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OPTIMA ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC
Form ADV Part 2A
March 31, 2025
10 East 53rd Street
New York, New York 10022
(212) 484-3000
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Optima Asset
Management, LLC (“Optima”). If you have any questions about the contents of this brochure, please contact
us at (212) 484-3000 or by e-mail at jonathan.walsh@optima.com. The information in this brochure has not
yet been approved or verified by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or any state
securities authority.
Additional information about Optima is also available on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Optima Asset Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Being a registered investment adviser
does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
Item 2 - Material Changes
The following material changes have been made since Optima Asset Management, LLC’s most
recent annual updating Form ADV filing on March 18, 2024. Item 4 has been updated to reflect
the firm’s current Regulatory Assets Under Management.
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Item 3 - Table of Contents
Item 2 - Material Changes................................................................................................................2
Item 3 - Table of Contents ...............................................................................................................3
Item 4 - Advisory Business ..............................................................................................................4
Item 5 - Fees and Compensation ......................................................................................................5
Item 6 - Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management .................................................8
Item 7 - Types of Clients .................................................................................................................9
Item 8 - Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss ........................................10
Item 9 - Disciplinary Information ..................................................................................................19
Item 10 - Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations ......................................................20
Item 11 - Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal
Trading ...............................................................................................................................21
Item 12 - Brokerage Practices ........................................................................................................23
Item 13 - Review of Accounts .......................................................................................................25
Item 14 - Client Referrals and Other Compensation .....................................................................26
Item 15 - Custody...........................................................................................................................27
Item 16 - Investment Discretion ....................................................................................................28
Item 17 - Voting Client Securities .................................................................................................29
Item 18 - Financial Information .....................................................................................................30
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Item 4 - Advisory Business
A. Optima Asset Management LLC (“Optima”) is a SEC-registered investment adviser.
Optima is wholly owned by FWM Holdings, Inc, which also owns the registered
investments advisers FFT Wealth Management LLC (“FFT”) and LGL Partners, LLC
(“LGL”). 100% of the equity interests in FWM Holdings, Inc. are owned by Stanhope
Capital (Switzerland) SA, a Swiss societe anonyme, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Stanhope Capital Group SA, a Swiss societe anonyme.
B. Optima offers advice to eighteen commingled investment vehicles that it or its affiliates
sponsor (each a “Client Pooled Fund,” collectively the “Client Pooled Funds”). The
Client Pooled Funds may generally invest in other commingled investment vehicles that
trade the following types of investments: exchange-listed securities; securities traded over
the counter; foreign issuers; warrants; corporate debt securities (other than commercial
paper); United States government securities; options contracts on securities and
commodities; futures contracts; currencies; commodities; and futures.
In addition, Optima offers advice to two sub-funds of an Irish collective asset-
management vehicle (”ICAV Accounts”) that trade in exchange-listed securities and a 40
Act registered investment company that invests in fixed income related instruments.
Optima also offers advice on a customized basis to segregated accounts (each a “Client
Managed Account,” collectively the “Client Managed Accounts”) that in turn invest
generally in other commingled investment vehicles. Three Client Managed Accounts
invest directly in exchange-listed securities. Investment advice given to Client Managed
Accounts may be discretionary or non-discretionary depending on specific agreement
between the client and Optima.
C. Client Pooled Funds invest in different investment strategies and may have different
investment restrictions and Optima customizes the investment portfolio of such Client
Pooled Funds accordingly. With respect to Client Managed Accounts, Optima will work
with the investor or sponsor to tailor the investment program to the investor’s investment
objectives, risk tolerance and any investment restrictions such investor may want to
impose. In each case, Optima monitors the investments of such Client Pooled Funds and
Client Managed Accounts in light of their respective investment objectives, risk
tolerance, and investment restrictions, if any.
D. Optima does not offer or participate in wrap fee programs.
E. As of December 31, 2024, Optima had total Regulatory Assets Under Management of
$807,386,000, including $486,020,000 on a discretionary basis and $321,366,000 on a
non-discretionary basis.
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Item 5 - Fees and Compensation
A. The fees charged to the multi-manager Client Pooled Funds range from an annual rate of
0.25% to 1.5% of net assets at the end of each month. If a Client Pooled Fund invests in
another entity for which Optima or an affiliate serves as the general partner or investment
manager, then either that portion of the entity’s assets represented by such an investment
are excluded from the calculation of net assets for the purposes of calculating the
management fees, or the fees received by the affiliate are refunded to the Client Pooled
Fund in full. Optima generally charges a lower fee (0.75% per annum) when acting in
the role of sub-adviser to Client Pooled Funds.
Certain of the multi-manager Client Pooled Funds charge investors in these Client Pooled
Funds performance-based allocations of 10% of the profits earned by such investors,
subject to a high watermark and loss carryforward. One of the multi-manager Client
Pooled Funds charges investors in special share classes, a performance fee equal to 10%
of profits earned above 3.5% annual handle rate. These performance-based allocations
are credited to an affiliate of Optima which acts as managing member/general partner to
such Client Pooled Funds. Performance-based fees are not assessed to employees of
Optima that are investors in these Client Pooled Funds.
A single manager Client Pooled Fund is advised by an independent third-party adviser.
Optima receives 0.625% of net assets per investor below $10 million and 0.5% of net
assets per investor above $10 million from such Client Pooled Fund.
Fees charged to Client Pooled Funds are set forth in the offering memorandums for the
respective Client Pooled Funds and are not negotiable. Fees may vary according to the
share class of the Client Pooled Fund.
One of the ICAV Accounts is charged management fees of 1% per annum on the
institutional classes of shares and 1.75% per annum on the retail classes of shares of the
Accounts. The second ICAV Account is sub-advised by an independent third-party
adviser. Optima receives management fees of 0.5% per annum on the institutional classes
of shares and 0.58% on the retail classes of shares. In addition, Optima receives an annual
performance fee of 5% of the profits earned in excess of the highwater mark.
