Interviews

Request an interview

Please register or log in to access the content on this page (registration is a regulatory requirement).

Please select a category label to access the fund manager interviews.

Absolute Return (15)

Giles Worthington and Tim Short, RiverCrest Capital: “Investors need to be really able to trust the manager and to have a frequent, honest and open dialogue with them”
Giles Worthington and Tim Short, RiverCrest Capital: “Investors need to be really able to trust the manager and to have a frequent, honest and open dialogue with them”
Sun, 22/01/2012 - 18:53

Giles Worthington (pictured) and Tim Short, portfolio managers of the RiverCrest European Equity Alpha Fund, say their strategy – offered through a Ucits platform – should be capable of performing well in macro-dominated environments, since the investment process combines stock-picking with portfolio construction and risk management disciplines to neutralise market-associated risks and isolate alpha.

Harold Heuschmidt, Aquila Capital: “Absolute return Ucits funds offer enhanced transparency, liquidity and oversight – all increasingly important criteria for investors”
Harold Heuschmidt, Aquila Capital: “Absolute return Ucits funds offer enhanced transparency, liquidity and oversight – all increasingly important criteria for investors”
Sun, 19/08/2012 - 10:32

Aquila Capital’s Harold Heuschmidt (pictured) says the Risk Parity funds of which he is head manager use a multi-asset investment strategy that allocates risk across different asset classes offering a risk premium, namely equities, bonds, commodities and interest rates, with the contribution of each asset class risk-weighted to balance risk proportionately across the portfolio.

Nadejda Rakovska, Volvar Asset Management: “Clearing of standardised OTC should facilitate investors’ shift from traditional to new asset classes”
Nadejda Rakovska, Volvar Asset Management: “Clearing of standardised OTC should facilitate investors’ shift from traditional to new asset classes”
Mon, 16/01/2012 - 09:22

Nadejda Rakovska, chief executive of start-up volatility specialist Volvar Asset Management, which is preparing to launch its first fund as a self-managed Luxembourg Sicav SIF, expects volatility to be recognised as a separate asset class that will attract increased allocations from multi-managers and balanced portfolios and prompt more players to launch funds.

The Interview - Ralph Gasser, Bank Julius Baer: "Clients are increasingly willing to add risk again cautiously"
The Interview - Ralph Gasser, Bank Julius Baer: "Clients are increasingly willing to add risk again cautiously"
Mon, 20/07/2009 - 07:00

The five-year-old Julius Baer Absolute Return Bond Fund managed by London-based Augustus Asset Managers has delivered euro-denominated returns of 3.8 per cent over the past three

The Interview Bill Woodruff, Bandon Capital Management: “Alternative strategies are valuable portfolio components for mass affluent and small institutional investors”
The Interview Bill Woodruff, Bandon Capital Management: “Alternative strategies are valuable portfolio components for mass affluent and small institutional investors”
Fri, 25/09/2009 - 08:01

Bill Woodruff, founder, president and portfolio manager at Bandon Capital Management, says the firm’s directional interest rate strategy, offered through separately managed accoun

The Interview – Alistair MacDonald, Merrion Investment Managers: “Volatility in markets produces opportunities particularly for investors that can identify both long and short ideas”
The Interview – Alistair MacDonald, Merrion Investment Managers: “Volatility in markets produces opportunities particularly for investors that can identify both long and short ideas”
Fri, 11/06/2010 - 06:00

Alistair MacDonald, co-manager of the newly-launched Merrion European Absolute Return Fund, argues that Ucits III hedge funds are benefiting from the current uncertainty over the final form and substance of the European Union’s AIFM Directive as well as concerns over the costs of implementing its requirements.

The Interview – Chris Day and George Cadbury, Merchant Capital: “There is a massive opportunity for high-calibre managers to raise money through a Ucits structure”
The Interview – Chris Day and George Cadbury, Merchant Capital: “There is a massive opportunity for high-calibre managers to raise money through a Ucits structure”
Tue, 04/05/2010 - 07:00

Merchant Capital directors Chris Day (pictured) and George Cadbury say the firm, which last year launched the first Dublin-domiciled Ucits umbrella fund created specifically for Ucits absolute return funds, is looking to launch up to 10 funds over the course of 2010 following the debut of the long/short Merchant European Equity Fund in January.

The Interview – Frédéric Durr, Maoming Investment Management: “Our role is to make higher returns and preserve capital whatever happens”
The Interview – Frédéric Durr, Maoming Investment Management: “Our role is to make higher returns and preserve capital whatever happens”
Wed, 14/10/2009 - 05:00

Frédéric Durr, a principal and fund manager with Shanghai-based Maoming Investment Management, says the firm’s Maoming Fund aims to generate returns while preserving capital through an intense focus on the companies it invests in, with liquidity the key element in risk management.

The Interview – Julian Rogers-Coltman, FF&P Capital Management: “We are mindful of the risk further bad news as the peripheral European economies continue to deteriorate”
The Interview – Julian Rogers-Coltman, FF&P Capital Management: “We are mindful of the risk further bad news as the peripheral European economies continue to deteriorate”
Fri, 12/11/2010 - 07:00

Julian Rogers-Coltman (pictured), chief executive of Fleming Family and Partners Capital Management, says the absolute return asset manager’s two surviving funds are well set to capitalise on the continuing market volatility, but he acknowledges that fundraising will remain difficult until fears of a double dip recession dissipate and it becomes clearer how weaker European countries can escape the sovereign debt trap.

The Interview – Mark Martyrossian and Mark Fleming, Tiburon Partners: “In an age of information overload, the key to successful investment is to distinguish intelligence from information”
The Interview – Mark Martyrossian and Mark Fleming, Tiburon Partners: “In an age of information overload, the key to successful investment is to distinguish intelligence from information”
Sun, 08/01/2012 - 20:41

Mark Martyrossian and Mark Fleming (pictured), partners in Asian equities specialist Tiburon Partners and co-managers of the Tiburon Taipan and Tiburon Taurus funds, believe that the region was unfairly punished last year, underperforming the US and performing in line with much of Europe despite its stronger macro credentials, and that many stocks are trading at dirt-cheap valuations.

The Interview – Richard Hodgetts, Collins Stewart Fund Management: “Nearly all the higher-quality absolute return products have come from managers running existing hedge funds”
The Interview – Richard Hodgetts, Collins Stewart Fund Management: “Nearly all the higher-quality absolute return products have come from managers running existing hedge funds”
Wed, 09/12/2009 - 10:33

Manager Richard Hodgetts says the newly-launched Collins Stewart Alternative Strategies Fund, a Ucits III fund of absolute return funds that draws on the firm’s extensive experience as a manager of funds of hedge funds, is set to capitalise on increasing interest in absolute return strategies as investor confidence returns.

The Interview – Richard Sherwin, Blacksquare Capital: “Ucits funds give managers access to new pools of savings and a diversified investor base”
The Interview – Richard Sherwin, Blacksquare Capital: “Ucits funds give managers access to new pools of savings and a diversified investor base”
Tue, 02/02/2010 - 07:00

Richard Sherwin, partner and head of investment research at Blacksquare Capital, says the newly-launched IFSL Blacksquare Multi-Manager Absolute Return Fund, of which he is portfolio manager, is accessible and affordable to a large majority of investors thanks to a minimum investment of GBP1,000 for its UK retail share class and the absence of a performance fee – a unique characteristic for a multi-manager absolute return fund.

The Interview – Spike Hughes, Insynergy Investment Management: “It is difficult to see how investors will recapture lost value through cash or cash-like investments”
The Interview – Spike Hughes, Insynergy Investment Management: “It is difficult to see how investors will recapture lost value through cash or cash-like investments”
Fri, 30/04/2010 - 06:00

Spike Hughes, chief executive of Insynergy Investment Management, says that building on the existing success of its initial retail fund run by Crispin Odey and new absolute return funds targeting India and China, the firm will seek out further world-class investment teams with proven strategies that can be adapted to a Ucits structure.

The Interview – William Kitchin, Alternative Advisors: “Our clients are now more focused than ever on regulation, transparency and liquidity”
The Interview – William Kitchin, Alternative Advisors: “Our clients are now more focused than ever on regulation, transparency and liquidity”
Fri, 13/08/2010 - 06:00

Alternative Advisors’ William Kitchin (pictured), portfolio manager of the Castillon Diversified Fund, a Ucits absolute return fund of funds, says that while the fund is constrained in its selection of underlying managers by the need to match the liquidity it offers to investors, this is not a particular disadvantage in the short term given the current macro economic conditions.

The Interview: Fred Sage, Decision Analytics Advisory Partners: “Repackaging hedge funds as Ucits-compliant structures is new territory for the investment management industry
The Interview: Fred Sage, Decision Analytics Advisory Partners: “Repackaging hedge funds as Ucits-compliant structures is new territory for the investment management industry
Wed, 24/02/2010 - 07:00

Fred Sage, managing partner of Decision Analytics Advisory Partners, says the Next Generation Absolute Return Ucits Sicav and Ucits Fund of Funds will offer investors a unique selection of hedge fund strategies with all the protection offered by a Ucits umbrella fund structure, backed up by a broad range of internal and third-party sophisticated Ucits funds expertise.

Commodities Trading Arbitrage (3)

The Interview - Lars Steffensen, Ebullio Capital: "Industrial production and GDP figures from the rest of the world are right and the figures from China are wrong"
The Interview - Lars Steffensen, Ebullio Capital: "Industrial production and GDP figures from the rest of the world are right and the figures from China are wrong"
Tue, 18/08/2009 - 01:27

Ebullio Capital managing partner Lars Steffensen believes that as the world's economy tips downward again in the second leg of a W-sh

The Interview – Florian Wagner, Qbasis Invest: “We don’t believe the markets can throw us any challenges we have not already considered and prepared for”
The Interview – Florian Wagner, Qbasis Invest: “We don’t believe the markets can throw us any challenges we have not already considered and prepared for”
Tue, 13/04/2010 - 06:00

Florian Wagner, founder and head of Qbasis Invest, which specialises in exchange-traded managed futures, says that after achieving returns of 72 and 145 per cent respectively in 2007 and 2008, the firm also proved the effectiveness of its systems by outperforming the CTA sector the following year despite giving back 15 per cent.

