• Sets out good disclosure practices for actively managed funds, re investment objective and extent to which portfolio deviates or can deviate from reference benchmark.
• Highlights findings from a thematic review on more than 100 equity funds with active management mandates offered by 19 fund management companies to retail investors.

Findings

• Found that majority of fund disclosures covered in the thematic review were generic; management styles and extent of active management were not immediately apparent.
• In almost all instances, reference benchmark was not mentioned and discussed under investment objectives, and its purpose was also not clearly set out in most instances.
• Active share and tracking error often not disclosed in fund factsheets, prospectuses.

Good Practices

• Clearly state that a fund is to be actively managed; clearer statement of purpose of reference benchmark would help investors better assess fund's performance vs peers.
• Where a fund is not managed in reference to any benchmark, this should be clearly stated in the fund document, with accompany explanation on why one is not used.
• Should provide clear disclosures on how investment limits and constraints can affect risks and expected returns of funds, such as degree of freedom relative to benchmark.
• Should also disclose their funds’ active share and tracking error on a regular basis.