METHODOLOGY

The awards scheme is administered by International Investment, which will appoint a judging panel, composed of senior people involved in the investment and offshore industry. Entrants are required to complete a separate submission for each award they enter. It is important to complete each submission as fully and in the allotted word count in order to progress to the shortlist stage. From the shortlist, the judging panel will decide on a winner and highly commended entries. Underlying data such as fund performance and product analysis will be calculated by outside agencies. The judges’ decision is final. They have the right to determine the standards of an award and to withhold an award in any category, if, in their view, the entries are not of sufficient merit. The judges also have the right to give a special award if deemed appropriate.

In assessing a submission, judges will be looking for the following attributes:

Commitment to target market
Appropriateness of product range
Use of technology and product innovation
Levels of service and support to distributors
Involvement at industry level

Offshore Fund methodology

Fund groups will be subject to an initial performance check by Morningstar. This looks at fund performance over calendar years 2005, 2006 and 2007. Those fund groups that pass the initial quants screen automatically make it on to the short lists. They may then be invited to complete a short questionnaire.

Best Offshore Fund Range

As in previous years the judges are looking at a universe of offshore open ended funds with FSA approval and are marketed back into the UK, domiciled in Dublin, Jersey, Guernsey, Luxembourg and the Isle of Man.
All funds with assets of less than £15m and less than three year track record to be removed.
All money market sectors and those with less than 10 funds in each to be taken out.
Decile ranking for each fund will be added up for the period 2005, 2006, 2007 and for the 36 month period 2005 – 2007, giving it a score (best possible 4, worst possible is 40).
Judges will consider any group that has six or more funds, this range must include at least one European, UK or US offering.
Judges are then looking to draw up a short list of groups where the overall fund range is marked out by consistent, strong performance.

Best International Fund Group

This will use the stats methodology outlined in the above award.
The judges will then consider both onshore fund groups providing product via offshore life companies, banks and those offering offshore funds.