The Interview – Russell Newton, Global Advisors: “Adding to CTA positions early in 2009 was like buying insurance after your house has burned down”
The Interview – Russell Newton, Global Advisors: “Adding to CTA positions early in 2009 was like buying insurance after your house has burned down”
Mon, 05/07/2010 - 07:54

Russell Newton, co-founder and head of research at Jersey-based commodity-focused hedge fund manager Global Advisors, notes that despite the more difficult environment for commodity trading over the past year and a half, the firm’s Global Commodity Systematic programme has delivered a compound return of 14.2 per cent return since its launch in 2005.

Distressed Securities (1)

The Interview - Andrew Rabinowitz, Marathon Asset Management: "One of the greatest opportunities ever to buy good credits at distressed prices"
The Interview - Andrew Rabinowitz, Marathon Asset Management: "One of the greatest opportunities ever to buy good credits at distressed prices"
Mon, 19/01/2009 - 07:40

Andrew Rabinowitz, chief operating officer at New York-based distressed investment specialist Marathon Asset Management, LP, says that in the near

Equity Hedge (1)

Cenk Utkan, Strateji Securities: “Most Turkish equity funds are index followers, some are market timers, but only a few are active in stock-picking”
Cenk Utkan, Strateji Securities: “Most Turkish equity funds are index followers, some are market timers, but only a few are active in stock-picking”
Tue, 03/04/2012 - 20:35

Cenk Utkan (pictured), marketing director of Turkish specialist equity manager Strateji Securities, expects more individual and institutional investment to flow to the sector in the future to capitalise on the country’s vigorous economic growth, especially as falling interest rates reduce the appeal of the fixed-income funds.

Equity Long Short (19)

Athanasios Ladopoulos, Swiss Investment Managers: “Directors’ share transactions should continue to provide ample investment opportunities”
Athanasios Ladopoulos, Swiss Investment Managers: “Directors’ share transactions should continue to provide ample investment opportunities”
Mon, 17/10/2011 - 08:27

Athanasios T Ladopoulos, senior partner and senior portfolio manager of Swiss Investment Managers, says the Directors Dealings Fund, which uses a proprietary investment methodology focusing on share transactions by companies’ directors and senior executives, offers sophisticated investors non-correlated returns accompanies by robust risk management techniques.

Hedgeweek Interview: Philip Hardy, Polar Capital: "The outlook for equity markets is likely to be one of hope ultimately ending in despair"
Hedgeweek Interview: Philip Hardy, Polar Capital: "The outlook for equity markets is likely to be one of hope ultimately ending in despair"
Mon, 12/01/2009 - 13:26

Philip Hardy, manager of the Polar Capital UK Absolute Return Fund, says that after a savage bear market in UK equities in 2008 the outlook remains uncertain, and he expects continued h

Interview - Gary West and James Inglis-Jones, Liontrust: Looking for profit surprises
Interview - Gary West and James Inglis-Jones, Liontrust: Looking for profit surprises
Fri, 28/11/2008 - 15:46

Gary West (photo) and James Inglis-Jones say the Liontrust European Long/Short Fund they manage has enjoyed solid growth this year amid the gloom f

Interview: Robert Romero, Connective Capital Management: "Growing opportunities for alpha generation on both long and short sides"
Interview: Robert Romero, Connective Capital Management: "Growing opportunities for alpha generation on both long and short sides"
Mon, 15/12/2008 - 08:37

Connective Capital Management portfolio manager Robert Romero says the Silicon Valley-based firm, which specialises in investing in the technology

Jonathan Gordon, MET Capital Management: “We expect stocks to respond more to micro and fundamental aspects, which should be favourable for our strategy”
Jonathan Gordon, MET Capital Management: “We expect stocks to respond more to micro and fundamental aspects, which should be favourable for our strategy”
Mon, 09/04/2012 - 17:36

Following two years of difficult market conditions for long/short equity manager MET Capital Management, the firm’s head Jonathan Gordon expects a return to the trending markets that enabled it to achieve extremely positive returns between 2007 and 2009, as well as a growing willingness among investors to look beyond the largest and longest-established hedge funds.

Julien Stouff, Pictet Asset Management: “The purchase of convexity positions protect against and profit from major market moves”
Julien Stouff, Pictet Asset Management: “The purchase of convexity positions protect against and profit from major market moves”
Tue, 22/05/2012 - 17:59

Julien Stouff (pictured), head of the team managing Pictet Asset Management’s newly-launched Kronos Fund says the global long/short equity trading strategy, previously offered as a Luxembourg-domiciled Sicav-SIF and before that as a trading book, follows an investment approach in which quantitative stock selection, convexity positions – deep out-of-the money options – and active trading are intertwined…

Kilian Kentrup, Entrepreneur Partners: “Cultural understanding is an important advantage when using direct contact with management to interpret business decisions”
Kilian Kentrup, Entrepreneur Partners: “Cultural understanding is an important advantage when using direct contact with management to interpret business decisions”
Wed, 08/08/2012 - 12:03

Kilian Kentrup (pictured), manager of the Trias L/S Fund at Zurich-based Entrepreneur Partners, says he uses fundamental and news flow-driven proprietary screening tools, bottom-up research, regular direct contact with management and field trips to identify long and short equity and equity-related security investments among some 400 listed companies in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

Olivier Mollé and Gilles Sitbon, Sycomore Asset Management: “Basel III and Solvency II should be a game-changer for the way banks and insurers manage their capital reserves”
Olivier Mollé and Gilles Sitbon, Sycomore Asset Management: “Basel III and Solvency II should be a game-changer for the way banks and insurers manage their capital reserves”
Mon, 27/08/2012 - 09:36

Olivier Mollé (pictured) and Gilles Sitbon, who run the L/S Market Neutral and L/S Opportunities funds respectively at Paris-based Sycomore Asset Management, say both the long/short funds are seeing increased interest from investors seeking more uncorrelated returns for a greater portion of their assets under management, whether they are focusing on capital preservation or looking for equity market exposure with lower volatility.

The Interview - Bernard Lambilliotte, Ecofin: "We expect explosive development in China's renewable energy sectors"
The Interview - Bernard Lambilliotte, Ecofin: "We expect explosive development in China's renewable energy sectors"
Tue, 18/08/2009 - 22:48

Bernard Lambilliotte, chief investment officer of specialist utilities and infrastructure investor Ecofin, says the firm's newly-launched China Pow

The Interview - Henrik Rhenman and Carl Grevelius, Rhenman & Partners: "The most likely outcome of healthcare reform in the US is higher consumption"
The Interview - Henrik Rhenman and Carl Grevelius, Rhenman & Partners: "The most likely outcome of healthcare reform in the US is higher consumption"
Tue, 04/08/2009 - 07:30

Stockholm-based Rhenman & Partners Asset Management, a niche player focused on healthcare, has just launched Rhenman Healthcare Equity L/S, a g

The Interview - Paul Kennedy, GWM Group: “There is now less dislocation within markets and opportunities are increasing on the short side”
The Interview - Paul Kennedy, GWM Group: “There is now less dislocation within markets and opportunities are increasing on the short side”
Mon, 06/09/2010 - 06:00

Paul Kennedy, managing director and chief investment officer of GWM Group, says investors are looking for funds, such as the firm’s newly-launched long/short European Ucits fund 7H Absolute, that provide low net exposure and generate alpha through a strategic long-term approach and a short-term trading overlay to maximise returns without an increased risk profile.

The Interview - Richard Peterson, MarketPsy Capital: "Understanding the workings of the brain unlocks a trove of novel investment strategies"
The Interview - Richard Peterson, MarketPsy Capital: "Understanding the workings of the brain unlocks a trove of novel investment strategies"
Tue, 30/06/2009 - 07:00

The founders of MarketPsy Capital have developed a systematic investment strategy that arbitrages sentiment-based stock mispricing by analysing the

The Interview - Willem de Vlugt and Charles Estourgie, EValuation Capital: “The rally this year has made investors wary of possible corrections ahead”
The Interview - Willem de Vlugt and Charles Estourgie, EValuation Capital: “The rally this year has made investors wary of possible corrections ahead”
Tue, 05/01/2010 - 07:00

Willem de Vlugt and Charles Estourgie, founding partners and fund managers at Amsterdam-based EValuation Capital Management, says the EV Smaller Companies Fund they manage is set to benefit from a favourable environment in the coming year as its core long portfolio of small and medium-sized companies emerge stronger from the crisis.

The Interview – Carl Bernadotte, CB Asset Management: “Unlike other long/short strategies, we short an index, not individual stocks, so we don’t have to generate short ideas”
The Interview – Carl Bernadotte, CB Asset Management: “Unlike other long/short strategies, we short an index, not individual stocks, so we don’t have to generate short ideas”
Mon, 04/07/2011 - 06:00

Carl Bernadotte, founder of Stockholm-based CB Asset Management, says the four-year-old CB Hedge fund draws on the firm’s existing investment management work and due diligence by selecting stocks from the long-only European Quality Fund, reducing market risk by shorting the MSCI Europe index.

The Interview – Carl Meurling, Emeralt Investments: “We are one of the few long/short equity managers left in emerging Europe”
The Interview – Carl Meurling, Emeralt Investments: “We are one of the few long/short equity managers left in emerging Europe”
Fri, 28/01/2011 - 07:00

Carl Meurling, chief executive of Russia and emerging Europe specialist Emeralt Investments, says many investors want exposure to the region with limited and controlled risk, making the firm’s funds a good alternative to long-only products that are completely exposed to market risk.

The Interview – Dietmar Schmitt, SAM Capital Partners: “It has taken time for investors to understand how a trading fund differs from more traditional long/short managers”
The Interview – Dietmar Schmitt, SAM Capital Partners: “It has taken time for investors to understand how a trading fund differs from more traditional long/short managers”
Fri, 22/01/2010 - 12:58

SAM Capital Partners is looking to expand the investor base of its SAM Capital Equity Opportunity Fund, launched in September 2007, on the back of a run of 13 successive months of positive return. Founder and chief investment officer Dietmar Schmitt says the firm’s approach is being validated by the plans of other groups to launch trading funds with short-term investment horizons.

