GAM: Director Suspended for Possible Due Diligence Failings, Gift Policy Breaches

GAM投资的债券联合国无约束it was suspended last week for potentially failing to conduct sufficient due diligence on certain investments, in addition to other policy breaches, according to new statements from the firm.

Swiss asset management giant GAM Investments provided further details about Tim Haywood’s suspensionin a letter addressed to clientsMonday, which it subsequently posted on its website.

Haywood may have failed to conduct sufficient due diligence on certain investments made through the unconstrained/absolute-return bond funds, GAM said in the letter. Additionally, the investigation found that he may have been the only person to sign certain documents that required two signatures.

Haywood also breached its gifts and travel policy by not asking for pre-approval, which the firm requires, and used his personal email for work purposes, according to the letter. “Taken together, this conduct is of significant concern to GAM,” the firm said.

The letter — which aimed to quiet speculation surrounding the incident — said the internal investigation is largely complete and that GAM is following disciplinary procedures.

GAMgated withdrawalsfrom the unconstrained/absolute return bond funds on July 31, the same day it announced Haywood’s suspension. At the time, GAM said it had investigated and found issues with Haywood’s risk management and record-keeping procedures.

After disclosing the unit chief’s suspension, the firm said it received a high level of redemption requests for the unconstrained/absolute bond funds he managed.

[IIDeep Dive:GAM Investments Gates Bond Funds After Surge of Redemption Requests]

Since then, “there has been speculation about the nature of the issues that led to that decision, much of it inaccurate,” according to the client letter. In addition to writing to clients, GAM set up anFAQ pageregarding the funds Haywood was in charge of.

“It should be noted that the investigation found no evidence that Mr. Haywood was motivated by an improper rationale in making investment decisions or that there was any conflict of interest between him and clients,” the firm said.

GAM also noted that its finances remain “strong.” As of June 30, the firm managed CHF 163.8 billion ($165 billion) in assets.

A spokesperson declined to comment further on the situation.