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.
Forbes – Long-only hedge fund strategies posted the best returns of the asset class in July as global stock markets continued their upward trend, according to data in a report published by Lipper Global on Tuesday.
As the industry looks to repair itself following last year’s heavy losses and record redemptions, these new figures will give more ammunition to market watchers who claim that the industry is on the road to recovery.
Reuters UK – Most strategies employed by hedge fund managers globally failed to generate positive returns in June as stock markets moved sideways and commodity prices slid during the month, according to estimates from Lipper on Tuesday.
The best-performing hedge fund strategy was "convertible arbitrage" which returned 0.28 percent, while the worst-performing strategy was "managed futures" which lost 1.59 percent. Long/short equity hedge funds declined 0.23 percent.
Overall, nine of the 13 strategies tracked by Lipper lost money last month.
ZURICH, June 9 (Reuters) – Hedge fund outflows of $116 billion in the first quarter of 2009 were the second highest since 1994, Lipper data show, yet hedgies may yet receive a boost from some pension funds before the end of the year. Aureliano Gentilini, Lipper’s global head of hedge fund research, said on Tuesday he expected hedge fund outflows to taper off in the second quarter and that inflows could return in the third as investor confidence returns.
"Although down 21 percent from the fourth quarter of 2008, outflows were high, but partly because withdrawal restrictions imposed in the fourth quarter were lifted in Q1 of 2009," said Gentilini.
Gentilini also said that, in spite of having their worst ever year in 2008, hedge funds were seeing renewed interest from larger institutions as the dust from the financial crisis settles. Lipper is a Thomson Reuters research firm.
Reuters – A shakeout of the hedge funds industry could be over by June 2009, with nearly half of firms likely to shut up shop, a leading hedge fund manager said.
"The hedge fund bubble has popped and, unfortunately when any bubble pops, it’s a painful process," said Ken Kinsey-Quick, head of multi-manager of hedge fund firm Thames River Capital.
"If half were to close down, I wouldn’t be surprised. But the nice thing about hedge fund land is that things move very very quickly, it will probably be done and dusted by June," he continued
Hedge funds returns were a negative 19 percent last year, when investors pulled out a record $158.9 billion (113.86 billion pounds), according to data from Lipper.
Business Standard – Spooked by increasing performance losses and record investor redemptions, the global hedge fund industry saw net outflows worth $158.91 billion in the fourth quarter of calendar year 2008, the highest level since 1994.
According to a report by fund tracking firm Lipper, global hedge fund assets are estimated to have decreased from $1.5 trillion in September to $1.29 trillion at the end of December 2008.
All hedge fund sub-strategies posted negative money flows (outflows) in the three-month period with cumulative net outflows in 2008 as the industry witnessed a collapse in global equity markets, liquidity issues and failure of a number of key institutions.
In absolute terms, the performance of Credit Suisse/Tremont hedge fund index in Q4 2008 registered -10.21 per cent, the second worst quarterly performance since the start of the index. The index had posted 10.33 per cent negative returns during the third quarter. "A majority of hedge fund managers were hit by panic selling and deleveraging that followed, combined with changes in broker requirements and the enforcement of a ban on short selling in certain financial stocks," said the Lipper report.
In US dollar terms, the largest hedge fund sub-strategy outflows were experienced by long/short equity at $42.52 billion.
Because of the recent market turmoil, many hedge-fund investors have questions regarding what regulations are applicable to hedge funds, and how to withdraw their money from their hedge-fund investments if they want out. Indeed, hedge funds often present many different barriers to withdrawal, and there are essentially no regulatory prohibitions on these barriers.
Perhaps the best way to understand the regulations that apply to hedge funds is to compare them with mutual funds. Mutual funds are investment companies that are required by law to register with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and, therefore, are subject to stringent regulatory oversight. Virtually every aspect of a mutual fund’s structure and operation is subject to regulation under four federal laws, including the Securities Act of 1933, the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Advisers Act. The Investment Company Act regulates the structure and operation of mutual funds and forces funds to safeguard their portfolio securities.
West Palm Beach (HedgeCo.net) – Sidley Austin LLP has added six new members to its Executive Committee, the Committee that exercises general authority over the affairs of the firm, and two new members to its Management Committee, the Committee which governs the firm’s day-to-day activities.
William D. Kerr of Chicago joins as global coordinator of the firm’s Investment Funds, Advisers and Derivatives practice and a partner since 1991. He represents clients in securities and derivatives-related corporate and regulatory matters, including the organization and operation of hedge funds, commodity pools, real estate funds and private equity funds, organization and operation of investment advisers, commodity pool operators and commodity trading advisors, structured products, and derivatives documentation and regulation.
Michael J. Schmidtberger of New York has been a partner since 1993 and a global coordinator of the firm’s Investment Funds, Advisers and Derivatives practice, focuses his practice on securities and futures-related funds and corporate transactions, including related regulatory matters.
Schmidtberger regularly advises and represents clients in domestic and international offerings of hedge funds, fund of funds, public and private commodity pools and structured derivative and principal-protected transactions. Mr. Schmidtberger has also counseled clients in numerous fund restructurings and work-out situations. He is also a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and a member of the Committee on Retention and Promotion of Women.
“All of these partners are extremely talented lawyers and have contributed significantly to the growth and success of the firm,” said Thomas A. Cole, Chair of the Executive Committee.
Also hired are, Edward G. Poplawski, Raymond A. Bonner, Constance Choy and Peter D. Keisler, bringing the current count to 49.
“We are delighted to welcome these lawyers to governance roles so they may continue to serve as leaders of the firm,” said Charles W. Douglas, Chair of the Management Committee.
Sidley Austin LLP is one of the world’s largest full-service law firms, with more than 1800 lawyers practicing in 16 U.S. and international cities, including Beijing, Brussels, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hong Kong, London, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.
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West Palm Beach (HedgeCo.Net)- The SEC has clarified its position on the "Cash Solicitation Rule" saying that a registered investment adviser may compensate a person for soliciting investors for, or referring investors to his or her investment fund.
Usually, under the rule, it is illegal for an investment adviser to pay a cash fee, directly or indirectly, as the "Cash Solicitation Rule" only applies to solicitations of “clients.”
But the SEC has taken the position that solicitations of investors for investment funds should not fall ito that category. The determination of whether the cash payment is being made solely to compensate that person for soliciting or referring investors will depend on the facts and circumstances of each particular case.
The SEC also warned that "Despite the additional guidance provided by the interpretative letter, investment advisers will need to continue to be mindful of potential traps for the unwary when entering into solicitation agreements."
Boston Globe- The Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday said that it and other regulators would begin examining rumor-spreading intended to manipulate securities prices.
The timing of the announcement, made before the markets opened in Asia, was meant to warn broker-dealers, hedge funds, and investment advisers to quell any spreading of rumors before trading started today.
The SEC has been engaged in an internal debate over what kind of investigation to mount with respect to rumors. The turbulence in the markets last week, with rumors adding to concerns about fundamentals affecting commercial banks, investment banks, and the government-chartered enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, sped the decision to begin the examination and make it public.
"Traders know there is false information in the market. They need to think twice if they are going to pass it on," said Lori Richards, an SEC official.