The Interview – Michael Kart, Marshall Spectrum: “Rusal’s successful IPO in Hong Kong should open doors for other Russian and CIS issuers”
The Interview – Michael Kart, Marshall Spectrum: “Rusal’s successful IPO in Hong Kong should open doors for other Russian and CIS issuers”
Thu, 01/04/2010 - 08:01

Michael Kart, manager of the Spectrum funds at Marshall Spectrum, says the firm’s two equity funds are poised to benefit from expected new equity placements, restructuring of the telecoms industry and continued liberalisation of energy markets in Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union.

The Interview – Pedro Noronha, Noster Capital: “The two most important assets a manager can have are a stable capital base and patience – like Warren Buffett”
The Interview – Pedro Noronha, Noster Capital: “The two most important assets a manager can have are a stable capital base and patience – like Warren Buffett”
Mon, 05/10/2009 - 08:07

Pedro Noronha, managing partner of Noster Capital, says the firm’s proprietary indicators currently say that the green shoots crowd is too early in pricing a V-shaped recovery into the market, and that credit spreads, which have tightened to levels that are in some instances similar to the top of the market bubble, are set again to widen considerably once new problems with European bank lending start to surface.

Vernon West, Skyline Capital Management: “Despite the global economy’s mid-cycle slowdown, rates are low, liquidity and economic slack are abundant, and valuations are cheap”
Vernon West, Skyline Capital Management: “Despite the global economy’s mid-cycle slowdown, rates are low, liquidity and economic slack are abundant, and valuations are cheap”
Mon, 12/09/2011 - 06:00

Vernon West (pictured), chief executive of USD47m global long/short equity specialist Skyline Capital Management, says the firm, which offers its strategy through Cayman and Ucits vehicles, seeks to tap into emerging market growth resulting from accelerating domestic consumption as productivity improvements boost income per head and increased automation as firms substitute capital for labour.

Equity Market Neutral (1)

The Interview – Pramit Ghose, Bloxham: “If we can expand the dividend stream above inflation, we increase investors’ standard of living”
The Interview – Pramit Ghose, Bloxham: “If we can expand the dividend stream above inflation, we increase investors’ standard of living”
Mon, 23/11/2009 - 07:00

Pramit Ghose, managing partner at Dublin-based independent stockbroker Bloxham and lead manager of the Elite Bloxham Global Equity Income Fund, argues that while 2009 has been a year fo

Fund Manager Interviews (68)

Alex Krainer, Altana Wealth: “Our portfolio holds about two-thirds of risk exposure in commodity markets with tremendous upside potential in an inflationary environment”
Alex Krainer, Altana Wealth: “Our portfolio holds about two-thirds of risk exposure in commodity markets with tremendous upside potential in an inflationary environment”
Mon, 05/03/2012 - 08:53

Alex Krainer, portfolio manager for the newly-launched Altana Inflation Trends Fund, says the fund was created to meet the challenge of an ongoing global economic crisis and a debt overhang in most of the world’s advanced economies that will have to be resolved through either deflationary deleveraging or high inflation – each of which should lead to significant asset prices readjustments.

Amit Shabi, Bernheim Dreyfus: “The failure of the AT&T/T-Mobile deal has led to a repricing of antitrust risk that we believe is exaggerated”
Amit Shabi, Bernheim Dreyfus: “The failure of the AT&T/T-Mobile deal has led to a repricing of antitrust risk that we believe is exaggerated”
Mon, 30/01/2012 - 21:13

Amit Shabi (pictured), chief executive of Paris-based event-driven and merger arbitrage specialist Bernheim, Dreyfus & Co, says the firm’s Diva Synergy fund and its recently-launched Ucits version is poised to capitalise on an expected pick-up in European M&A volumes, which should create more lucrative investment opportunities and better performance.

Andrew Main, Stratton Street Capital: “What you do not invest in defines your performance as much as what you do invest in”
Andrew Main, Stratton Street Capital: “What you do not invest in defines your performance as much as what you do invest in”
Mon, 02/07/2012 - 12:19

Andrew Main (pictured), managing partner of fixed-income specialist Stratton Street Capital, whose products under management or advice include the New Capital Wealthy Nations Bond Fund and the Renminbi Bond Fund, says the firm’s combination of a value approach to individual securities with a top-down macro approach to indebtdness is unique in the business.

Chin Pu Ma and Chien Wang, Asian Century Capital – “Volatile and tough markets over the coming period will separate the men from the boys”
Chin Pu Ma and Chien Wang, Asian Century Capital – “Volatile and tough markets over the coming period will separate the men from the boys”
Sun, 13/11/2011 - 20:03

Chin Pu Ma and Chien Wang (pictured), partners and chief investment officer and chief operating officer respectively of Amsterdam-based Asian Century Capital, are looking to attract investors with an eight-year track record of successful investment in Asia on behalf of Dutch banks and an investment style that combines macro themes, a disciplined value-orientated approach, in-house research and the flexibility to go either long or short.

Colin McQueen, FOUR Capital Partners: “Clients expect managers to deliver on their objectives and to be kept well informed”
Colin McQueen, FOUR Capital Partners: “Clients expect managers to deliver on their objectives and to be kept well informed”
Sun, 02/09/2012 - 11:28

Colin McQueen, head of the European equity team at FOUR Capital Partners, says the firm’s Stable Global strategy, established as a paper portfolio in March and due to be launched this month as a segregated mandate and a Ucits sub-fund, is designed to appeal to investors seeking attractive real returns combined with significantly lower volatility than the equity market as a whole. 

David Rawson-Mackenzie, Centurion Fund Managers: “Structured longevity is a viable option for investors wishing to reduce volatility, manage risk and increase diversification”
David Rawson-Mackenzie, Centurion Fund Managers: “Structured longevity is a viable option for investors wishing to reduce volatility, manage risk and increase diversification”
Mon, 18/06/2012 - 18:11

David Rawson-Mackenzie (pictured), founder of longevity investment product specialist Centurion Fund Managers, says the launch of the Centurion Global Population Index Structured Note was prompted by research indicating that many investors needed to generate income from their portfolios, wanted long-term investments with low market correlation, and identified preserving wealth as their main aim.

David Schofield, INTECH: “Given the underfunded status of many pension plans, an opportunity to realise alpha is critical”
David Schofield, INTECH: “Given the underfunded status of many pension plans, an opportunity to realise alpha is critical”
Tue, 08/05/2012 - 14:08

David Schofield (pictured), president of the international division of INTECH Investment Management, says that while an increased aversion to risk has led to a shift in sentiment away from active management toward passive investing, investors are overlooking the opportunity lost by going passive, to achieve a return greater than the benchmark. 

Doug Bitcon, Rasmala: “Sukuk benefit from an expanding investment universe, improved secondary market liquidity and strong institutional and retail demand”
Doug Bitcon, Rasmala: “Sukuk benefit from an expanding investment universe, improved secondary market liquidity and strong institutional and retail demand”
Sun, 15/07/2012 - 17:49

Doug Bitcon, head of fixed income funds and portfolios at Dubai-based investment manager Rasmala, says the new Global Sukuk Fund he manages is benefiting from a change in attitude on the part of investors, who in the wake of the financial crisis are attracted to sukuk as generally defensive instruments that provide predictable income streams as well as potential for capital growth.

Emanuel Arbib, Integrated Asset Management - “Decent allocations are only coming to the largest funds of funds from institutional investors”
Emanuel Arbib, Integrated Asset Management - “Decent allocations are only coming to the largest funds of funds from institutional investors”
Wed, 01/02/2012 - 20:03

Emanuel Arbib, chief executive of Integrated Asset Management, says the firm’s sale of the bulk of its institutional fund of hedge funds business to former shareholder Sal. Oppenheim at the height of the crisis proved timely, but Integrated now is looking to scale back up through acquisitions in Europe or the US. 

Gina Germano, Goldbridge Capital Partners: “Investors are looking for trusted advisers and long-term constructive relationships, not salesmen delivering pitches”
Gina Germano, Goldbridge Capital Partners: “Investors are looking for trusted advisers and long-term constructive relationships, not salesmen delivering pitches”
Sun, 18/11/2012 - 18:12

Gina Germano (pictured), managing partner and head of sub-investment grade at Goldbridge Capital Partners, which launched its first funds this summer, says the specialist credit manager aims to generate consistently strong total returns through a rigorous investment process and fundamental research enabling the investment team to identify value while emphasising capital preservation and hedging market risk.

Guy Brogden, Mayfair Capital - “We are providing products that investors are looking for, so we continue to raise new money”
Guy Brogden, Mayfair Capital - “We are providing products that investors are looking for, so we continue to raise new money”
Sun, 11/12/2011 - 19:11

Mayfair Capital founder and executive director Guy Brogden (pictured) says the property fund manager has been able to take advantage of the difficult economic climate by reducing overall portfolio gearing through making unleveraged property acquisitions with freshly-raised capital, which continues to flow in from investors including charities, institutions, pension funds, companies, high net worth private clients and family offices.

Ian Langton, Xenfin Capital: “Investors expect, and deserve, a clear, coherent and honest appraisal from the people to whom they entrust their investment”
Ian Langton, Xenfin Capital: “Investors expect, and deserve, a clear, coherent and honest appraisal from the people to whom they entrust their investment”
Mon, 27/02/2012 - 08:52

Ian Langton (pictured), co-manager of Xenfin Capital’s Managed Growth Program, says that while commodity, futures and currency strategies should benefit from investors’ desire for returns that are not correlated with traditional asset classes, alternative investment managers face the challenge that as more participants enter these markets, the benefit of diversification declines and correlation with traditional asset classes increases, along with volatility.

Interview – Jeroen van Bezooijen, PIMCO: “Taking fundamental views of where the world is heading is imperative to sound risk management practices”
Interview – Jeroen van Bezooijen, PIMCO: “Taking fundamental views of where the world is heading is imperative to sound risk management practices”
Fri, 07/05/2010 - 07:00

The Frijns and Goudswaard committees, created by the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs to review the current pension fund system and advise on pension policy, have recommended a greater focus on risk management practices and better systems for pension fund management to create a ‘future-proof system’.

