Deutsche Bank is in the process of marketing a structured product that gives German investors exposure to a fund of hedge funds. Johan Groothaert, global head of structured products sales and origination in London, said the product is novel because the firm is using FERI Trust, an independent German fund rater, to select the managed accounts. Jean-Marie Barreau, head of structured derivatives on managed assets in London, added that FERI will select funds with diverse strategies including long/short equity, market neutral, risk arbitrage and convertible arbitrage. The product is being sold primarily to family offices and high-net-worth individuals, Groothaert noted.
The certificate, called the DB Arix Transparent Strategy Certificate, is structured using swaps, which are put in place for tax and regulatory reasons, according to Groothaert. The certificate is not, however, capital protected and does not use leverage. The firm is planning to raise a few hundred million euros through the offering, he added.