---
title: Alternative Mutual Funds Gain Traction
description: Alternative Mutual Funds Gain Traction
---

![websites-group](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/MarketsMedia_August2021/images/new-MMG-01.svg)

[![](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/MarketsMedia_August2021/images/dropdown-new-marketsmedia-logo.svg)](https://www.marketsmedia.com/)

[![](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/MarketsMedia_August2021/images/dropdown-menu-traders-redlogo.svg)](https://www.tradersmagazine.com/)

[![](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/MarketsMedia_August2021/images/dropdown-menu-bestexe-logo.svg)](https://www.bestexecution.net/)

[![](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/MarketsMedia_August2021/images/dropdown-menu-fidesk-logo.svg)](https://www.fixglobal.com/)

[![](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/MarketsMedia_August2021/images/dropdown-fixglobal-new-logo.svg)](https://www.fixglobal.com/)

- [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/MarketsMedia/)
- [*Twitter*](https://twitter.com/marketsmedia)
- [*Linkedin*](https://www.linkedin.com/company/markets-media-llc)
- [Newsletter](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/alternative-mutual-funds-gain-traction#popup-newsletter)

#### Want the latest news on securities markets -- FREE?

Sign up to receive exclusive articles on topics including:

- Equity market structure
- Profiles of buy-side investment firms
- The evolution of multi-asset-class trading
- Regulation and its implications for markets
- The search for liquidity in fixed income markets
- The convergence of fintech and capital markets

Select one or more newsletters you would like to receive:

menu

[![Markerts media](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/MarketsMedia_August2021/images/header%20logo.svg "Markerts media")](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/)

- [Institution](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/tag/institution)
- Institution
- Alternative Mutual Funds Gain Traction

Search

- [Home](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/)
- [Trending](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/tag/trending)
- [Featured](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/tag/daily-email-feature)
- [Sectors](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/tag/sectors)
- [From The Markets](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/tag/from-the-markets)
- [AWARDS](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/tag/events)
- [Newsletter](https://awards.marketsmedia.com/newsletter-sign-up)
- [Newsletter](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/alternative-mutual-funds-gain-traction#popup-newsletter)

Hide search

Search

- NewsLetter

![](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/trading-up-occ-iex-select-board-members-citadel-lands-lieblich-573x379-Jul-07-2022-09-34-11-57-AM.jpg)

[ON THE MOVE: Citi Hires Artie Ambrose;...](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/on-the-move-citi-hires-artie-ambrose-natalie-a-brown-to-mesirow)

![](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Depositphotos_445735906_L.jpg)

[Trading Adapts to ESG and Sustainable...](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/trading-adapts-to-esg-and-sustainable-investing)

![](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/iStock-917493152-Jul-07-2022-09-34-19-09-AM.jpg)

[Focus on FX Execution Connectivity](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/focus-on-fx-execution-connectivity)

![](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Depositphotos_333839538_L.jpg)

[TRACE Turns 20](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/trace-turns-20)

 07.23.2013

 By Terry Flanagan

 Institution

# Alternative Mutual Funds Gain Traction

 07.23.2013 By Terry Flanagan

[Share](https://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://articles.marketsmedia.com/alternative-mutual-funds-gain-traction)

[Tweet](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=US+ETFs+Have+Record+Net+Inflows&url=https://articles.marketsmedia.com/alternative-mutual-funds-gain-traction)

[Share](https://www.linkedin.com/cws/share?url=https://articles.marketsmedia.com/alternative-mutual-funds-gain-traction)

The lines between alternative and traditional investments continue to blur as institutional and retail investors view alternative mutual funds as substitutes for hedge funds.

Traditional asset managers have been steadily crossing over into the alternatives space. Firms are developing alternative asset products or acquiring alternative asset businesses to augment their traditional fund offerings and diversify their revenue sources.

"As investors' appetites for alternative investments continue to grow, asset managers have been broadening the options available," said Michele Giuditta, associate director at Cerulli Associates. "Asset managers are developing alternative assets in a liquid '40-Act mutual fund format for retail investors."

Blackstone Alternative Asset Management (BAAM), the hedge fund business of Blackstone, is launching its first alternative investment-focused mutual fund that offers daily liquidity.

The Blackstone Alternative Multi-Manager Fund (BXMMX) is a registered, open-end mutual fund that is managed by Blackstone Alternative Investment Advisors LLC. BXMMX will allocate assets among a variety of investment sub-advisers with experience managing non-traditional or alternative investment strategies. Blackstone may also manage a portion of the Fund’s assets directly and may invest in unaffiliated hedge funds.