Jan Auspurg, Aquila Capital: “The fund’s approach, which combines a trend-following strategy with carry and correlation systematic strategies, is a clear differentiator”
Jan Auspurg, Aquila Capital: “The fund’s approach, which combines a trend-following strategy with carry and correlation systematic strategies, is a clear differentiator”
Tue, 07/02/2012 - 08:53

Dr Jan Auspurg (pictured), a fund manager within the quant team at Hamburg-based Aquila Capital, says the AC Spectrum Fund, a Luxembourg-domiciled Ucits that generated a return of 9.98 per cent last August amid massive equity market losses, takes into account not only the strengths of trend-following strategies but their weaknesses, such as a tendency to perform less well in sideways-trading markets or in times of sudden trend reversals.

Lan Cai, PineBridge Investments – “The environment is conducive for both strategic acquisitions and leveraged buyouts”
Lan Cai, PineBridge Investments – “The environment is conducive for both strategic acquisitions and leveraged buyouts”
Sun, 30/10/2011 - 20:32

Lan Cai (pictured), head portfolio manager at PineBridge Investments, the former AIG fund management business that is now majority-owned by the Pacific Century Group, says the firm’s nearly 10-year-old merger arbitrage strategy, which is now being offered through a Ucits fund, has a track record of positive returns every year and exhibits low correlation with the firm’s peers.

Lucas Turton, Windham Capital Management – “Our strategy employs insights that help us participate in the upside faster and provide better returns over the long term
Lucas Turton, Windham Capital Management – “Our strategy employs insights that help us participate in the upside faster and provide better returns over the long term
Sun, 06/11/2011 - 20:29

Lucas Turton, chief investment strategist of Windham Capital Management, which offers a range of active strategies to institutional and wealth management investors through separately-managed accounts, says the firm’s rigorous risk management process has enabled it to flourish despite global economic challenges and sustained financial market volatility, quadrupling assets under management to some USD700m this year.

Najy Nasser, Headstart Advisers – “Despite the negatives, the financial crisis brought a number of positives for our business and the hedge fund industry in general”
Najy Nasser, Headstart Advisers – “Despite the negatives, the financial crisis brought a number of positives for our business and the hedge fund industry in general”
Tue, 05/06/2012 - 18:17

Najy N Nasser, chief investment officer of Headstart Advisers, manager of the Headstart Fund of Funds, argues that after a difficult three years for fundraising, those funds of hedge funds that have survived and differentiated themselves with strong performance will start to raise assets as investors look to increase exposure to hedge funds, driven by the need for diversification and a more challenging market environment for traditional assets.

Nicolas Clavel, Scipion Capital: “We expect alternative sources of trade finance to expand and secure the market share vacated by European banks”
Nicolas Clavel, Scipion Capital: “We expect alternative sources of trade finance to expand and secure the market share vacated by European banks”
Tue, 12/06/2012 - 21:34

Nicolas Clavel (pictured), chief investment officer of Scipion Capital and manager of the Scipion African Opportunities Fund, sees increased interest in the firm’s Commodity Trade Finance sub-fund as a wider range of investors look to the strategy in search of absolute returns and a genuine source of alpha.

Pierre Baudard, Oddo Alternative Investment: “If deal flow diminishes, we would return money to investors rather than explore unknown strategies"
Pierre Baudard, Oddo Alternative Investment: “If deal flow diminishes, we would return money to investors rather than explore unknown strategies"
Tue, 27/09/2011 - 12:05

Pierre Baudard, managing director of Oddo Alternative Investment, says the group’s new merger arbitrage fund benefits from the management team’s strong knowledge of the mid- and small-cap equity universe, which represents a significant part of the fund’s portfolio and makes possible a more diversified spectrum of between 60 and 120 positions.

Piers Denne, Future Capital Partners: “In the current climate investors and advisers are looking for innovative investments with high returns while limiting potential risk”
Piers Denne, Future Capital Partners: “In the current climate investors and advisers are looking for innovative investments with high returns while limiting potential risk”
Sun, 27/05/2012 - 19:48

Piers Denne (pictured), head of sales and marketing at UK alternative investment boutique Future Capital Partners, which specialises in renewable energy as well as in real estate, healthcare, and media and entertainment, sees public initiatives to counter climate change as an important driver of growth and investment returns in renewable energy and related sectors over the coming years.

Romy Jardine and Bob Torkelund, HFT Capital – “Because of our high-frequency trading strategy, we are not so worried about the direction of the market”
Romy Jardine and Bob Torkelund, HFT Capital – “Because of our high-frequency trading strategy, we are not so worried about the direction of the market”
Mon, 05/12/2011 - 17:14

HFT Capital founder chief investment officer and head trader Romy Jardine and head of business development Bob Torkelund (pictured) say that in a difficult market environment where investors are extremely cautious and nervous, highly-performing niche strategies that “dare to be different” are still capable of attracting money from investors seeking non-correlated returns.

Sonia Schulenburg, Level E Capital: “In this environment any product must be extremely competitive, whether through record and return profile, or the fund’s investment premise”
Sonia Schulenburg, Level E Capital: “In this environment any product must be extremely competitive, whether through record and return profile, or the fund’s investment premise”
Sun, 11/03/2012 - 11:31

Sonia Schulenburg, founder and chief executive of Level E Capital, says the firm, which has just launched the Maya Market Neutral Fund, draws on the use of artificial intelligence techniques to model price behaviour, find and exploit market inefficiencies, offering investors highly liquid strategies and complete transparency.

The Interview - Derren Geiger, Cornerstone Acquisition & Management: “We maintain a long-term bullish outlook on energy-related commodities”
The Interview - Derren Geiger, Cornerstone Acquisition & Management: “We maintain a long-term bullish outlook on energy-related commodities”
Fri, 01/10/2010 - 07:54

Derren Geiger, chief operating officer of Cornerstone Acquisition & Management and portfolio manager of the Caritas funds, which invest in portfolios of private oil and natural gas royalty interests located within the continental US, says a number of factors make this a particularly advantageous time to acquire oil and gas assets.

The Interview - José Luis Jiménez, March Gestión de Fondos: “We will probably end the crisis in better shape”
The Interview - José Luis Jiménez, March Gestión de Fondos: “We will probably end the crisis in better shape”
Fri, 19/03/2010 - 07:00

José Luis Jiménez, chief executive of March Gestión de Fondos, the investment arm of Spain’s Banca March, says that a combination of macroeconomic analysis and analysis of financial markets, together with the valuation of companies, is the most critical process for the success of the Spanish firm’s investments.

The Interview – Adam Balinsky, Caldwell Life Strategies: “Life settlements are starting to be recognised as a viable asset class for liability-driven investments”
The Interview – Adam Balinsky, Caldwell Life Strategies: “Life settlements are starting to be recognised as a viable asset class for liability-driven investments”
Mon, 19/07/2010 - 07:51

Adam Balinsky, president of Stamford, Connecticut-based life settlement investment specialist Caldwell Life Strategies, says the key to his firm’s success in an asset class full o

The Interview – Aleks Kins, AlphaMetrix: “Investors have grown wiser and realise they can no longer blindly invest in hedge funds”
The Interview – Aleks Kins, AlphaMetrix: “Investors have grown wiser and realise they can no longer blindly invest in hedge funds”
Fri, 26/03/2010 - 07:00

Aleks Kins, chief executive of managed account platform provider AlphaMetrix, says the uncovering of the Bernard Madoff was a key event for the business, because the scandal pointed to the importance of independence, due diligence and checks and balances, and helped AlphaMetrix to take on some USD1bn in customer assets over the following months.

The Interview – Alex Moisseev, Dighton Capital Management: “Last year saw many attractive trading opportunities, but we turned down nine out of 10 due to an unattractive risk/reward ratio”
The Interview – Alex Moisseev, Dighton Capital Management: “Last year saw many attractive trading opportunities, but we turned down nine out of 10 due to an unattractive risk/reward ratio”
Tue, 08/02/2011 - 07:00

Alex Moisseev (pictured), principal and chief investment officer of Dighton Capital Management, says the firm’s stable of managed futures funds are designed to perform in any market conditions, using a pattern recognition model and a strict selection process that produces a small number of high-quality trades.

The Interview – Alex Orus, Blue Diamond Asset Management: “The self-serving nature of much of the asset management industry is illustrated by the current asymmetry of fee structures”
The Interview – Alex Orus, Blue Diamond Asset Management: “The self-serving nature of much of the asset management industry is illustrated by the current asymmetry of fee structures”
Tue, 23/08/2011 - 06:00

Alex Orus, chief investment officer at Blue Diamond Asset Management, says the Blue Diamond Real Return Strategy is designed to address investors’ twin concerns of inflation and market bubbles and crashes by seeking to maximise real returns and outperform inflation by an average of 5 per cent over a full market cycle in the investor’s designated currency.

The Interview – Anthony Eaton, JM Finn & Co: “We have a bias toward earnings now rather than jam tomorrow”
The Interview – Anthony Eaton, JM Finn & Co: “We have a bias toward earnings now rather than jam tomorrow”
Thu, 08/04/2010 - 07:53

Anthony Eaton, manager of the six-year-old, GBP54m JM Finn Global Opportunities Fund, says the fund aims to invest in the consequences of globalisation as industrialisation and urbanisation within non-G7 countries create greater global output but also greater capacity, moving pricing power from what is made to what is required to make it.

The Interview – Daniel Schweizer, Active Alpha: “We could even liquidate the fund’s portfolio within a day”
The Interview – Daniel Schweizer, Active Alpha: “We could even liquidate the fund’s portfolio within a day”
Mon, 09/05/2011 - 08:19

Daniel Schweizer, chief executive and chairman of Horizon21 spin-off Active Alpha, says the firm is particularly nimble in executing its long/short equity trading strategy through very liquid large-cap equities and options, enabling the AA Equity Fund to end 2008 in positive territory and helping Active Alpha to differentiate itself from other managers by providing investors with genuinely uncorrelated performance during difficult times.

The Interview – David Mcilroy, Alquity Investment Management: “Africa is potentially the next attractive emerging market after the BRIC countries”
The Interview – David Mcilroy, Alquity Investment Management: “Africa is potentially the next attractive emerging market after the BRIC countries”
Mon, 08/11/2010 - 07:00

David Mcilroy, chief investment officer of Alquity Investment Management, says the firm’s recently-launched Alquity Africa Fund aims to invest in growing businesses that offer investors outstanding financial value, while also addressing the challenges of sustainability that can create or destroy financial value.

