How to Understand Prime Brokerage

Prime Brokers: Economies of Scale

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  Hedge fund investors need support services and access to capital.investment image by Kit Wai Chan from Fotolia.com
  
  Realize that size matters. Investing as a professional investor differs in size and complexity from most individual investors. Hedge funds may need to borrow significant amounts of securities and money. The prime broker sells these services to an estimated $2 trillion marketplace.
  
  Professional investors identify trading and investment opportunities. When opportunities benefit from leverage, or the use of other people's money, the investor achieves an absolute return (the net profit or loss on an investment over a period of time). Leverage amplifies the return.
  
  
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  Prime brokerage salespeople sell a vast array of services to hedge funds and professional investors.computer image by fotografiche.eu from Fotolia.com
  
  Bundling services, such as the way individuals purchase cable and Internet services, helps prime brokers sign new clients. Some prime brokers offer immediate access to office space and trading systems. The addition of custodial and operations, lending, financing, technology, consulting and capital introduction aids most clients. Administration and distribution services for clients selling exchange-listed or private placements benefits the raising of capital. Depending on the client's needs, the prime broker offers many services to save time and money. What the prime broker decides to sell depends upon what the hedge fund client needs to solve problems or maintain efficient operations.
  
  
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  Most prime brokers make money on the "spread" of a client transaction.office details image by .shock from Fotolia.com
  
  Executing buy and sell orders according to client instructions concerns the prime broker account team. How well the firm executes the order may also determine how the prime broker firm gets paid. Prime brokers make money on the spread of an order, or the difference between the offer (purchase price) and bid (sales price) of a security.
  
  
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  Capital introduction helps hedge fund managers increase assets under management.stock market analysis screenshot image by .shock from Fotolia.com
  
  Introducing capital sources helps prime brokers and their clients. When a new hedge fund manager decides to raise capital, he turns to the prime broker relationship for assistance. The prime broker cannot directly recommend the hedge fund manager, though he can explain the facts to the potential investor. By bringing the hedge fund manager and investor together, the hedge fund manager's assets under management (total amount of funds raised) increases.
  
  
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  stock exchange image by Christopher Walker from Fotolia.com
  
  Distributing an exchange-listed security or a private placement requires the resources of a full service prime brokerage firm. Hedge funds raise large amounts of capital by selling exchange traded fund shares. The liquidity, or ability to buy and sell the shares on an open market, draws investor interest. As the hedge fund grows, the prime broker enjoys more opportunities to tailor services to client's needs.