BAAM is the world’s largest discretionary allocator to hedge funds and has approximately $49 billion under management. Blackstone has spent the last three years analyzing and preparing to enter the market for liquid alternatives. “Our industry position and relationships allow us to offer access to a group of the highest-conviction hedge fund managers on BAAM’s roster — managers currently representing a significant amount of BAAM’s capital on a dollar and percentage basis,” said John McCormick, senior managing director and head of global business strategy for BAAM. “Our track record of structuring value-added transactions has enabled us to secure this capacity.”

Significant investments in technology and infrastructure are necessary in order to operate effectively in a daily environment, subject to 1940 Act rules. “You have to ensure that your manager due diligence and investment processes are consistent with those that have proven successful over time, and that the underlying strategies lend themselves to a successful transition to a daily, more highly-regulated environment,” McCormick said.

Mutual funds are becoming the dominant vehicle used by both advisors and institutions to access the majority of alternative strategies. Alternative mutual funds saw inflows of $19.7 billion in 2012, while Morningstar estimates that among funds in its database, $7.6 billion flowed out of single-strategy hedge funds.

“Alternative mutual funds and ETFs have grown in breadth and quality in recent years,” said Nadia Papagiannis, director of alternative funds research for Morningstar. "Institutional investors are starting to see alternative mutual funds as substitutes for hedge funds, and more financial advisors are incorporating these liquid, transparent investments into their client portfolios."

Opportunities for hedge fund managers to cross over into the liquid alternative mutual fund space have accelerated since the financial crisis of 2008.

Cerulli research shows that most firms have built their alternative businesses internally, while one-third have expanded into alternatives through hiring subadvisors. In 10 years, managers surveyed by Cerulli anticipate that on average, alternative mutual fund assets will account for 13.6% of total mutual fund assets, up from 2.2% at the end of 2012.

"Managers should be aware of the unique distribution requirements of alternative funds versus traditional funds," Giuditta said.

[Share](https://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://articles.marketsmedia.com/alternative-mutual-funds-gain-traction)

[Tweet](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=US+ETFs+Have+Record+Net+Inflows&url=https://articles.marketsmedia.com/alternative-mutual-funds-gain-traction)

[Share](https://www.linkedin.com/cws/share?url=https://articles.marketsmedia.com/alternative-mutual-funds-gain-traction)

![email](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/hubfs/Markets%20Media/email.svg)

### NEWSLETTER SIGN UP

And receive exclusive articles on securities markets

<https://twitter.com/marketsmedia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>

### Related articles

1. [![](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/trading-across-the-pond-Jul-07-2022-09-33-17-07-AM.png?width=376&height=250&name=trading-across-the-pond-Jul-07-2022-09-33-17-07-AM.png)](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/eu-achieves-electronic-trading-of-standardized-otc-derivatives)
   
    Regulation
   
   ## [EU Achieves Electronic Trading of Standard OTC Derivatives](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/eu-achieves-electronic-trading-of-standardized-otc-derivatives)
   
   
   
   ISDA warns on proposed changes to post-trade deferrals regime.
   
   
   
   07.07.2022 By Shanny Basar
2. [![](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/iStock-522304914-Jul-07-2022-09-33-41-28-AM.jpg?width=376&height=250&name=iStock-522304914-Jul-07-2022-09-33-41-28-AM.jpg)](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/six-digital-exchange-collaborates-with-fireblocks)
   
    Fintech
   
   ## [SIX Digital Exchange Collaborates with Fireblocks](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/six-digital-exchange-collaborates-with-fireblocks)
   
   
   
   The partnership will focus on delivering an institutional custody solution for digital assets.
   
   
   
   07.07.2022 By Shanny Basar
3. [![](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Depositphotos_103566932_L-2.jpg?width=376&height=250&name=Depositphotos_103566932_L-2.jpg)](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/iosco-publishes-crypto-asset-roadmap)
   
    Regulators
   
   ## [IOSCO Publishes Crypto-Asset Roadmap](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/iosco-publishes-crypto-asset-roadmap)
   
   
   
   The IOSCO Fintech Task Force will collaborate closely with other international bodies.
   
   
   
   07.07.2022 By Shanny Basar

[![MarketsMedia](https://articles.marketsmedia.com/hubfs/MarketsMedia.svg "MarketsMedia")](http://marketsmedia.com)

- [About us](https://www.marketsmedia.com/about-us)
- [Careers](https://www.marketsmediagroup.com/careers)
- [Contact](https://www.marketsmediagroup.com/contact)
- [Advertise](https://www.marketsmediagroup.com/advertise)
- [Newsletter](https://awards.marketsmedia.com/newsletter-sign-up)
- [Corporate Site](https://marketsmediagroup.com)

<https://www.facebook.com/MarketsMedia/> <https://twitter.com/marketsmedia> <https://www.linkedin.com/company/markets-media-llc> <https://vimeo.com/marketsmedia>

- © 2026 Markets Media Holdings LLC
- - Terms & Conditions
    - Privacy Policy

 {{ standard\_footer\_includes }}