The Interview – Eli Kent and Chris Kelley, Moody Aldrich Partners: “We expect an unprecedented opportunity with the dismantling of prop trading desks at Wall Street banks”
The Interview – Eli Kent and Chris Kelley, Moody Aldrich Partners: “We expect an unprecedented opportunity with the dismantling of prop trading desks at Wall Street banks”
Tue, 16/11/2010 - 07:00

Eli Kent and Chris Kelley, co-founders and managing partners of hedge fund seeding platform Harvest Fund, an affiliate of Moody Aldrich Partners, expect to see a surge in investment opportunities over the coming year or so as regulatory changes, increased fee compression and shrinking margins at many established investment firms prompt a flood of talent to go independent.

The Interview – Ezra Sun, Veritas Asset Management: “The Year of the Rabbit is likely to be dominated by a tussle between a deflationary environment in the West and inflationary pressure in the East”
The Interview – Ezra Sun, Veritas Asset Management: “The Year of the Rabbit is likely to be dominated by a tussle between a deflationary environment in the West and inflationary pressure in the East”
Mon, 21/02/2011 - 07:00

Ezra Sun, manager of the Veritas China Fund and head of Far East at Veritas Asset Management, believes that consumption is a strong structural theme that over time will yield great returns, while capital investment also offers opportunities as infrastructure spending continues unabated amid continuing capacity expansion and upgrading. 

The Interview – Faris Abdulrazzaq, Menasa Capital Management: “Despite the recent events in Egypt and Tunisia, we remain bullish on prospects for 2011”
The Interview – Faris Abdulrazzaq, Menasa Capital Management: “Despite the recent events in Egypt and Tunisia, we remain bullish on prospects for 2011”
Mon, 28/02/2011 - 07:00

Faris Abdulrazzaq (pictured), senior portfolio manager at Menasa Capital Management, which specialises in identifying investment opportunities in the rapidly-growing public markets of the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia, says that with a buoyant oil price driving current account surpluses, Gulf governments are poised to spend more than ever on building infrastructure and creating jobs. 

The Interview – Gerry Aherne, Javelin Capital: “The financial crisis has changed the investment landscape by removing much of the froth in the hedge fund world”
The Interview – Gerry Aherne, Javelin Capital: “The financial crisis has changed the investment landscape by removing much of the froth in the hedge fund world”
Tue, 07/12/2010 - 07:00

Gerry Aherne, chief executive of Javelin Capital, says the firm’s newly-launched Global Equity Strategies Fund, which employs a combination of systematic, fundamental and tactical strategies according to the specific characteristics of individual geographic regions or sectors, is set to appeal to investors that are becoming increasingly resistant to paying for beta-generated performance. 

The Interview – Ian McEvatt, Iceman Capital Advisors: “India will experience a ‘North Sea oil’ effect over the next five to 10 years”
The Interview – Ian McEvatt, Iceman Capital Advisors: “India will experience a ‘North Sea oil’ effect over the next five to 10 years”
Mon, 26/04/2010 - 06:00

Ian McEvatt, majority owner of Iceman Capital Advisors, says the London- and Amsterdam-listed Himalayan Fund it manages is narrowly focused on generating returns from opportunities in Indian stocks. Because of this, he says, Iceman concentrates on providing excellent communication and client servicing and a level of transparency and access that cannot be provided within any kind of institutional structure.

The Interview – Ilya Golubovich and Irakli Menabde, I2BF: “Technologies once considered uneconomic have emerged from obscurity to become one of the fastest-growing global industries”
The Interview – Ilya Golubovich and Irakli Menabde, I2BF: “Technologies once considered uneconomic have emerged from obscurity to become one of the fastest-growing global industries”
Thu, 11/03/2010 - 07:00

Ilya Golubovich (pictured), managing partner of specialist clean technology fund manager I2BF and Irakli Menabde, manager of the I2BF-Arbat Technology Fund, say the fund is unique in its field by employing a relative value strategy with a fully systematic investment process based on the notion of consistent outperformance.

The Interview – Ittai Korin, Portfolio Science: “Managers need risk tools to face things they never had to deal with in their entire career”
The Interview – Ittai Korin, Portfolio Science: “Managers need risk tools to face things they never had to deal with in their entire career”
Mon, 18/01/2010 - 00:18

Portfolio Science president Ittai Korin (pictured) says the firm’s provision of risk management services through an application programming interface is bringing risk tools to a broader range of investment industry players than ever, at a time when managers are realising that a seat-of-the pants approach to risk management and reporting is no longer adequate for their business needs or acceptable to their own clients.

The Interview – Jacques Lucas, Exqim: “The crisis redefined asset management and created new needs and demands for investors”
The Interview – Jacques Lucas, Exqim: “The crisis redefined asset management and created new needs and demands for investors”
Fri, 15/07/2011 - 12:37

Jacques Lucas, president of Paris-based manager Exqim, says the firm stands out from other hedge fund managers through its development of fully quantitative management focused on high-level internal research with minimal human intervention, characterised by systematic and fully automated processes for the strict management of risk limits and the exclusively electronic trading of liquid assets.

The Interview – James Thornton, Mayfair Capital: “Rental growth will remain elusive in most markets except central London over the next two to three years”
The Interview – James Thornton, Mayfair Capital: “Rental growth will remain elusive in most markets except central London over the next two to three years”
Wed, 26/05/2010 - 00:10

James Thornton, fund director at Mayfair Capital Investment Management, says investors with the specialist property fund manager have benefited from the firm’s ability to time the UK market – for example in 2007, when they called the peak of the market and decided to wind up the MC Property Growth Fund early to protect investors’ capital and take profits.

The Interview – Jamie Sutton, Premier Group: “The fundamentals of the recycling business remain unaffected by the financial crisis”
The Interview – Jamie Sutton, Premier Group: “The fundamentals of the recycling business remain unaffected by the financial crisis”
Tue, 30/08/2011 - 18:34

Jamie Sutton (pictured), a director of the Isle of Man-based Premier Group, says the New Earth Solutions Recycling Facilities Investment Sub-Fund, whose sterling version has returned some 40 per cent in the three years since launch in July 2008, is seeing a steady inflow of new investment and that assets could grow faster if the economic recovery gains traction.

 

The Interview – Jeff Peskind, Phoenix Investment Adviser: “As with many distressed-focused managers, 2008 represented the best and worst of times”
The Interview – Jeff Peskind, Phoenix Investment Adviser: “As with many distressed-focused managers, 2008 represented the best and worst of times”
Tue, 26/04/2011 - 06:00

Phoenix Investment Adviser, which focuses on investing in the bonds of out-of-favour companies whose securities’ prices have declined substantially, recently opened to outside investors a fund investing in the equity of the same ‘stressed’ companies. Founder and chief investment officer Jeff Peskind says such stocks may have significant upside potential in an environment of economic recovery where companies continue to have access to capital via the high-yield market.

The Interview – Jerome Booth, Ashmore Investment Management: “The energy sector in India is characterised by high private equity-like returns”
The Interview – Jerome Booth, Ashmore Investment Management: “The energy sector in India is characterised by high private equity-like returns”
Tue, 23/11/2010 - 07:00

Jerome Booth, head of research at Ashmore Investment Management, says the new Ashmore PTC India Energy Infrastructure Fund benefits from the UK manager’s partnership with India’s largest power trader, which brings to the venture strong relationships in the sector that will help the fund to access strong deal flow, preferential deal terms and in-depth local expertise.

The Interview – Jonathan Sharpe, Ratio Asset Management: “The returns from what might seem quite boring stocks can be highly attractive, and it helps us sleep at night”
The Interview – Jonathan Sharpe, Ratio Asset Management: “The returns from what might seem quite boring stocks can be highly attractive, and it helps us sleep at night”
Fri, 17/12/2010 - 07:00

Jonathan Sharpe, chief executive of Ratio Asset Management, says the long/short small and mid-cap equity Ratio European Fund benefits from the limited attention the sell-side pays to the fund’s investment universe, which increases its inefficiencies, while the sharp decline in the level of assets on the buy side from its peak has increased the available opportunities.

The Interview – Justin Ferrier, Myo Capital Advisers: “There is currently an enormous supply/demand imbalance for special situations in Asia”
The Interview – Justin Ferrier, Myo Capital Advisers: “There is currently an enormous supply/demand imbalance for special situations in Asia”
Tue, 21/06/2011 - 06:00

Justin Ferrier, chief executive of Hong Kong-based Myo Capital Advisers, pictured (above) with fellow managing director Geoff Lee, believes the Myo Capital Special Situations Fund I will benefit from factors such as the repatriation of international capital from Asia, the unwinding of special situations teams in the region and the pullback of investment banks’ prop desks under regulatory pressure, resulting in less competition and better quality deals.

The Interview – Liz Evans, Cavendish Asset Management: “The growth stories for China and South-East Asian countries such as Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia remain compelling”
The Interview – Liz Evans, Cavendish Asset Management: “The growth stories for China and South-East Asian countries such as Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia remain compelling”
Fri, 05/02/2010 - 07:00

Liz Evans, manager of the recently-launched Asia Pacific fund at investment boutique Cavendish Asset Management, says 2010 will be a generally positive year for Asian markets as they continue to recover from last year’s historic trough, with less volatile markets and more moderate returns, but uncertainty remains over prospects for inflation and interest rate rises, especially in China.

The Interview – Michael Azlen, Frontier Capital Management: “More multi-asset funds entering the market will help highlight our proven track record and low-cost philosophy”
The Interview – Michael Azlen, Frontier Capital Management: “More multi-asset funds entering the market will help highlight our proven track record and low-cost philosophy”
Mon, 30/08/2010 - 06:00

Michael Azlen, founder and executive chairman of Frontier Capital Management, says his firm’s index-based approach to multi-asset investing is modelled on the tried and tested approach of US university endowments, aims to create a globally diversified portfolio through exposure to eight traditional and alternative asset classes or strategies to generate long-term uncorrelated real returns above inflation and cash.

The Interview – Michael Azlen, Frontier Investment Management: “We expect more multi-asset offerings launched and a drive to lower costs”
The Interview – Michael Azlen, Frontier Investment Management: “We expect more multi-asset offerings launched and a drive to lower costs”
Mon, 06/06/2011 - 06:00

Michael Azlen, founder and executive chairman of Frontier Investment Management, says the investment proposition behind the firm’s passive multi-asset funds, encompassing eight asset classes, is based in part on the diversification benefits of combining traditional and alternative asset classes, a philosophy similar to that of US university endowment funds.

