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Net information ratio meaning

What does Net information ratio mean?
A portfolio performance measure used in investment management mandates and investment management agreements (IMAs) to assess a manager’s skill versus a stated benchmark, calculated as the information ratio after deducting agreed costs and fees (net). It equals the manager’s active return net of costs divided by tracking error over the measurement period. There is no statutory or case law definition in England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland or Ireland; it is an industry expression and should be precisely defined in the relevant agreement or policy. In practice, costs may include management and performance fees and, if agreed, transaction, custody and other portfolio expenses; parties should state inclusions and any tax or currency‑hedging adjustments. It is commonly used by pension scheme trustees, insurers, UCITS/AIF boards and other institutional investors when setting performance targets, reporting requirements, fee structures, clawback and termination triggers, and manager selection. Drafting essentials: identify the benchmark; specify gross‑to‑net adjustments; period and annualisation; whether tracking error is ex ante or ex post; data frequency and pricing sources; treatment of cash, inflows/outflows and derivatives; rounding; and who calculates and verifies results (for example, GIPS‑compliant). Usage and meaning are broadly consistent across the UK and Ireland.
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View the related Practice Notes about Net information ratio

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PRACTICE NOTES
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PRACTICE NOTES
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