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Falcon Investment Management (FIM) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”) in the United Kingdom. FIM is classified by the FCA as a BIPRU firm.
FIM is aLondon-based full scope AIFM investment manager, focused mainly in highly liquid investment strategies through our range of multi-manager solutions.
FIM’s team consists of experienced managers, deploying a diverse set of strategies. We have four core strategies: Long/ShortEquity, Global Macro, Crypto and FX Systematic.
The Pillar III disclosure of FIM is set out below as required by the Financial Conduct Authority’s (“FCA”) “Prudential Sourcebook for Banks, Building Societies and Investment Firms” (“BIPRU”) specifically BIPRU 11.3.3 R. The regulatory aim of the disclosures is to improve market discipline through increased transparency.
As a BIPRU firm from 1 January 2014, FIM is subject to the Third Capital Requirements Directive (“CRD”). The CRD requirements have three pillars:
Pillar I sets out the minimum capital requirements against operational, credit and market risk; Pillar II requires firms to assess their capital adequacy, taking into account all risks and to assess whether additional capital should be held to cover risks not adequately covered by Pillar I requirements. This is achieved through the Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process(“ICAAP”); Pillar III complements Pillars I and II and requires firms to publish information on their capital resources and Pillar I requirements, risk exposures and their risk management framework.
FIM will be making a Pillar III disclosure annually or more frequently if there is a material change to the business. The disclosures will be as at the applicable Accounting Reference Date (“ARD”).
The Pillar III disclosures are reviewed and verified by the Board of FIM.
The information contained in this document has not been audited by FIM’s external auditors and does not constitute any form of financial statement and must not be relied upon in making any judgement on FIM.
FIM regards information as material in disclosures if its omission or misstatement could change or influence the assessment or decision of a user relying on that information for the purpose of making economic decisions. If FIM deems a certain disclosure to be immaterial, it may be omitted from this statement.
FIM regards information as proprietary if sharing that information with the public would undermine its competitive position. Proprietary information may include information on products or systems which, if shared with competitors, would render FIM’s investments therein less valuable. Further, FIM must regard information as confidential if there are obligations to customers or other counterparty relationships binding FIM to confidentiality.
The Board is the governing body of FIM and meets at least quarterly. It plays a central role in the establishment and oversight of the firm’s risk management framework and policies, implements effective risk governance and sets risk appetite for FIM.
The Board is responsible for establishing a strong risk culture and promotes the continuous improvement of systems and controls throughout FIM.
The Board is also responsible for the Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process (“ICAAP”), understanding the level of risk undertaken and ensuring adequate capital levels are maintained.
Senior management, including certain members of the Board, business heads and heads of control functions, have primary responsibility for the implementation and oversight of the risk management framework and are accountable for the identification, assessment, mitigation and escalation of risks within their areas.
FIM risk governance is complemented by Global Committees which have FIM representation as appropriate.
Risk is an inherent part of FIM’s business and activities. The Board recognises that the extent to which FIM properly and effectively identifies, assesses, mitigates and monitors its risks is critical to FIM’s financial soundness and profitability.
Department heads and line management are accountable for the risk arising from their activities as well as seeking to ensure that adequate controls are in place to support those processes. This is complemented by oversight functions–Risk Management, Compliance, Legal, Operational Risk, Human Resources –who are each responsible for various oversight policies and procedures, independent monitoring and challenge. Further support is provided by Management Controls & Internal Audit (MCIA) who is responsible for evaluating and recommending improvements to FIM’s control structure, systems, and policies and procedures for controlling operational, technological, financial and reputational risk.
The Board is ultimately responsible for establishing risk governance and oversight, and for setting risk appetite and limits. It is the responsibility of FIM’s senior management to implement the Board’s risk management framework, to identify, assess and manage their risks, and to escalate to the Board risk exposures that are outside of appetite.
FIM identifies its Principal Risks as Credit, Market, Operational, Business and Liquidity Risk.
Risks identified through the risk management framework are assessed as part of FIM’s ICAAP process to ensure appropriate capital levels in relation to FIM’s risk profile. On a quarterly basis the functional heads of FIM report to the Board on all key aspects, including material changes and updates of the business, for which they are responsible. Should any material changes be identified this would be brought to the attention of the Board.