The Interview – Michael Craig-Scheckman, Deer Park Road: “We have sold positions with too much downside risk and raised cash levels in anticipation of buying cheaply”
The Interview – Michael Craig-Scheckman, Deer Park Road: “We have sold positions with too much downside risk and raised cash levels in anticipation of buying cheaply”
Mon, 11/10/2010 - 06:00

Michael Craig-Scheckman, chief executive, president and portfolio manager at Deer Park Road, says the firm distinguishes itself from other managers through its focus on deeply discounted, high cash-flow, shorter-term asset-backed securities, coupled with a philosophy of not using leverage and viewing all purchases as potential hold-to-term securities.

The Interview – Michael Reichstein, Reichstein Trading & Asset Management: “Thoroughbred horses offer diversification to institutions, high net worth individuals and hedge funds”
The Interview – Michael Reichstein, Reichstein Trading & Asset Management: “Thoroughbred horses offer diversification to institutions, high net worth individuals and hedge funds”
Fri, 01/04/2011 - 06:00

Michael Reichstein, whose Maltese alternative fund business, Resco Funds Sicav, is preparing to launch the Thoroughbred Horse Fund, says that despite the risks inherent in an asset class whose performance is partly dependent upon race results, the fund aims to achieve stable and attractive performance through a strategy of diversified investments and the access to the knowledge of a broad range of industry experts.

The Interview – Nicolas Clavel, Scipion Capital: “Credit will remain like gold dust for trading companies and project managers in Africa”
The Interview – Nicolas Clavel, Scipion Capital: “Credit will remain like gold dust for trading companies and project managers in Africa”
Fri, 14/05/2010 - 07:56

Nicolas Clavel, founder and chief investment officer of Africa-focused asset manager Scipion Capital, says the firm’s flagship Commodity Trade Finance fund, which has produced positive performance every month since its launch in 2007, is now seeking out lucrative opportunities to provide short-term finance in the minerals field, such as copper in Zambia and tin in Rwanda.

The Interview – Olaf van den Heuvel, Aegon Asset Management: “We expect markets to recover slightly, but also more setbacks that will surprise the markets”
The Interview – Olaf van den Heuvel, Aegon Asset Management: “We expect markets to recover slightly, but also more setbacks that will surprise the markets”
Tue, 13/07/2010 - 06:00

Olaf van den Heuvel, European head of tactical asset allocation at Aegon Asset Management and portfolio manager of the Ucits-compliant Global Opportunities Fund launched last December, expects the fallout following the credit crunch to continue along with further ‘surprises’ like Greece or Dubai.

The Interview – Paul Brosnan, IFS Asset Managers: “Timber investments have consistently outperformed other asset classes over the past 20 years”
The Interview – Paul Brosnan, IFS Asset Managers: “Timber investments have consistently outperformed other asset classes over the past 20 years”
Thu, 24/06/2010 - 10:09

Paul Brosnan, marketing director of IFS Asset Managers and a director of the newly-launched International Forestry Fund, says rising timber prices in the jurisdictions in which the fund owns portfolios is not only good news for investors but will help raise awareness of forestry as an attractive, secure and predictable asset class for those interested in socially responsible investment.

The Interview – Philip Pirecki, Silverstone Capital: “Mispricing never goes away”
The Interview – Philip Pirecki, Silverstone Capital: “Mispricing never goes away”
Sun, 24/10/2010 - 18:25

Silverstone Capital partner Philip Pirecki says the firm’s eponymous fund, which invests across the automotive industry value chain, can provide investment institutions such as pension funds with the alpha and low correlation they seek to achieve a return profile that will meet their investment objectives.

The Interview – Pius Fritschi, LGT Capital Partners: “Clients and investment managers provide the best sounding board for ideas to meet the changing needs of the marketplace”
The Interview – Pius Fritschi, LGT Capital Partners: “Clients and investment managers provide the best sounding board for ideas to meet the changing needs of the marketplace”
Mon, 23/05/2011 - 06:00

Pius Fritschi (pictured), head of hedge fund business development and client services at LGT Capital Partners, says the firm’s Crown Managed Futures fund of hedge funds programme, which generated annualised returns of nearly 9.6 per cent over its first decade, continues to attract investors with its lack of correlation with traditional asset classes and especially its impressive performance in returning 21.7 per cent between November 2007 and February 2009.

The Interview – Richard Bibb, AIMhedge: “Big institutional investors need to shift away from fixed income to generate a return for their clients
The Interview – Richard Bibb, AIMhedge: “Big institutional investors need to shift away from fixed income to generate a return for their clients
Mon, 15/03/2010 - 07:00

AIMhedge chief investment officer Richard Bibb says the firm’s combination of a systematic, emotion-free trading approach over a large, well-diversified basket of futures markets and an effective active risk management system is a very powerful argument for investors just starting to look for better-performing investments in the wake of the financial meltdown in 2008.

The Interview – Robert Press, Trafalgar Capital Advisors: “The global financial crisis has allowed us to strengthen our processes and risk mitigation techniques”
The Interview – Robert Press, Trafalgar Capital Advisors: “The global financial crisis has allowed us to strengthen our processes and risk mitigation techniques”
Fri, 19/11/2010 - 07:00

Robert Press, chief investment officer for the TCA Global Credit Fund, argues that the Cayman-based fund is unique in offering short- to medium-term senior secured financing instruments to small and medium-sized companies in combination with hands-on merchant banking services

The Interview – Ronald Neumunz, Alpstar Capital: “One of the lessons of the global crisis is always to have ready cash on hand to take advantage of buying opportunities”
The Interview – Ronald Neumunz, Alpstar Capital: “One of the lessons of the global crisis is always to have ready cash on hand to take advantage of buying opportunities”
Tue, 01/06/2010 - 06:00

Ronald M Neumunz, head of sales and investor relations at Geneva-based Alpstar Capital, says the firm’s concentrated focus on Europe is a key differentiator that appeals to non-European investors who want dedicated continental credit exposure, along with an investment process combining macro and micro elements with a real operating world overlay.

The Interview – Susan Buckley, QIC: “The ability to explain investment strategies clearly and regularly is crucial”
The Interview – Susan Buckley, QIC: “The ability to explain investment strategies clearly and regularly is crucial”
Mon, 08/03/2010 - 08:00

QIC Global Fixed Interest, part of the investment business originally set up by Australia’s Queensland state government to manage its long-term liabilities and pension obligations, saw its assets under management grow from around USD23bn to USD35bn between mid-2007 and the end of last year. According to managing director Susan Buckley, the key competitive advantage of the business is the strength and quality of its investment research and process.

The Interview – Thanos Ballos, Strategic Investments Group: “Liquidity, results, transparency and regulation are the four words we hear from investors nowadays”
The Interview – Thanos Ballos, Strategic Investments Group: “Liquidity, results, transparency and regulation are the four words we hear from investors nowadays”
Fri, 24/12/2010 - 07:00

Thanos Ballos, managing partner of Strategic Investments Group, says the firm’s multi-manager Active Trading Fund, launched in May this year and managed by Permal Group, offers a multi-asset strategy that seeks to generate absolute returns with controlled volatility and low correlation to the fixed-income and equity markets.

The Interview – Thomas Ferris, Sagres: “Investors currently have a short investment horizon and a focus on manager transparency, but they are still seeking above-average returns”
The Interview – Thomas Ferris, Sagres: “Investors currently have a short investment horizon and a focus on manager transparency, but they are still seeking above-average returns”
Fri, 04/06/2010 - 06:00

Thomas Ferris, chief executive of specialist consumer debt asset manager Sagres, says the firm’s new Recovery Capital Partners fund is poised to benefit from advantageous market conditions, including a decline in competition as less capitalised firms have been forced out of the business as well as an improvement in key relationships with sellers of debt.

The Interview – Thomas Wehlen, Coburn Barrett: “We have considered a higher risk/higher return fund, but it will not be for the faint of heart”
The Interview – Thomas Wehlen, Coburn Barrett: “We have considered a higher risk/higher return fund, but it will not be for the faint of heart”
Fri, 03/12/2010 - 02:11

Coburn Barrett founder and senior manager Thomas Wehlen says the firm’s GLI Fund, a global quantitative macro fund, has beaten both the S&P 500 and the MSCI Global indices by more than 10 per cent over its nearly 13 years of existence, but fundraising is difficult because the fund does not fit into any standard category and not charge a performance fee.

The Interview – Tim Gascoigne, HSBC Alternative Investments: “We have steered clear of all hedge fund blow-ups over the past 20 years”
The Interview – Tim Gascoigne, HSBC Alternative Investments: “We have steered clear of all hedge fund blow-ups over the past 20 years”
Tue, 20/04/2010 - 07:43

Tim Gascoigne, global head of portfolio management at HSBC Alternative Investments, says that what is reckoned the third largest alternative business worldwide with more than USD30bn in assets has been built on a combination of bottom-up and top-down research, a focus on diversification and strong approach to due diligence.

The Interview – Tony Parry, Premier Group: “More local authorities will turn to ‘green’ waste treatment companies and in particular those with facilities to turn waste into energy”
The Interview – Tony Parry, Premier Group: “More local authorities will turn to ‘green’ waste treatment companies and in particular those with facilities to turn waste into energy”
Mon, 01/11/2010 - 06:00

Tony Parry, executive director of Premier Group (Isle of Man), says the New Earth Solutions Recycling Facilities Investment Sub-Fund, launched in partnership with environmental technology specialist New Earth Solutions, has returned 25.8 per cent since July 2008 by investing directly and indirectly in the development and ownership of recycling facilities in the UK.

The Interview – Troy Duncan, J.P. Morgan Asset Management: “Market uncertainty makes this a very difficult time for investors to lock up funds in illiquid investments”
The Interview – Troy Duncan, J.P. Morgan Asset Management: “Market uncertainty makes this a very difficult time for investors to lock up funds in illiquid investments”
Mon, 26/07/2010 - 06:00

Troy Duncan, co-portfolio manager of the London-listed J.P. Morgan Private Equity fund, a fund of funds that acquires fund interests from motivated or distressed sellers in the secondary market at a discount to their intrinsic value, says the investment team is currently looking at high-growth companies in Asia and other emerging regions, senior credit in the US, and special situations in Europe.