The 40 Act Investment Company charges a 0.5% annual management fee, which is split
with the sub-advisor.
The one discretionary Client Managed Account is charged 0.75% per annum. There are
six Client Managed Accounts that are non-discretionary, which are charged fees
according to the level of services agreed to between the client and Optima. One Client
Managed Account is charged a management fee of 0.75% of net assets and an annual
incentive fee of 5% of the profits earned. The second Client Managed Account is charged
0.8% of net assets. A third Client Managed Account is charged a fee at an annual rate of
0.6% per annum, declining to 0.4% per annum based on the level of assets in the Client
Managed Account. A fourth Client Managed Account is charged a management fee of
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0.5% per annum of net assets in the Client Managed Account. A fifth Client Managed
Account is charged a management fee of 1.00% per annum on the net assets in the Client
Managed Account and a sixth Client Managed Account is charged a fee at the annual rate
of 0.3% per annum.
Optima also acts as an investment adviser to one high net worth individual (“Client PWM
Account”). This Client PWM Account is charged a quarterly management fee in arrears
calculated on net assets in the account at the annual rate of 1.25% of the first $5 million
in net assets, 1.0% on the next $5 million in net assets and 0.75% on the net assets
thereafter. In addition, this Client PWM Account is charged an annual incentive fee of
5% of the profits earned in the Client PWM Account each year in excess of a hurdle rate.
B. Any fees earned by Optima are charged directly against the assets in a Client Pooled
Fund’s account or Client Managed Account held by the independent custodian of the
Client Pooled Fund or Client Managed Account. As Client Pooled Funds and Client
Managed Accounts use independent administrators, Optima reviews the calculation of the
fee prepared by the administrator, but it is the administrator who instructs the custodian
to make payment of the fee to Optima. In the case of Client PWM Accounts, Optima
prepares the calculation of the fee and presents the invoice to the Client PWM Account’s
custodian for payment with a copy of the invoice being sent to the client.
Upon an investor’s withdrawal of its investment from a Client Pooled Fund, any fees
owed to Optima are prorated to the date of withdrawal. Upon the termination of an
advisory agreement with a Client Managed Account or Client PWM Account, any fees
owed to Optima are prorated to the date of termination. Optima does not charge fees in
advance.
Advisory clients pay for custodian fees, administrative fees and audit and tax-related fees,
if any, plus all transaction costs.
C. Where Client Pooled Funds are allocated to other investment managers and/or
commingled investment vehicles pursuant to Optima’s recommendations, the Client
Pooled Fund is charged an additional fee by that investment manager and/or investment
vehicle, as the case may be. Fees charged by such investment managers and/or
investment vehicles may range from a 0% to 3% management fee and a 0% to 30%
performance fee.
Investors in Client Pooled Funds also bear third party fees charged by the Client Pooled
Fund’s auditors and any administrator’s fees as set forth in the Client Pooled Fund’s
offering memorandums. Client Managed Accounts and Client PWM Accounts bear
additional third-party fees charged by such account’s auditor, administrator, and
custodian.
D. Optima does not charge any fees to Client Pooled Funds, Client Managed Accounts or
Client PWM Accounts in advance.
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E. No employee of Optima receives compensation for selling securities or other investment
products of any third-party entities or vehicles.
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Item 6 - Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management
Optima receives performance-based fees from some Client Managed Accounts and Client Pooled
Funds, but not others.
The receipt of performance-based fees from some Client PWM Accounts and Client Pooled
Funds creates conflicts of interest. For instance, the differing fee structures of different Client
Pooled Funds may create an incentive for Optima to (i) cause the funds for which it receives
performance-based fees to make investments that are riskier or more speculative than would be
the case if Optima did not receive a performance-based fee, (ii) recommend an investment for
one Client Pooled Fund over another (i.e. to direct investments in favor of a Client Pooled Fund
receiving a performance-based fee), or (iii) allocate investment opportunities to certain more
profitable Client Pooled Funds. To manage these conflicts, Optima has developed a Fairness of
Allocation Policy.
Fairness of Allocation Policy
Certain of the Client Pooled Funds, Client Managed Accounts and Client PWM Accounts
advised by Optima (collectively “Optima Clients”) may have similar investment strategies and
policies. As such, Optima may invest several Optima Clients in the same underlying investment
vehicle. When the availability of investment with a particular investment vehicle is limited,
Optima intends to allocate such opportunity among applicable Optima Clients in accordance with
its policy on the fairness of allocations in such manner as Optima deems equitable to all parties.
Optima will consider the following factors, among other things, in allocating investment
opportunities among Optima Clients: (i) an Optima Client’s requirements for underlying
liquidity; (ii) an Optima Client’s requirements for specific asset allocation; (iii) penalty fees
associated with such an investment; (iv) an Optima Client’s request to invest with a particular
manager or to not invest with such manager; (v) cashflows (inflows and outflows) and available
cash balances; (vi) time of entry of such an investment opportunity; (vii) portfolio construction
constraints; (viii) materiality of position; (ix) an Optima Client’s ERISA capacity; (x) an Optima
Client’s requirements to hold an actual meeting with underlying managers (which may throw off
timing for a particular investment) and (xi) whether the allocation is a newly launched
investment vehicle and the investment opportunity has been allocated to such new Optima Client
for initial ramp up purposes.). Not one Optima Client will be entitled to priority of choice as
among available investments.
The Research Department of Optima prepares a monthly report with a rationale for investments
made in Client Pooled Funds each month. This report is designed to ensure that all conflicts of
interest regarding investments made by Client Pooled Funds are consistent with the Fairness of
Allocation policy.
