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The scope of international mutual fund outsourcing: Fees, performance and risks

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  • Cumming, Douglas
  • Schwienbacher, Armin
  • Zhan, Feng

Abstract

This paper examines the causes and consequences of mutual fund outsourcing to different types of service providers: advisors, custodians, administrators, and transfer agents. The data indicate outsourcing is less common among bank-managed funds, funds of leading groups, but more common among funds that are distributed through third parties. Moreover, initial subscription fees are lower among funds that outsource non-advisory services, while annual management fees are not different among funds that outsource. The effect of service outsourcing on subscription fees occurs only for funds targeting institutional investors; retail investors enjoy no fee gains. The outsourcing of advisor services is associated with greater fund risk, but also with higher risk-adjusted performance (Sharpe ratio). However, the positive link with performance disappears when controlling for endogeneity, suggesting that fund managers optimally outsource advisory services in response to expected performance gains. Consistent with our predictions, outsourcing of other services does not impact portfolio decisions. Their impact is through lower subscription fees.

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  • Cumming, Douglas & Schwienbacher, Armin & Zhan, Feng, 2015. "The scope of international mutual fund outsourcing: Fees, performance and risks," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 185-199.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:intfin:v:38:y:2015:i:c:p:185-199
    DOI: 10.1016/j.intfin.2015.05.020
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    1. Jacob, Martin & Johan, Sofia & Schweizer, Denis & Zhan, Feng, 2016. "Corporate finance and the governance implications of removing government support programs," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 35-47.
    2. Katarzyna Perez & £ukasz Szymczyk, 2022. "Actual rate of the management fee in mutual funds of different styles," Equilibrium. Quarterly Journal of Economics and Economic Policy, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 17(4), pages 969-1014, December.
    3. Yang, Tianna & Hou, Wenxuan, 2016. "Pay-performance sensitivity and risk-taking behaviors: Evidence from closed-end funds," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 274-288.
    4. Gajewski, Jean-François & Tran Dieu, Linh, 2021. "Determinants and performance of outsourcing in the european mutual fund market," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    5. Qureshi, Fiza & Kutan, Ali M. & Ismail, Izlin & Gee, Chan Sok, 2017. "Mutual funds and stock market volatility: An empirical analysis of Asian emerging markets," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 176-192.
    6. Jean-François Gajewski & Linh Tran Dieu, 2021. "Determinants And Performance Of Outsourcing In The European Mutual Fund Market," Post-Print hal-03221014, HAL.
    7. Casavecchia, Lorenzo & Ge, Chanyuan, 2019. "Jack of all trades versus specialists: Fund family specialization and mutual fund performance," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 69-85.
    8. Cumming, Douglas & Johan, Sofia & Zhang, Yelin, 2019. "What is mutual fund flow?," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 222-251.

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