The Interview: Rupert Foster, Matrix Alternative Asset Management: “This is no time for extreme portfolio risk – we are in the mid-cycle doldrums”
The Interview: Rupert Foster, Matrix Alternative Asset Management: “This is no time for extreme portfolio risk – we are in the mid-cycle doldrums”
Tue, 23/03/2010 - 07:00

Rupert Foster (pictured), manager of the Matrix Asia Fund, believes that this year will see the start of global tightening, in the short term causing markets to become nervous and jittery but subsequently opening up opportunities first in interest rate-sensitive and then cyclical areas of the market.

Thomas Graff, Brown Advisory - “We expect movement away from narrow bucketing of asset classes and more interest in strategies less dependent on any one market data point”
Thomas Graff, Brown Advisory - “We expect movement away from narrow bucketing of asset classes and more interest in strategies less dependent on any one market data point”
Mon, 28/11/2011 - 09:03

Thomas Graff (pictured), a partner and member of the fixed-income team at USD25bn investment manager Brown Advisory and portfolio manager for the Tactical Bond Fund launched in September, says the fund stands out from the competition through the way the firm uses quantitative models and the holistic way it approaches its portfolios.

– Jing Sun, PSigma Asset Management: “We focus on shareholder value creators with long track records of growing cash earnings and dividends in good times and bad”
– Jing Sun, PSigma Asset Management: “We focus on shareholder value creators with long track records of growing cash earnings and dividends in good times and bad”
Mon, 13/02/2012 - 00:23

Jing Sun, investment director and fund manager for the PSigma Global Equity Fund at New York-based Centre Asset Management, says the fund, launched last June, focuses on the fundamentals of wealth creation and destruction akin to the way a traditional, long-term-focused corporate financier looking at all aspects of the business, including operating condition, risk profile and valuation, would assess it.

Fund of Hedge Funds (8)

The Hedgeweek Interview - Nick England, CIA: "We avoid investing in managers that trade illiquid assets or that rely heavily on subjective valuations"
The Hedgeweek Interview - Nick England, CIA: "We avoid investing in managers that trade illiquid assets or that rely heavily on subjective valuations"
Fri, 09/01/2009 - 07:00

Nick England, founding director of fund of hedge funds manager CIA, says the firm's Hurdle Funds has continued to deliver positive returns over the

The Hedgeweek Interview - Robert Milroy, Corazon Capital: "Nothing, including bank deposits, is risk-free"
The Hedgeweek Interview - Robert Milroy, Corazon Capital: "Nothing, including bank deposits, is risk-free"
Fri, 19/12/2008 - 08:12

Robert Milroy, chief investment officer of fund of hedge funds manager Corazon Capital, says that having cut its ties to the fallen Dawnay Day grou

The Interview - David Sheasby, Martin Currie: "Many funds of funds will have to rethink their fee structures"
The Interview - David Sheasby, Martin Currie: "Many funds of funds will have to rethink their fee structures"
Tue, 14/04/2009 - 07:00

David Sheasby, a member of the management team for the Martin Currie Omnium Fund, believes the fund of funds, which invests in the firm's range of

The Interview - Martin Baxter, Collins Stewart Fund Management: "A consolidation of the industry will benefit those managers who survive"
The Interview - Martin Baxter, Collins Stewart Fund Management: "A consolidation of the industry will benefit those managers who survive"
Wed, 18/02/2009 - 07:43

Martin Baxter, portfolio manager of the Collins Stewart Absolute Return Plus Fund, says the hedge fund industry has suffered because managers have

The Interview - Stephen Greene, ACP Partners: "Many of the world's financial institutions are still facing issues of capital adequacy"
The Interview - Stephen Greene, ACP Partners: "Many of the world's financial institutions are still facing issues of capital adequacy"
Wed, 27/05/2009 - 07:00

Stephen Greene, partner and chief investment officer of the multi-manager business at ACP Partners, says that having undergone an unprecedented sho

The Interview – Fabrizio Ladi Bucciolini, Reyl Asset Management: “The coming investment environment will be characterised by a great dispersion of corporate returns”
The Interview – Fabrizio Ladi Bucciolini, Reyl Asset Management: “The coming investment environment will be characterised by a great dispersion of corporate returns”
Fri, 18/12/2009 - 02:17

Fabrizio Ladi Bucciolini, senior fund manager and head of alternative funds at Reyl Asset Management, says the Reyl Velocity fund of hedge funds, launched in September with USD15m of seed capital, is active across different asset classes and focuses on realised rather than marked-to-market profits, and hence focuses on traders with short holding periods and high portfolio turnover.

The Interview – Robert Ferguson, Benchmark Plus: “Allocating assets to managers according to some market view or forecast is an inexact process at best”
The Interview – Robert Ferguson, Benchmark Plus: “Allocating assets to managers according to some market view or forecast is an inexact process at best”
Tue, 31/05/2011 - 06:00

Benchmark Plus chief executive Robert Ferguson says the USD1.7bn fund of hedge funds manager says the firm’s unique investment process analyses alpha streams rather than returns, allowing for an equal comparison of all strategies and enabling the firm to allocate to funds and managers that have demonstrated skill at exploiting specific market inefficiencies and generating returns in excess of their portfolios’ specific risk exposures.

The Interview: Army Yan, K1 Group: "When we don't see safe investment opportunities, we just lower our exposure"
The Interview: Army Yan, K1 Group: "When we don't see safe investment opportunities, we just lower our exposure"
Wed, 25/02/2009 - 20:25

Army Yan, head of research and managing director with fund of hedge funds manager K1 Group in Hong Kong, says the K1 Fund Allocation System develop

Fund Service Providers (1)

Interview - Erik Jens, Fortis Prime Fund Solutions: "The hedge fund model will certainly survive"
Interview - Erik Jens, Fortis Prime Fund Solutions: "The hedge fund model will certainly survive"
Fri, 05/12/2008 - 07:00

Erik Jens, chief executive of Fortis Prime Fund Solutions, says the move into public ownership of its Dutch parent has reassured clients and even he

Global Macro (11)

Mohammed Hanif, Insparo Asset Management: “The defining feature of our funds is the returns they have been able to generate in the toughest of conditions”
Mohammed Hanif, Insparo Asset Management: “The defining feature of our funds is the returns they have been able to generate in the toughest of conditions”
Mon, 16/04/2012 - 08:03

Mohammed Hanif (pictured), the founder, chief executive and chief investment officer of Insparo Asset Management, says the firm’s Africa and Middle East Fund has generated returns exceeding 30 per cent since launch in June 2008 through an innovative on multistrategy approach that has protected investors’ capital in stormy markets while generating outstanding absolute returns during periods of market strength.

The Interview - Anita Ramachandran and Rajinder Sabherwal, Magister Ludi Capital Management: "Capturing mispricing across markets and asset classes is a richer source of returns than security selection"
The Interview - Anita Ramachandran and Rajinder Sabherwal, Magister Ludi Capital Management: "Capturing mispricing across markets and asset classes is a richer source of returns than security selection"
Tue, 01/09/2009 - 08:36

Magister Ludi Capital Management portfolio manager Anita Ramachandran and chief executive Rajinder Sabherwal (pictured) say that their Global Macro

The Interview - Simon Luhr, PCE Investor, and Mahmood Noorani, Gyldmark: “There will be exceptional opportunities in the months ahead to capture large market moves”
The Interview - Simon Luhr, PCE Investor, and Mahmood Noorani, Gyldmark: “There will be exceptional opportunities in the months ahead to capture large market moves”
Fri, 18/09/2009 - 08:03

Simon Luhr, chief executive of PCE Investors (pictured), and Gyldmark chief investment officer Mahmood Noorani, explain the approach of the Gyldmark global macro fund launched in July and that is currently targeting the overall level of demand and supply for risky assets.

 

The Interview - Troy W. Buckner, Managing Principal, NuWave Investment Management: "With market fundamentals in flux, technically-oriented traders will have the upper hand"
The Interview - Troy W. Buckner, Managing Principal, NuWave Investment Management: "With market fundamentals in flux, technically-oriented traders will have the upper hand"
Tue, 28/07/2009 - 07:00

Managed futures isone of the few alternative investment strategies that tends to
demonstrate negative correlation to traditional investments during

The Interview – Luca Rubinelli, Xenfin Capital: “The environment is extremely positive for smaller managers like us”
The Interview – Luca Rubinelli, Xenfin Capital: “The environment is extremely positive for smaller managers like us”
Mon, 23/08/2010 - 07:28

Luca Rubinelli, portfolio manager of the Global Macro Absolute Return Trading strategy at systematic trading specialist Xenfin Capital, says uncertainty over G10 government balance sheets and weake

The Interview – Michael Reveley, SEAL Capital: “Capital preservation and growth are not mutually exclusive”
The Interview – Michael Reveley, SEAL Capital: “Capital preservation and growth are not mutually exclusive”
Fri, 11/12/2009 - 08:57

SEAL Capital founders and managing partners R Michael Reveley (pictured) and Toby Chandler believe that in the wake of the Madoff, Galleon and K1 scandals, investors are demanding transparency, liquidity and a highly ethical infrastructure, which their firm delivers through the HFR managed account platform.

The Interview – Mick Swift, Abbey Capital: “The inclusion of managed futures will help to deliver a diversified portfolio”
The Interview – Mick Swift, Abbey Capital: “The inclusion of managed futures will help to deliver a diversified portfolio”
Fri, 30/10/2009 - 09:21

Mick Swift, director of research at Dublin-based Abbey Capital, says the firm, which runs global macro and managed futures multi-manager funds with more than USD1.7bn under management, is enjoying strong allocations from investors thanks to the high levels of liquidity offered by the funds as well as the firm’s eight-year track record.

The Interview – Nicolai Borcher Hansen, Aros Capital Partners: “Risk aversion in the market is back to August 2007 levels”
The Interview – Nicolai Borcher Hansen, Aros Capital Partners: “Risk aversion in the market is back to August 2007 levels”
Mon, 04/01/2010 - 07:00

Aros Capital Partners has just launched its first investment vehicle, the long-biased global macro Aros Paradigm Fund, with friends and family capital. Chief investment officer and founding partner Nicolai Borcher Hansen (pictured) says the fund’s investment strategy will target value-based investment in equities and corporate bonds as well as exploiting the firm’s expertise in the niche area of Danish mortgage bonds.