Reputational risk is viewed as an undesirable consequence of the manifestation of any of our Principal Risks. Reputational impacts are considered along with financial and regulatory impacts when performing risk and capital assessments. Maintaining FIM’s reputation is of considerable importance and the Board and senior management seek to minimise reputational damage by managing its Principal Risks effectively.
The following are the risks that are considered for capital adequacy assessment.
Credit risk refers to the risk of incurring losses resulting from a counterparty’s failure to repay a loan or meet its other payment/settlement related contractual obligations.
FIM has adopted the standardised approach for credit risk to calculate the minimum capital requirements under Pillar I.
Market risk refers to the potential for uncertainty and losses due to fluctuations in market-driven factors such as interest rates, credit spreads, foreign exchange, commodity prices, and equity prices.
FIM does not have a proprietary trading book and does not carry any material interest rate risk in its non-trading book.
Market risk exposure has been assessed by FIM and determined that its primary exposures are to unhedged currency exposure on the balance sheet of the non-trading book.
Operational Risk is the risk of loss caused by inadequate or failed internal processes, people and systems or from external events. This definition includes legal risk. FIM seeks to minimise operational risk through its risk governance and operational risk framework.
On an annual basis FIM identifies and assesses its key risks, taking into consideration the design and effectiveness of controls. As part of the ICAAP process, FIM uses these risk assessments to determine whether any additional operational risk capital is needed to support the risks not adequately covered by Pillar I.
Business risk is the risk of loss inherent in FIMs operating, business and industry environment, impacting the ability of FIM to carry out its business plan or desired strategy.
FIM is primarily exposed to business risk Increased costs driven by changes in government policies, regulation or tax.
Liquidity risk is defined as the risk that a FIM, although solvent, either does not have available sufficient financial resources in readily realisable form to enable it to meet its obligations as they fall due, or is only able to secure such resources at excessive and/or punitive cost.
FIM is obliged, as a consequence of SUP 16.12, to report annually to the FCA that it has adequate “liquidity systems and controls”.
FIM is a BIPRU investment firm without an investment firm consolidation waiver deducting material holdings under GENPRU 2 Annex 4. FIM’s activities give it the BIPRU categorisation of a “full scope” firm. As a consequence of being a regulated entity, FIM has Tier 1 capital resources of over £441,785 as at 31 October 2022.
FIM has calculated its Fixed Overhead Requirement “FOR” which amounts to £130,000 as at 31 October 2022. The credit and market risk capital requirements of FIM amount to less than the FOR. Therefore the overall Pillar I capital requirement of FIM is €125k.
In addition, FIM also undertakes an ICAAP in accordance with the requirements to assess the need for additional capital to support the risks not adequately covered by Pillar I.
FIM’s Board is responsible for setting and approving FIM’s written remuneration policy, designed to comply with the FCA’s Remuneration Code (the “Code”) and associated guidance, as applicable to BIPRU firms. The implementation of the policy is annually subject to central and independent internal review for compliance with the adopted remuneration policy. The remuneration policy is consistent with and promotes sound and effective risk management and does not encourage risk-taking that exceeds the level of tolerated risk of the firm. The remuneration policy is in line with the business strategy, objectives, values and long-term interests of the firm, and encourages responsible business conduct, fair treatment of clients and avoids conflicts of interest in the relationships with clients.
Total compensation of individuals whose professional activities have a material impact on FIM’s risk profile (“Remuneration Code Staff”) includes a base salary and a year-end bonus. Remuneration Code Staff, in accordance with the FCA BIPRU Remuneration Code at SYSC19C of the FCA Handbook and related guidance is comprised of the firm’s senior management, risk takers, staff engaged in control functions, and staff in the same remuneration bracket as senior management and risk takers, whose professional activities have a material impact on the firm’s risk profile. FIM sets variable remuneration of Remuneration Code Staff with due regard to individual performance (based on financial and non-financial criteria) and the overall results of the firm, and in accordance with the requirements of the Code. These factors may be adjusted for current and future risk, taking into account the specific feature of the firm’s activities.
A portion of Code Staff’s variable remuneration may be subject to deferral. All variable remuneration is delivered in cash and indexed to the firm’s performance. The firm operates recovery provisions.