Each business day HedgeCo.Net keeps you informed with the top hedge fund industry news, opinion and insight from around the globe. From the latest hedge fund launches, to the impact of regulation, competition, and investor activism - we track the topics and people that make a difference to you.
New York (HedgeCo.Net) – Although confidence in the hedge fund industry has taken a hit, a large and notable UK pension fund has begun to place their trust into alternative investments. The West Midlands Local Authority Pension Fund, which manages close to $10 billion, was looking to diversify investments, and chose to allocate 8 percent into hedge funds.
In an interview with Reuters, management pointed out that although hedge funds may have had a dismal 2008, they still outperformed the equity markets. In addition, Chief Investment Officer Judith Saunders believes that hedge funds “have been forced to improve their practices and some of the weaker ones have gone.”
200 hedge funds who couldn’t withstand market conditions closed up shop last year in the United States alone, thinning out an industry that once managed close to $3 trillion. In addition, the unfavorable economic conditions exposed dozens of hedge funds that were running fraudulent schemes. Many companies feel now is the time to invest, with a number of strong funds that withstood the storm.
The Universities Supeannuation Scheme, UK’s second largest pension fund, is also pursuing diversification, confirming they would allocate 20 percent of their $32 billion in assets under management to alternative investments. Management recently told reporters “that current turmoil in the hedge fund industry represents a compelling investment opportunity for investors like USS who are able to take the long-term view.”
The West Midlands Fund chose investments that employ absolute return strategies, which are supposed to be less volatile than other strategies. Saunders has been pondering the idea of investing in hedge since late last year, when she stated the company was considering a 2 percent allocation.
Julie Scuderi Senior Editor for HedgeCo.Net Email: julie@hedgeco.net HedgeCo.Net is a premier hedge fund database and community for qualified and accredited investors only. Membership on www.hedgeco.net is FREE and EASY. We also offer FREE LISTINGS for Hedge Funds! Be sure to check out our sister sites. www.hedgefundlounge.com, www.hedgefundtools.com, and www.hedgefundemployment.com
Reuters – The nation’s second-largest pension fund, the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), said it was sticking by a medium-term plan to double exposure to alternative assets such as hedge funds and private equity.
The 23 billion pound pension scheme confirmed the target as it announced its first appointment to a new hedge funds team on Monday.
USS currently has 10 percent exposure to alternatives, making it already one of the more adventurous UK pension funds.
Its plan to increase that to 20 percent, coupled with specific move to boost hedge fund investment, will be comfort to an industry which struggled with poor performance and heavy outflows during a turbulent 2008.
"We believe that the current turmoil in the hedge fund industry represents a compelling investment opportunity for investors like USS who are able to take the long-term view," said USS’s head of alternative assets Michael Powell.
There have been fears that conservative long-term investors such as pension schemes could be put off future allocations to hedge funds.
Reuters UK – The nation’s second-largest pension fund, the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), said it was sticking by a medium-term plan to double exposure to alternative assets such as hedge funds and private equity.
The 23 billion pound pension scheme confirmed the target as it announced its first appointment to a new hedge funds team on Monday.
USS currently has 10 percent exposure to alternatives, making it already one of the more adventurous UK pension funds.
Its plan to increase that to 20 percent, coupled with specific move to boost hedge fund investment, will be comfort to an industry which struggled with poor performance and heavy outflows during a turbulent 2008.
"We believe that the current turmoil in the hedge fund industry represents a compelling investment opportunity for investors like USS who are able to take the long-term view," said USS’s head of alternative assets Michael Powell.
KPR Capital Limited announces the launch of the KPR Diamond Fund. The fund offers investors a unique access to physical diamonds capitalising on the price appreciation of top quality colourless diamonds.
The Fund aims to provide returns which are not correlated with traditional asset classes, act as a hedge against inflation and benefit from the supply/demand imbalance over the long term. The fund is part of KPR Fund SPC, a Cayman Islands open-ended investment company.
The investment manager has engaged a team of diamond industry experts that have in-depth knowledge and industry insight of the diamond market.
The fund’s investment adviser is Goldwinds Asset Management Limited, a London based asset management firm.
Giovanni Pennetta, CEO of Goldwinds Asset Management, said:
“The long term outlook for diamonds is robust. We are confident that this fund will provide the means for investors to diversify their portfolio and gain exposure to physical diamonds in a cost-efficient way. We see this as a huge investment opportunity that investors should not miss.”
The fund is open to investors in February and will launch on the 2nd March 2009. The fund has a minimum investment of US$ 250,000. Investors in the fund may benefit from the option to purchase stones on selected diamond sales by the fund at a wholesale price. The Diamond Segregated Portfolio may be offered, sold or transferred directly or indirectly to Non US Taxpayers and US Tax-exempt investors. US Taxpayers may invest in interest of the Partnership, KPR Diamond Fund L.P.