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Item 7 - Types of Clients
As of the date of this brochure, Optima provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment
advice to commingled multi-manager Client Pooled Funds, commingled single manager Client
Pooled Funds, customized institutional Client Managed Accounts and multi-manager program
established for a high-net worth individual or families. Optima is also the investment adviser of a
single-manager commingled investment, the day-to-day investment decisions of which are
delegated to third party investment advisers.
The investors in the Optima sponsored commingled multi-manager Client Pooled Funds are
comprised of approximately 90% high net worth individuals/family offices and 10% institutional
and other investors. Such Client Pooled Funds are structured as partnerships, limited liability
companies, open end investment companies and unit trusts.
In order to make an investment in an Optima sponsored Client Pooled Fund, an investor must
qualify as an "accredited investor" within the meaning given to such term in Regulation D under
the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 as amended by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and
Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and/or a "qualified purchaser" within the meaning given to
such term under the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
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Item 8 - Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
A. Regarding Asset Allocation, Optima can consider a wide range of inputs to its analysis,
including the global macro outlook, specific market fundamentals and valuations,
technical analysis, and event-related factors. Optima considers this type of analysis in
forming its outlook for capital markets and specific hedge fund strategies.
Regarding Manager Selection, Optima considers qualitative and quantitative factors
covering 1) organizational background and ownership structure; 2) personal and
professional background and character of the principals; 3) investment philosophy and
style; 4) investment techniques in the areas of asset allocation, security selection,
portfolio construction and risk management; 5) portfolio characteristics and performance;
7) reporting and client services and 8) operational, compliance and legal items.
Regarding Portfolio Construction, Optima incorporates its views on asset allocation and
manager selection to build multi-manager portfolios that adhere to the investment
guidelines and restrictions of each specific portfolio. Consideration for the principals of
modern portfolio analysis is incorporated and include historical and forecasted rates of
return, risk characteristics of investments and correlations among different asset and
investment types. As part of this evaluation, Optima may incorporate a number of factors
such as its macroeconomic outlook, strategies and asset classes available, historical, and
expected returns and risks, liquidity profile of strategies and investments, level of
conviction amongst investments and inter-manager and inter-strategy correlations in the
portfolio construction process. Other considerations during the portfolio construction
process include the near term visibility on portfolio level cash flows and Optima’s
Fairness of Allocation Policy.
The main sources of information Optima uses in its investment process include financial
literature such as newspapers and magazines, research materials prepared by others,
statistics and investment performance of macro indicators, market indices, publicly filed
documents with regulators, media reports of hedge fund manager activity, third-party
money managers and commingled investment vehicles. These data and performance
information are typically obtained directly from managers, audited financial statements,
K-1’s, published sources and subscription services.
Regarding staffing organization supporting Optima’s research efforts, the Research
Department of Optima consists of a CIO supported by research analysts. The Research
Department of Optima works in close collaboration with the Research Departments of
FFT and Stanhope Capital. The research analysts at Optima operate as generalists,
generally covering multiple sectors. The Optima CIO, together with the support of the
research analysts, performs analysis and portfolio management duties relating to asset
allocation, manager selection and portfolio construction and monitoring.
Specific strategies used to implement any investment advice given to clients can include
long term and short term purchases, trading (securities sold within 30 days), short sales,
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margin transactions, option writing, including covered options, uncovered options, or
spread strategies, futures, commodities, and currencies.
Investing in securities involves the risk of total loss that clients should be prepared to
bear.
B. The following risks are involved in the investment strategies utilized by Optima and the
commingled investment vehicles (“Underlying Funds”) in which Client Pooled Funds,
Client PWM Accounts and Client Managed Accounts invest:
Dependence on the Advisors of Underlying Funds.
All decisions with respect to the trading activities of the Underlying Funds are made by
the managers of the Underlying Funds. Investors will not have the opportunity to evaluate
fully for themselves the relevant economic, financial, and other information regarding the
Underlying Fund’s investments. Investors are dependent on the abilities of the managers
of the Underlying Funds. Accordingly, no person should purchase interests in a Client
Pooled Fund unless he or she is willing to entrust all aspects of the trading activities of
the Underlying Fund to the managers of the Underlying Funds.
Turnover.
The Client Pooled Fund's activities involve investments in Underlying Funds or
segregated accounts that may invest on the basis of certain short-term market
considerations. The turnover rate is expected to be significant, potentially involving
substantial brokerage commissions and fees. Optima will have no direct control over this
turnover. Furthermore, if a segregated account manager is terminated by Optima, it is
expected that its portfolio would be liquidated and the cash proceeds reinvested by a
replacement segregated account manager. This policy could create substantial turnover
rates and corresponding brokerage commissions and fees.
Multi-Managers.
While use of multiple Underlying Funds may provide some diversification of investment
risk, no assurance can be given that such diversification will occur, or that if it does, that
it will increase, rather than reduce, potential net profits of the Fund. Also, the use of
multiple Underlying Funds may cause the Client Pooled Fund indirectly to hold opposite
positions in an investment, thereby decreasing or eliminating the possibility of positive
returns from such investment. It is possible that several advisors may take substantial
positions in the same security or group of securities at the same time, leading to a lack of
diversification. It is also possible that the advisors may on occasion compete with each
other for similar positions at the same time. In addition, the use of multiple investments
subjects the Client Pooled Fund to additional costs that will be borne by the Client Pooled
Fund, including but not limited to, costs of operating the Underlying Funds themselves.
Swaps.
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Investments in swaps involve the exchange by the Underlying Funds with another party
of their respective commitments. In the case of interest rate swaps, the Underlying Funds
may exchange with another party their respective commitments to pay or receive interest,
such as an exchange of fixed rate payments for floating rate payments. Use of swaps
subjects the Underlying Funds to risk of default by the counterparty. If there is a default
by the counterparty to such a transaction, the Underlying Funds will have contractual
remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction. The swap market has a
large number of banks and investment banking firms acting both as principals and agents
utilizing standardized swap documentation. As a result, the swap market is relatively
liquid in comparison with the markets for other similar instruments, which are traded in
the interbank market. The Underlying Funds may also enter into currency swaps or other
swaps which are similar to interest rate swaps but may be surrogates for other instruments
such as currency forwards or options.
