COVID-19 has impacted the most basic actions associated with investing in the alternatives sector: namely, if managers do not update their technology capabilities, they will have to physically print, sign, scan and email subscription forms, redemption requests and other fund documents while working from home (“WFH”).

In Private Equity International's Fund Administration Special, Nikolaos Perros (Head of Private Equity, Citco Fund Services (USA) Inc.), discusses the future of private equity outsourcing and how Covid-19 has forced the industry to move forward to a new digital age in online collaboration.

A range of pressures since the onset of COVID-19 are predicted to compel fund managers to diversify away from treasuries, money market funds and traditional banks towards ultra-liquid banks for holding unencumbered cash balances.

While no one is exactly certain about how the COVID pandemic will affect the world, be it economic, socially, environmentally or otherwise, early indications all point to the notion that what was business as usual prior to the pandemic will either take a significant turn or, in many cases, cease altogether.