Global investment manager AQR Capital Management is looking to boost its retail business, with plans to hire retail business development managers and secure a third-party marketer.
 
The firm currently has a number of institutional clients, including the NZ Superannuation Fund, HESTA and Funds SA.

It also has as an alliance with BT Financial Group, managing a global equities portfolio.

AQR has $4 billion in funds under management, half of which is institutional money and half of which is managed for BT.

"Our relationship with BT has allowed us to tap into the adviser market, however, we are looking to broaden our reach into the wider retail market," AQR manager Simon Wills said.

"We are an institutionally-backed manager, however, we feel the retail market will add further support to the business."

The firm recently launched the AQR Delta Fund, a multi-strategy absolute return product that has been seeded by Select Asset Management.

"The fund will help us build our growth in the adviser market and I am currently working with research houses to secure a rating," Wills said.

"Once we get this rating for the fund, we will be looking at the platform market."

The firm will also hire retail business development managers.

"We are unsure about how many we will hire. There are some quality people out in the market who can help us create opportunities from retail distribution," Wills said.

The company also has plans to secure an alliance with a third-party marketer.

"To help us distribute our products we would be interested in forming a partnership with a third-party marketer," Wills said.