Workouts and Startups.
Investments in distressed companies and new ventures are subject to greater risk of loss
than investments in companies with more stable operations or financial condition.
Special Risk Factors for Non-U.S. Investing.
Investing in securities of non-U.S. companies involves certain risk factors not usually
associated with investing in the United States. The economies of non-U.S. countries
differ from the U.S. economy with respect to growth of the economy, inflation rates,
balance of payments and the degree of government participation through investment or
regulation. Actions by non-U.S. governments such as nationalization, expropriation of
foreign owned assets, regulation of foreign investment, confiscatory taxation and
currency controls could have an adverse effect on the net assets of the Fund. In addition,
the securities markets of many non-U.S. countries have substantially less volume and
liquidity than comparable U.S. markets as well as generally higher transaction costs.
Accurate information regarding many non-U.S. companies and markets is often difficult
to obtain on a timely basis. In addition, non-U.S. companies often follow less stringent
reporting and accounting standards.
Short Selling.
Underlying Funds may utilize short selling. Short selling involves directly or indirectly
selling (or having the equivalent exposure) securities or other instruments that may or
may not be owned and, at times, borrowing the same securities for delivery to the
purchaser, with an obligation to replace any such borrowed securities at a later date. Short
selling allows an Underlying Fund to profit from declines in market prices to the extent
such decline exceeds the transaction costs and any costs of borrowing. However, if the
borrowed assets must be replaced by purchases at market prices in order to close out the
short position, any appreciation in the price of the borrowed assets would result in a loss,
which is theoretically unlimited in amount. Purchasing assets to close out the short
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position can itself cause the price to rise further, thereby exacerbating the loss. In
addition, there are rules prohibiting short sales of equity securities at prices below the last
sale price, which may prevent an Underlying Fund from executing short sales at the most
desirable time. Short strategies can also be implemented synthetically through various
instruments, be used with respect to indices or in the over-the-counter market and with
respect to futures and other instruments. They can also be implemented on a leveraged
basis. Lastly, even though the Underlying Fund secures a “good borrow” of the security
sold short at the time of execution, the lending institution may recall the lent security at
any time, thereby forcing the Underlying Fund to purchase the security at the then-
prevailing market price, which may be higher than the price at which such security was
originally sold short by the Underlying Fund.
Option Transactions.
The purchase or sale of an option involves the payment or receipt of a premium payment
by the investor and the corresponding right or obligation, as the case may be, to either
purchase or sell the underlying security or other instrument for a specific price at a
certain time or during a certain period. Purchasing options involves the risk that the
underlying instrument does not change price in the manner expected, so that the option
expires worthless and the investor loses its premium. Selling options, on the other hand,
involves potentially greater risk because the investor is exposed to the extent of the actual
price movement in the underlying security in excess of the premium payment received.
Underlying Funds may purchase or sell customized options and other derivatives in the
over-the-counter market that may have features different from traditional exchange-
traded options (in which the Underlying Funds may also invest) though they also share
the same risks. These options and derivative instruments may also subject such
Underlying Funds to risk of default by the counterparty. Investments in these financial
instruments may also be subject to additional risks such as interest rate and other risks.
An Underlying Fund’s ability to close out its position as purchaser of an exchange-listed
option would be dependent upon the existence of a liquid secondary market on an
exchange. Among the possible reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on an
exchange are (i) insufficient trading interest in certain options, (ii) restrictions on
transactions imposed by an exchange, (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions
imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities,
(iv) interruption of the normal operations on an exchange, (v) inadequacy of the facilities
of an exchange or similar facility to handle current trading volume or (vi) a decision by
one or more exchanges to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series
of options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or
series of options) would cease to exist, although outstanding options on that exchange
would generally continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.
Speculative Purchase of Securities.
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Underlying Funds may make certain speculative purchases of securities of companies
that the Underlying Fund manager believes to be undervalued or that may be the subject
of acquisition attempts, exchange offers, cash tender offers or corporate reorganizations.
There can be no assurance that securities which the Underlying Fund manager believes to
be undervalued are in fact undervalued, or that undervalued securities will increase in
value. Further, in such cases, a substantial period of time may elapse between the
Underlying Fund’s purchase of the securities and the acquisition attempt or
reorganization. During this period, a portion of the Underlying Fund’s capital would be
committed to the securities purchased, and the Underlying Fund may finance such
purchase with borrowed funds on which it would have to pay interest.
Default and Counterparty Risk.
Some of the markets in which Underlying Funds will effect transactions are “over the
counter” or “interdealer” markets. The participants in such markets are typically not
subject to credit evaluation and regulatory oversight as are members of “exchange based”
markets. This exposes the Underlying Fund to the risk that a counterparty will not settle a
transaction in accordance with its terms and conditions because of a dispute over the
terms of the contract (whether or not bona fide) or because of a credit or liquidity
problem, thus causing the Underlying Fund to suffer a loss. In addition, in the case of a
default, the Underlying Fund could become subject to adverse market movements while
replacement transactions are executed. Such “counterparty risk” is accentuated for
contracts with longer maturities where events may intervene to prevent settlement, or
where the Underlying Fund has concentrated its transactions with a single or small group
of counterparties. Optima does not have, and Underlying Funds are unlikely to have, an
internal credit function that evaluates the creditworthiness of its counterparties. The
ability of an Underlying Fund to transact business with any one or number of
counterparties, the lack of any meaningful and independent evaluation of such
counterparties’ financial capabilities and the absence of a regulated market to facilitate
settlement may increase the potential for losses by the Underlying Fund.
