The Bundesverband Alternative Investments e. V. (BAI) was founded July 4th, 1997 in Bonn by well known members of the industry. The members of the BAI are recruited from all areas of the alternative investments industry, e.g. banks, investment companies, hedge funds and private equity funds as well as service providers. At present, BAI counts more than 120 member companies and is growing continuously.   

Aim of the association 
The main goal of the association is to higher the level of awareness and deepen the public understanding of alternative investment strategies as an asset class. On behalf of its members and their investors, the BAI pursues the aim to actively conduct legal reforms to build up an attractive and competitive regulatory environment for the alternative investment industry in Germany. Over the past years, the intense and constructive dialogue with the Ministry of Finance (BMF) and the Federal financial supervisory authority (BaFin) has been very successful and BAI has been actively involved in various legislative measures as the amendment of the Investment Act (Investmentgesetz, InvG), the Investment Ordinance for assurance undertakings (Anlageverordnung, Anlv) and other measures on EU and national level. We also cooperate with various national and international organisations and associations. 

Additionally the association provides a forum for contacts, discussions and exchanges of opinions, for the benefit of members. The association is endeavouring to prevent market malpractices. For this reason membership demands strict criteria for every applicant who wishes to join the association. 

Service 
Apart from the general tasks, BAI informs its members through publications, circulars and the association’s website about current market and legal developments concerning Alternative Investments. For these purposes, the BAI-Newsletter is distributed quarterly not only to members and decision makers at BMF and BaFin, but also to institutional investors, issuers of Alternative Investment products, well known editors and publishers of national and international newspapers and magazines and other interested parties. 
The organisation of seminars and conferences to improve the understanding of alternative investments and to offer a platform for members and third parties to discuss related topics is also part of the BAI package of measures. For this reason, BAI organises in co-operation with Deutsche Börse AG and Eurex an annual conference which takes place in September/October (www.forum-ai.com). Furthermore, the association hosts the BAI Alternative Investment Insight and the BAI Alternative Investor Conference (www.ai-conference.com) which intends to bring market participants together to exchange their know-how and to contribute to the comprehension of Alternative Investment in the public. Those conferences as well as further arrangements such as Round Tables offer product suppliers, institutional investors, providers of the Alternative Investment industry and other interested parties an outstanding opportunity to exchange thoughts, to receive information about new market trends, and aim to bring together investors and suppliers of Alternative Investments. 
Every year, members of the BAI-board and the BAI team are involved in lectures and seminars - a sign that the know-how of the associations’ specialists is acknowledged by the Alternative Investments industry. 
Further interesting events and association activities are constantly planned.

 
The portrait of the BAI is available for download at the Info Center. Please take a look at the event section as well. 

Membership 
We gladly inform you regarding the criteria for membership, the association fee and any other questions you may have. Please contact us. 
The BAI works in close co-operation with: