HispanicBusiness

Hedge fund firm Man Group has been able to unlock $550 million in capital following a change in its regulatory status that has reduced its corporate risk profile.

The reduction reflects the less balance sheet-intensive nature of the group's activities relative to earlier years, such as fund seeding activities and the scale of its guaranteed products business, Man said in a statement on Thursday.

The change in Man's classification has been confirmed by the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority. Previously, the firm was in a category that required higher capital levels to offset risk.

Man Group's change in status frees up $300 million from the removal of a mandatory capital planning buffer. It will also be able to add a further $250 million to its cash reserves because of the reduced capital requirements of its new status.

This will take its total surplus capital to around $920 million from Jan 1, 2014, taking into account its existing cash reserves.

Man's shares were up more than 7 percent by 7:27 a.m. GMT.