Small Companies.
Underlying Funds may invest in small and/or less well established companies. While
smaller companies generally have potential for rapid growth, they often involve higher
risks because they lack the management experience, financial resources, product
diversification, and competitive strength of larger corporations. In addition, in many
instances, the frequency and volume of their trading is substantially less than is typical of
larger companies. As a result, the securities of smaller companies may be subject to
wider price fluctuations. In addition, due to thin trading in some of those stocks, an
investment in those stocks may be considered less liquid than an investment in many
large capitalization stocks. When making large sales, the Underlying Fund may have to
sell portfolio holdings at discounts from quoted prices or may have to make a series of
small sales over an extended period of time due to the trading volume of smaller
company securities.
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Derivatives.
Underlying Funds may invest in complex derivative instruments that seek to modify or
emulate the investment performance of particular securities, commodities, currencies,
interest rates, indices or markets or specific risks thereof on a leveraged or unleveraged
basis that can be equivalent to a long or short position in the underlying asset or risk.
These instruments generally have counterparty risk and may not perform in the manner
expected by the counterparties, thereby resulting in greater loss or gain to the Underlying
Fund than might otherwise be anticipated. These investments are all subject to additional
risks that may result in a loss of all or part of an investment, such as interest rate and
credit risk volatility, world and local market price and demand, and general economic
factors and activity. Derivatives may have very high leverage embedded in them, which
may substantially magnify market movements and result in losses substantially greater
than the amount of the investment and which in some cases could represent a significant
portion of the Underlying Fund’s assets. Some of the markets in which derivative
transactions are effected are over-the-counter or interdealer markets. The participants in
such markets are typically not subject to credit evaluation and regulatory oversight as are
members of exchange-based markets. This exposes the Underlying Fund to the risks that
a counterparty will not settle a transaction because of a credit or liquidity problem or
because of disputes over the terms of the contract. Underlying Funds are not restricted
from dealing with any particular counterparty or from concentrating all of its transactions
with one counterparty.
Futures.
Futures markets are highly volatile. To the extent an Underlying Fund engages in
transactions in futures contracts and options on futures contracts, the profitability of such
Underlying Fund will depend to some degree on the ability of the investment manager of
such Underlying Fund to analyze correctly the futures markets, which are influenced by,
among other things, changing supply and demand relationships, governmental policies,
commercial and trade programs, world political and economic events and changes in
interest rates. Moreover, investments in commodity futures and options contracts involve
additional risks including, without limitation, leverage (margin is usually only 5-15% of
the face value of the contract and exposure can be nearly unlimited) and credit risk vis-a-
vis the contract counterparty. Finally, the CFTC and futures exchanges have established
limits referred to as “speculative position limits” on the maximum net long or net short
position that any person may hold or control in particular commodity contracts.
Investments in Governmental Debt.
Underlying Funds may invest in debt of governments and quasi-governmental entities.
The issuer of the debt or the governmental authorities that control the repayment of the
debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal or interest when due, and an
Underlying Fund may have limited legal recourse in the event of default. Governmental
actions could have a significant effect on the value of any of the Underlying Funds’
investments.
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Yield, Prepayment, and Maturity Risks.
Since the Underlying Funds may invest in mortgage-backed securities, the Underlying
Funds are subject to prepayment risks. The rate at which prepayments (including
voluntary prepayments by the obligors and liquidations due to default and foreclosures)
occur on loans underlying mortgage-backed securities will be affected by a variety of
factors including, without limitation, the current rates of interest and economic,
demographic, tax, social, legal, and other factors. To the extent that prepayment rates are
different than anticipated, the average yield of investments in mortgage-backed securities
may be adversely affected. Generally, prepayments increase when interest rates fall and
decrease when interest rates rise. The interest rate sensitivity of any particular pool of
loans is dependent upon their payment status and particular class of mortgage-backed
security and therefore the allocation of cash flow from the underlying mortgage loans.
This may present either a problem of lower yield (particularly on reinvestment) or a
longer holding period than expected and may adversely affect the expected rate of return
on the mortgage-backed securities. Certain types of mortgage-backed securities contain
highly complex interest rate and cash flow provisions and may be highly volatile both
with respect to yield and total return to maturity and with respect to market value.
Convertible Securities.
As a result of the conversion feature, convertible securities typically offer lower interest
rates than if the securities were not convertible. It is possible that the potential for
appreciation on convertible securities may be less than that of a common stock
equivalent.
Convertible securities may or may not be rated within the four highest categories by
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group (“S&P”) and Moody’s Investor Service (“Moody’s”)
and, if not so rated, would not be investment grade. To the extent that convertible
securities are rated lower than investment grade or not rated, there would be greater risk
as to timely repayment of the principal of, and timely payment of interest or dividends
on, those securities.
Securities that are rated BB or lower by S&P or Ba or lower by Moody’s are often
referred to in the financial press as “junk bonds” and may include securities of issuers in
default. “Junk bonds” are considered by the rating agencies to be predominately
speculative and may involve major risk exposures such as: (i) vulnerability to economic
downturns and changes in interest rates; (ii) sensitivity to adverse economic changes and
corporate developments; (iii) redemption or call provisions that may be exercised at
inopportune times; and (iv) difficulty in accurately valuing or disposing of such
securities.
Also, in the absence of adequate anti-dilution provisions in a convertible security,
dilution in the value of an Underlying Fund’s holding may occur in the event the
underlying stock is subdivided, additional securities are issued, a stock dividend is
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declared, or the issuer enters into another type of corporate transaction that increases its
outstanding securities.
Low Credit Quality Securities.
