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15 Jun 2009

G8 Implements Lecce Framework

G8 Finance Ministers announced their endorsement of a global regulatory framework for financial institutions worldwide, "We agreed to create a coherent framework which builds on work done by the IMF, World Bank, OECD, FSB, FATF, and other international organizations, to strengthen the global market system." the G8 said in a statement on Saturday.

"To ensure effectiveness, we will make every effort to pursue maximum country participation and swift and resolute implementation. We have agreed on the objectives of a strategy, "the Lecce Framework", to create a comprehensive framework, building on existing initiatives, to identify and fill regulatory gaps and foster the broad international consensus needed for rapid implementation."

The Lecce Framework recognizes that there is a wide range of instruments, both existing and under development, which have a common thread related to propriety, integrity and transparency and classifies them into five categories: corporate governance, market integrity, financial regulation and supervision, tax cooperation, and transparency of macroeconomic policy and data.

Specific issues covered include, inter alia, executive compensation, regulation of systemically important institutions, credit rating agencies, accounting standards, the cross-border exchange of information, bribery, tax havens, non-cooperative jurisdictions, money laundering and the financing of terrorism, and the quality and dissemination of economic and financial data. International institutions and fora have already developed a significant body of work addressing a number of important issues in these areas, but, in many cases, the initiatives suffer from insufficient country participation and/or commitment, the G8 said.

Confluence Whitepaper Outlines Hedge Fund Reporting and Control Challenges

Financial administration automation specialist, Confluence, released a new whitepaper for hedge fund administration executives, entitled "Hedge Fund Reporting: The Change Imperative".

"Mandates from investors, regulators, and auditors are driving significant change in hedge fund back offices," said Kirk Botula, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Confluence. "Each group is demanding new levels of due diligence, transparency, and disclosure that are driving never-before-seen hedge fund reporting requirements. Technology and automation can improve processes and offer the speed, control and flexibility needed in this new reporting environment."

A recent Rothstein Kass survey showed that 98% of hedge fund managers expect increased regulation of the hedge fund industry by the new administration—adding to burdens already imposed by FAS 157, FAS 161, and International Financial Reporting Standards.

The whitepaper also provides practical advice to help ensure that reporting processes are sufficient to meet these heightened demands. It offers best-practice recommendations and includes a "Sample Checklist" to help administrators evaluate their operations, whether they rely on outside service providers or their own internal back offices.

To obtain a free copy of "Hedge Fund Reporting: The Change Imperative," please visit www.confluence.com/hedgefundradicalchange.