Methodology

The awards scheme is administered by Elite, which will appoint a judging panel, composed of senior people involved in the investment and offshore industry. Entrants are required to complete a questionnaire for each award they enter. Judges will base their decisions on quality of information provided in the questionnaire alongside information and data from outside agencies such as Defaqto, AKG and Morningstar. A shortlist will be compiled from initial entries. From the shortlist, the judging panel will decide on a winner and highly commended entries. Underlying data such as fund performance and product analysis will be calculated by outside agencies. The judges’ decision is final. They have the right to determine the standards of an award and to withhold an award in any category, if, in their view, the entries are not of sufficient merit. The judges also have the right to give a special award if deemed appropriate. Deadline for entries is 5th March 2010. The shortlist will be published early April 2010.

Offshore Fund Methodology

Fund groups will be subject to an initial performance check using data provided by Morningstar UK. This looks at fund performance over calendar years 2007, 2008 and 2009. Those fund groups that pass the initial quants screen will be considered for the short list. It is important that Morningstar hold up to date performance data for all offshore groups. Please contact Morningstar direct if this is not the case.

Best International Fund Group

  • As in previous years the judges are looking at a universe of offshore open ended funds with FSA approval and are marketed back into the UK, domiciled in Dublin, Jersey, Guernsey, Luxembourg and the Isle of Man.
  • All funds with assets of less than £15m and less than three year track record to be removed.
  • All money market sectors and those with less than 10 funds in each to be taken out.
  • Decile ranking for each fund will be added up for the period 2007,2008 and 2009 and for the 36 month period 2007-2009, giving it a score (best possible 4, worst possible is 40).
  • Judges will consider any group that has six or more funds, this range must include at least one European, UK or US offering.
  • Judges are then looking to draw up a short list of groups where the overall fund range is marked out by consistent, strong performance.

You may then be invited to complete a short questionnaire in order for the judges to consider other aspects of your proposition such as service and support to independent advisers.