To the extent an Underlying Fund invests in fixed-income securities, such Underlying
Fund may be permitted to invest in particularly risky investments that also may offer the
potential for correspondingly high returns. As a result, such Underlying Fund may lose
all or substantially all of its investment in any particular instance. In addition, there is no
minimum credit standard as a prerequisite to an investment in any security and the debt
securities may be less than investment grade and may be considered to be “junk bonds”
or be distressed or “special situations” with heightened risk of loss and/or liquidity. Such
securities may rank junior to other outstanding securities and obligations of the issuer, all
or a significant portion of whose debt securities may be secured by substantially all of the
issuer’s assets. Moreover, the Underlying Funds may invest in securities that are not
protected by financial covenants or limitations on additional indebtedness.
Analytical Model Risks.
Underlying Funds may employ analytical models. To the extent such models (or the
assumptions underlying them) do not prove to be correct, the Underlying Fund may not
perform as anticipated, which could result in substantial losses. All models ultimately
depend upon the judgment of the individuals and the assumptions embedded in the
models. To the extent that with respect to any investment, the judgment or assumptions
are incorrect, the Underlying Fund can suffer losses.
Global Macro.
Global macro strategies include both directional trading and relative-value approaches to
what are generally short-term allocations of capital. Managers utilizing a directional
trading approach will take unhedged long or short positions in various markets. Such
unhedged investments may expose an Underlying Fund to full market risk and are subject
to substantial losses. The use of a relative-value approach is also subject to the risk of
substantial losses because of imperfect correlation of a manager’s portfolio of long and
short positions.
Long/Short Equity.
Since a long/short equity strategy involves identifying securities that are generally
undervalued (or, in the case of short positions, overvalued) by the marketplace, success of
this strategy necessarily depends upon the market eventually recognizing such value in
the price of the security, which may not necessarily occur, or may occur over extended
time frames that limit profitability. Positions may undergo significant short-term declines
and experience considerable price volatility during these periods. In addition, long and
short positions may or may not be correlated to each other. If the long and short positions
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are not correlated, it is possible to have investment losses in both the long and short sides
of the portfolio.
A more detailed description of the risks associated with investing in Client Pooled Funds
is set forth in the offering memorandums of each Client Pooled Fund.
C. For the majority of its clients, Optima does not make recommendations regarding
particular types of securities. Optima makes recommendations regarding investments in
commingled investment vehicles. Investments in commingled investment vehicles
involve a risk of loss and investors should be prepared to bear such loss.
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Item 9 - Disciplinary Information
A. Neither Optima, nor any of our employees, has had any civil or criminal actions brought
against them.
B. Neither Optima, nor any of our employees, has had any administrative proceedings
before the SEC, any other federal regulatory agency, any state regulatory agency, or any
foreign financial regulatory authority.
C. Neither Optima, nor any of our employees, has had any proceedings before a self-
regulatory organization.
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Item 10 - Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
A. Neither Optima, nor any of its management persons, are registered as a broker-dealer or a
registered representative of a broker-dealer. Two Supervised Persons of Optima are
registered representatives of Quasar Distributors, LLC, in connection with the promotion
of certain registered funds.
B. Neither Optima nor any of its management persons are registered, or have an application
pending to register, as a futures commission merchant, commodity pool operator, a
commodity trading advisor, or an associated person of the foregoing entities.
C. Under the umbrella of its direct parent company, FWM Holdings, Inc, Optima is related
to FFT and LGL, both of which are registered investment advisers with the SEC.
LGL serves as the named investment adviser and managing member of the AM Global
Core Fund, LLC (the “Core Fund”). LGL also serves as a management company to
manage the affairs of the Stanhope FFT Global Ventures LP (“Stanhope FFT”). FFT
serves as the named investment adviser to FFT Private Investment Fund II LP. Interests
in the Core Fund, Stanhope FFT, and FFT Private Investment II LP are privately offered
pursuant to Regulation D under the Securities Act. Each fund relies on an exemption
from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “’40
Act”).
Optima is an affiliate of both Optima Managers, LLC, a single-manager commingled
fund sponsor and Optima Managers GP MM, LLC, the managing member and general
partner of the Optima Sponsored Client Pooled Funds.
Under the umbrella of its ultimate parent company, Stanhope Capital Group SA, Optima
is related to Portman Square General Partner Sarl, an exempt commodity pool operator.
D. Optima does not receive any fees or other consideration for recommending or selecting
other investment advisers for clients. As discussed in Item 5(A), Optima may recommend
Client PWM Accounts to invest in Client Pooled Funds and in such instances any fees
earned by Optima from such Client Pooled Funds attributable to Client PWM Accounts is
rebated in full back to the relevant Client PWM Account.
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Item 11 - Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal
Trading
A. Optima has adopted a Code of Ethics for all employees of the firm describing our high
standards of business conduct, fiduciary duty to our clients and underlying investors and
rules surrounding personal security trading of our employees. All Optima employees
must accept in writing the terms of the Code of Ethics upon employment, annually or as
amended.
A copy of the Optima’s Code of Ethics is available to any client or prospective client for
review by contacting the Optima’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”), Jonathan Walsh,
at (212) 484-3000.
B. Optima allocates investments in Client PWM Accounts to commingled investment
vehicles that are advised or managed by affiliates of Optima (“Affiliated Funds”). If the
Client PWM Account allocates assets to an Affiliated Fund, either: 1) the Client Pooled
Fund is not charged a management fee by Optima on that portion of the Client PWM
Account’s assets invested in such vehicles, unless such investment was made at the
request of the ultimate beneficial owner of the investor or 2) the proportionate share of
the management and performance fees received by Optima and/or its affiliates from such
an investment in an Affiliated Fund will be rebated back to the Client PWM Account in
their entirety. Related persons of Optima may purchase interests in Client Pooled Funds
provided such persons are qualified in terms of the suitability requirements of each
vehicle to make such an investment. The investment in such vehicles by related persons
are made on the same terms and conditions as are applied to clients, except for that
related persons are not charged any performance fees, as applicable.
