outlook for the rest of 2020 and beyond.

S imply put, fund Administration is the outsourced performance by a third party of back-office functions for an investment fund. In terms of the investment portfolio (the asset side), fund administration involves accounting, tracking and reporting transactions and values for the portfolio as a whole and, if necessary, for the portfolio assets individually. In terms of the fund’s shareholders (the investor side), fund administration means establishing and maintaining the investor registry in a specialized fund administration software application and seeing to the investor-related processing of forms, payments of distributions and sales commissions, capital calls,  and necessary communications with the fund’s investors, their financial advisors, and other intermediaries and industry participants.

I n its most limited sense, a transfer agent is an agnostic third-party entity required  to process a transfer of a company’s securities from one investor to another. Some companies are required to use a transfer agent due to the nature of their registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other companies are not required to use a transfer agent but choose to because of the arms-length nature of the transfer agent service and because other back office services may be offered by the transfer agent. Still others, which are not required to use a transfer agent, process transfers themselves.

T he benefits to investment funds of outsourced fund operations, including fund accounting, administration, tax services, sales reporting, investor phone support, web portal solutions, printing, fulfillment and compliance support, are many and varied. But here are 10 ways that third-party back office outsourcing simply benefits the bottom line:

O ur latest white paper examines the initial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis on commercial real estate across the United States. CRE & COVID-19 Winners, Losers & the Road Ahead, A Trends Outlook Report analyzes the effects on commercial real estate of the first three months of the pandemic crisis and the outlook for the rest of 2020 and beyond.

The Coronavirus pandemic has been a large-scale lesson in operational risk and disaster preparedness for fund sponsors. Although most disaster recovery planning failed to contemplate the scale and character of this event, the best prepared sponsors are experiencing the least risk to their ability to continue business and were able to blunt the worse effects of the crisis.

P hoenix American Financial Services, Inc. (“Phoenix”) is pleased to announce its new client partnership with Inspired Healthcare Capital (“IHC”). Phoenix will support IHC with its advanced transfer agent system and industry leading investor services platform, as well as fund accounting and financial reporting services. IHC will benefit from Phoenix’s combination of advanced technology, focus on customer service, and extensive experience with the unique operational requirements of real estate investment funds.

We’ve recently embarked on an update of our brand image to coincide with today’s launch of our new website. We’re excited to add this milestone to Phoenix American’s 48 years in operation. As we look to the future, we’re also taking this opportunity to look at our surprising history and how it has shaped the company we are today.

P hoenix American Financial Services, Inc. (“Phoenix”) is pleased to announce its new client partnership with real estate investment firm One Wall Partners (“OneWall”). Phoenix will support OneWall with its industry leading fund accounting services platform. OneWall will benefit from Phoenix American’s combination of advanced technology, focus on customer service and long experience with the unique operational requirements of real estate investment funds.

P hoenix American Financial Services, Inc. (“Phoenix”) is pleased to announce its new client partnership with Forum Partners (“Forum”). Phoenix will support Forum with its full fund administration services suite including fund accounting as well as its industry leading investor services platform. Forum will benefit from Phoenix American’s combination of advanced technology, focus on customer service and long experience with the unique operational requirements of specialized alternative investment funds.