C. Optima does not generally buy securities for its own account but may do so in limited
circumstances as more fully described in the last paragraph of Item 16 below. Therefore,
no potential conflict of interest exists at the firm level. Optima’s Code of Ethics includes
guidelines on the personal security trading of Optima employees. The Code of Ethics
requires Optima employees with personal brokerage accounts to submit to the CCO
duplicate copies of their personal brokerage statements on at least a quarterly basis or set
up automatic feeds that generate personal trade records. Reporting and pre-approval of
personal trades is not required for: (i) direct obligations of the Government of the United
States; (ii) bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper, and
other high quality, short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements; (iii)
shares issued by money market funds; (iv) shares issued by mutual funds and exchange
traded funds (“ETFs”), unless Optima is the investment adviser or sub-adviser thereto;
and (v) shares issued by unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or
more mutual fund(s).
Unless prior clearance from the CCO has been received, the Code of Ethics also prohibits
Optima employees from buying or trading in any commingled investment vehicle, fund
of funds, limited partnership interests, securities offered in a limited offering or an initial
public offering, any issuer exempt under Sections 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the Investment
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Company Act of 1940, an Optima Client Pooled Fund or securities in private placements.
Personal trading is closely monitored and not permitted on the same day that the Firm is
trading for or on behalf of any of its Client Managed Accounts referred to above. The
CCO may grant exceptions to the preclearance and trading requirements set forth in the
Code of Ethics and will document the rationale for any exception.
D. Optima does not generally buy securities for its own account but may do so in limited
circumstances as more fully described in the last paragraph of Item 16 below. Therefore,
no potential conflict of interest exists at the firm level. However, personal trading by
employees is allowed. In some instances, employees purchase interests in Underlying
Funds that are also investments of a Client Pooled Fund. The potential conflicts of
interest are addressed by the employee trading policy contained in the Code of Ethics and
described in Item 11(C) above.
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Item 12 - Brokerage Practices
A. Optima’s business that involves the purchase of interests in commingled investment
vehicles, does not require the use of broker-dealers. The purchase and sale of securities
by the commingled investment vehicles which is directed by independent third-party
investment advisers and the selection of broker-dealers to effect securities transactions is
made solely by such independent third-party investment advisers.
In the case of the one single manager commingled investment vehicle, the selection of the
broker-dealer is made by the independent third-party investment adviser to whom all day-
to-day investment decisions has been delegated.
In the case of the Client Managed Accounts that directly invest in publicly traded
equities, Optima has the sole power and authority to determine the brokers to be used for
each securities transaction for one of the Client Managed Accounts. In addition, one
Client Pooled Fund also invests directly in publicly traded equities and Optima has the
sole power and authority to determine the brokers used for each securities transaction for
such account. In selecting brokers or dealers to execute transactions, Optima need not
solicit competitive bids and does not have an obligation to seek the lowest available
commission cost. In selecting brokers, Optima will negotiate "execution only"
commission rates; thus, the Client Managed Account and the Client Pooled Fund will not
be deemed to be paying for other services provided by the broker to the Client Managed
Account or the Client Pooled Funds, Optima and/or their respective affiliates which
would otherwise be included in the commission rate. In negotiating commission rates,
Optima will take into account the financial stability and reputation of brokerage firms.
Optima does not use “soft dollars.”
B. In the case of the one Client Managed Account that directly invests in publicly traded
equities where Optima has the sole power and authority to determine the brokers, Optima
may aggregate purchase and sale orders of securities or futures contracts held by such
Client Managed Account with similar orders being made simultaneously for the Client
Pooled Funds that directly invest in publicly traded equities if, in Optima's reasonable
judgment, such aggregation is reasonably likely to result in an overall economic benefit
to the Client Managed Account and the Client Pooled Funds based on an evaluation that
the Client Managed Account and the Client Pooled Funds will be benefited by relatively
better purchase or sale prices, lower commission expenses or beneficial timing of
transactions, or a combination of these and other factors. Such orders may be filled at
slightly different prices, due to the volume purchased or sold. In such event, the average
price of all securities or futures contracts purchased or sold in such transactions may be
determined, at Optima's sole discretion, and the Client Managed Accounts and Client
Pooled Funds may be charged or credited, as the case may be, with the average
transaction price.
However, Optima will not cause or allow the Client Managed Account or the Client
Pooled Funds to enter into any contract or transaction with an affiliate or principal of the
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Client Managed Account or Optima unless such transaction complies with applicable law
and is upon terms no less favorable to the Client Managed Account and the Client Pooled
Funds than it would obtain in a comparable arm's length transaction with a person or
entity which is not an affiliate or principal of the Client Managed Accounts, the Client
Pooled Funds or Optima.
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Item 13 - Review of Accounts
A. Optima reviews multi-manager portfolios and allocations on a regular basis (this review
process can be customized for advisory clients). Periodic reviews of underlying
investments are undertaken at the regular meetings of the Research Department.
B. The Research Department at Optima will also review a client’s portfolio following a
material deposit or withdrawal. In such instance, the Research Department may have to
make changes to the client’s portfolio to ensure the investments in the portfolio are in line
with the client’s stated investment objectives.
C. Optima provides a variety of weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual written reports to
clients and investors in Client Managed Accounts and Client Pooled Funds, as required
by the terms of the governing documents of such entities, by regulation or by request of
client. Optima also provides written reports on a monthly and annual basis or as
otherwise requested to clients in Optima PWM Accounts. Quantitative reports present the
total performance of such entities or individual client’s portfolio on a monthly basis.
Quarterly and annual quantitative reports detail each individual’s performance with
respect to their investment in the respective limited partnership and/or limited liability
company. In addition to written reports, through the Registrant’s website and proprietary
in-house technology system called OPERAS (Optima Portfolio Evaluation Research and
Accounting System), investors have access to a broad range of account and fund-related
documents including weekly estimates, monthly/quarterly reports, audited financials, and
other materials.
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Item 14 - Client Referrals and Other Compensation
A. Neither Optima nor any of its employees, receives any kind of economic benefit, sales
award or other prized from any outside parties for providing investment advice to our
clients.
B. Optima may pay solicitation fees in certain circumstances for the referral of clients
pursuant to the requirements of Rule 206-3 of the Investment Advisers Act and does pay
placement agent fees to agents who sell securities of Client Pooled Funds. The additional
compensation is up to one-half of the management fees received by Optima from the
clients and investors and is borne directly by Optima. The investors in Client Pooled
Funds do not pay additional fees as a result of such arrangements, and the amount of such
compensation is disclosed to the clients.
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Item 15 - Custody
Our affiliate, Optima Managers GP-MM LLC, is deemed to have custody of several Optima
sponsored Client Pooled Funds for whom it acts as General Partner or Managing Member. Third
party administrators send monthly account statements to investors in such Client Pooled Funds
as described in Item 13C above. We urge you to compare the statements received from your
custodian with the reports we send you each quarter. These statements should be reviewed
carefully.
Investors in Client Pooled Funds are sent annual audited financial statements within 180 days of
year end.
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Item 16 - Investment Discretion
There are no limitations on Optima’s authority to determine with respect to the discretionary
accounts, without specific client consent, the securities to be bought or sold or the amount
thereof, within the investment guidelines of the client. This authority is granted pursuant to the
investment advisory agreement between Optima and each client or pursuant to the terms of the
offering documents of a Client Pooled Fund.
Optima’s decisions as to whether to allocate an investment opportunity to one Client Pooled
Fund over another are governed by Optima’s Fairness of Allocation Policy described in Item 6
above.
It should be specifically noted that Optima or its affiliates may participate in or sponsor other
investment vehicles, and possibly have additional investment advisory clients, in the future.
The existence of multiple investment vehicles or clients may create conflicts as to time and
resource commitments on the part of Optima’s principals and other personnel. While such
persons intend to devote such time to the business of the Client Pooled Funds as they deem
necessary, they will have other ongoing investment and business responsibilities which could
have the effect of reducing the time they will devote to the investment activities of the Client
Pooled Funds.
Optima may at times determine that certain securities will be suitable for acquisition by the
Client Managed Accounts and by other accounts managed by Optima, possibly including, but not
limited to, its own accounts or accounts of affiliates. If that occurs, and Optima is unable to
acquire the desired aggregate amount of such securities or futures contracts on terms and
conditions which Optima and/or its affiliates, as applicable, deem advisable, Optima and/or its
affiliates, as applicable, will endeavor to allocate in good faith the limited amount of such
securities or futures contracts acquired among the various accounts for which Optima and/or its
affiliates, as applicable, consider them to be suitable. Optima and/or its affiliates, as applicable,
may make such allocations among the accounts in any manner which it and/or they, as
applicable, consider to be fair under the circumstances, including, without limitation, allocations
based on relative account sizes, the degree of risk involved in the securities or futures contracts
acquired and the extent to which a position in such securities or futures contracts is consistent
with the investment policies and strategies of the various accounts involved.
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Item 17 - Voting Client Securities
A. The Research Team of Optima votes the proxies it receives from the managers of
Underlying Funds in which the Client Pooled Funds, Client Managed Accounts and
Client PWM Accounts are invested. These proxies relate to the activities of the
Underlying Funds and include, but are not limited to, organizational changes, changes in
liquidity, election of the directors of the Boards of Underlying Funds, and the creation of
new share classes of Underlying Funds.
Pursuant to the subscription agreement of each respective Client Pooled Fund and
advisory agreements of the Client Managed Accounts and Client PWM Accounts,
underlying investors in Client Pooled Funds grant Optima a power of attorney to execute
all documents on behalf of the investor in connection with its investment. Accordingly,
the Research Team of Optima has adopted a policy pursuant to which it reviews proxy
proposals. This review may include meetings or calls with management and reviews of
all documents. The analysis for all Client Pooled Funds, Client Managed Accounts and
Client PWM Accounts regarding proposals shall be the same. The Research Team’s
recommendation as to whether to vote for or against a proposal may differ among or
between Client Pooled Funds, Client Managed Accounts, and Client PWM Accounts
depending on such client’s guidelines/mandate and how such proposal would impact such
client. Absent any impact resulting from the implementation of the proposal or
differences in the mandate of a client, the Research Team shall vote the same across all
Client Pooled Funds, Client Manage Accounts and Client PWM Accounts unless
permission to do otherwise is obtained from the Compliance Officer. Where a Client
Pooled Fund, Client Managed Account or Client PWM Account mandate provides that
the client is consulted prior to making a decision regarding a proxy, the Research Team
will send regular updates to the client with a final recommendation to either approve or
refuse. These updates will generally be in written or electronic mail form.
A detailed description of Optima’s proxy voting policy as well as information about how
Optima voted a client's securities is available upon request to Optima’s CCO, Jonathan
Walsh, at (212) 484-3080 or jonathan.walsh@optima.com. Circumstances may arise
where different votes are directed for different clients regarding the same securities where
the item being voted on may impact client guidelines in different ways. In such instances,
Optima confirms with each client prior to voting why a vote will be directed “for” or
“against” as the case may be.
Optima does have authority to vote proxies as set forth in Item 17(A) above.
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Item 18 - Financial Information
A. Optima does not require any fees to be paid in advance, thus no financial statement for
Optima is attached.
B. Optima has discretionary authority over client accounts. Optima has no financial
commitment that impairs its ability to meet contractual and fiduciary commitments to
clients.
C. Optima has never been the subject of a bankruptcy petition.
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