The Interview – Nicolas Galperin, Onslow Capital Management: “There is too much debt of all kinds out there”
The Interview – Nicolas Galperin, Onslow Capital Management: “There is too much debt of all kinds out there”
Fri, 18/06/2010 - 07:51

Nicolas Galperin, founder of Onslow Capital Management and principal portfolio manager of the Onslow Macro Fund, says the firm’s ‘option-like’ strategy and portfolio structure puts less emphasis on market direction and more on delivering the right risk-return relationship across a range of idiosyncratic themes.

The Interview – Renee Haugerud, Galtere: “Real assets, particularly agricultural commodities, should outperform equities and bonds”
The Interview – Renee Haugerud, Galtere: “Real assets, particularly agricultural commodities, should outperform equities and bonds”
Wed, 27/10/2010 - 23:54

Renee Haugerud (pictured), founder and chief investment officer of global macro manager Galtere, sees opportunities in the convergence of the US economy with commodity-rich economies and is backing that view through a real assets private equity strategy that invests in the production of agricultural staples in Brazil, Uruguay and Australia as well as complementary agribusiness opportunities in Brazil.

The Interview – Simon Collard, Collard Capital: “Demand for hedge funds, particularly global macro, is returning”
The Interview – Simon Collard, Collard Capital: “Demand for hedge funds, particularly global macro, is returning”
Mon, 18/10/2010 - 06:00

Over the next 12 months Simon Collard, founder of Collard Capital and portfolio manager of the newly-launched Collard Global Macro Fund, expects to see more intervention by central banks in the currency markets, more measures by governments in Asia to target the property sector, and increasing social unrest in emerging markets related to food prices.

Index based Funds (1)

The Interview: Alan Taylor, Vantage Investment Group: "Our ability to anticipate market direction is very accurate"
The Interview: Alan Taylor, Vantage Investment Group: "Our ability to anticipate market direction is very accurate"
Thu, 12/02/2009 - 07:00

Alan R.

Managed Futures Funds (5)

Patrick Welton, Welton Investment Corporation: “Yield-starved investors in a flat recovery cycle simply can’t afford to confuse a beta manager for an alpha manager”
Patrick Welton, Welton Investment Corporation: “Yield-starved investors in a flat recovery cycle simply can’t afford to confuse a beta manager for an alpha manager”
Sun, 04/09/2011 - 20:30

Dr Patrick Welton, chief executive of Welton Investment Corporation, says the firm’s flagship Global Directional Portfolio programme, which was launched in 2004 and now has some USD1bn in assets under management, aims to capitalise on the full range of investment opportunities available in the global futures markets, spanning multiple asset classes, strategy types, holding periods and directionality.

The Interview - Paul Netherwood, Beach Horizon: "We expect investor interest in managed futures to increase significantly in the year ahead"
The Interview - Paul Netherwood, Beach Horizon: "We expect investor interest in managed futures to increase significantly in the year ahead"
Mon, 26/01/2009 - 07:46

Dr Paul Netherwood, a partner with managed futures specialist Beach Horizon, says the strategy is set to increase its appeal not only because of it

The Interview - William Wong, Qbasis Capital Management: "Our liquidity and low correlation to other asset classes provide us with an edge over other funds"
The Interview - William Wong, Qbasis Capital Management: "Our liquidity and low correlation to other asset classes provide us with an edge over other funds"
Fri, 17/04/2009 - 07:00

William Wong, director of Qbasis Capital Management, argues that after a successful year in 2008 while other hedge fund strategies stumbled, the firm's systematic managed futures funds

The Interview – Aref Karim, Quality Capital Management: “We see managed futures playing a bigger part in a portfolio as uncertainties prevail in traditional markets”
The Interview – Aref Karim, Quality Capital Management: “We see managed futures playing a bigger part in a portfolio as uncertainties prevail in traditional markets”
Wed, 04/08/2010 - 07:46

Aref Karim, principal of Quality Capital Management, which has just launched its 14-year-old managed futures strategy through an onshore Ucits III fund vehicle, says CTAs stand to benef

The Interview: Robert Hounshell, Lexington Asset Management: "Expect to see commodity inflation on the horizon"
The Interview: Robert Hounshell, Lexington Asset Management: "Expect to see commodity inflation on the horizon"
Mon, 16/03/2009 - 07:47

Robert Hounshell, head of trading at Lexington Asset Management, says the diversification offered by the firm's managed futures tradi

Multi Strategy Hedge Funds (9)

The Interview - Brian Gilmore, Palatine Asset Management: "The Black Swan has arrived with the largest transfer of wealth since the Depression"
The Interview - Brian Gilmore, Palatine Asset Management: "The Black Swan has arrived with the largest transfer of wealth since the Depression"
Fri, 20/02/2009 - 09:48

Brian Gilmore, chief executive of Palatine Asset Management, says the Capitoline Global Media Fund, which aims to exploit capital inefficiencies in the market for asset-based financing

The Interview - Jerry Haworth, 36 South: "Risk-averse investors will be driven toward volatility funds that offer uncorrelated returns"
The Interview - Jerry Haworth, 36 South: "Risk-averse investors will be driven toward volatility funds that offer uncorrelated returns"
Tue, 25/08/2009 - 07:00

Jerry Haworth, co-founder and director of 36 South Investment Managers, which moved its main base of operations from Auckland, New Zealand, to London earlier this year, says one of the

The Interview - Manfred Schraepler, Deutsche Bank: "The credit and liquidity crunch combination will continue to direct investors towards wrapped investment strategies"
The Interview - Manfred Schraepler, Deutsche Bank: "The credit and liquidity crunch combination will continue to direct investors towards wrapped investment strategies"
Fri, 14/08/2009 - 09:10

Head of funds Manfred Schrapler says that as one of the few banks with a dedicated hybrid structuring and trading team, Deutsche Bank is able to use unique risk management techniques to

The Interview - Mario Gabelli, Gabelli Asset Management: "The strong will get stronger"
The Interview - Mario Gabelli, Gabelli Asset Management: "The strong will get stronger"
Fri, 28/08/2009 - 06:54

Mario Gabelli, whose firm Gabelli Asset Management is sub-advisor to Skandia Investment Group's Skandia US All Cap Value Fund, says the recovery in the US economy expected next year is

The Interview - Michael Derks, Arch Financial Products: "This is a very opportune time to be invested in the private finance sector"
The Interview - Michael Derks, Arch Financial Products: "This is a very opportune time to be invested in the private finance sector"
Mon, 16/02/2009 - 13:33

Michael Derks, chief investment officer of Arch Financial Products, says the CF Arch cru Finance Fund launched in November to invest in short- to medium-term private finance deals enjoy

The Interview - Samer M. Nsouli, Lyford Group International: "Shifts in sentiment and movements across asset classes have become much more violent"
The Interview - Samer M. Nsouli, Lyford Group International: "Shifts in sentiment and movements across asset classes have become much more violent"
Tue, 24/02/2009 - 07:00

Samer M.

The Interview – Andreas Koettner, Golden Hedge Alternative Investments: “Position limits in US commodity markets could influence the trading behaviour of larger hedge funds”
The Interview – Andreas Koettner, Golden Hedge Alternative Investments: “Position limits in US commodity markets could influence the trading behaviour of larger hedge funds”
Fri, 16/10/2009 - 06:00

Andreas Koettner, managing director and head of portfolio management at Malta-based Golden Hedge Alternative Investments, says the firm’s multistrategy fund stands to benefit from its specialisation in relatively unusual niche strategies that display low correlation to typical CTA or hedge fund styles.

The Interview – Jesse Redmond and Justin Pawl, Evolved Alpha: “Many investors do not realise the hedge fund industry has a surprisingly high correlation to beta markets”
The Interview – Jesse Redmond and Justin Pawl, Evolved Alpha: “Many investors do not realise the hedge fund industry has a surprisingly high correlation to beta markets”
Mon, 09/08/2010 - 06:00

Jesse Redmond and Justin Pawl, founders and co-portfolio managers of multistrategy specialist Evolved Alpha, say the business is structured to provide investors with a portfolio of liquid, secure and transparent alpha-return strategies, retaining the diversification, nimbleness and sophisticated risk management of top multistrategy funds but expanding the universe of potential managers to several thousand rather than the small subset that would trade exclusively in-house for one firm.

The Interview: Mark Baak, Finles Capital Management: "We expect quite some turnover as many hedge funds and managers shut up shop"
The Interview: Mark Baak, Finles Capital Management: "We expect quite some turnover as many hedge funds and managers shut up shop"
Fri, 24/04/2009 - 09:17

Mark Baak, head of portfolio management at Finles Capital Management, says the Utrecht, Netherlands-based firm is well placed to benefit during what is likely to be a difficult period f

Property Funds (7)

Charles Hallett, Cignet Capital Management: “Only buy when you know you are locking in profits from day one”
Charles Hallett, Cignet Capital Management: “Only buy when you know you are locking in profits from day one”
Sun, 09/10/2011 - 12:05

Charles Hallett, managing partner of Cignet Capital Management, says the London Actively Managed Property Fund, which aims to achieve an annual return of more than 15 per cent from buying and selling discounted residential property, aims to make its margin at the point of purchase, creating an inherent profit without relying on capital growth.

Justin O’Connor, Cordea Savills: “Turbulent markets create opportunities to identify mispricing of risk”
Justin O’Connor, Cordea Savills: “Turbulent markets create opportunities to identify mispricing of risk”
Sun, 23/10/2011 - 18:27

Justin O’Connor (pictured), chief executive and chief investment officer of property fund manager Cordea Savills, says that new opportunities with the potential to deliver outperformance over the longer term exist in the Nordic region, where secure property market fundamentals have prompted the reopening of the Nordic Retail Fund, and London residential development, where a new fund aims to benefit from the current shortage in capital funding by negotiating favourable terms with developers.

The Interview - Randy Black, LandBaron Investments: "Our track record shows we have transitioned well from opportunistic to distressed and vice versa"
The Interview - Randy Black, LandBaron Investments: "Our track record shows we have transitioned well from opportunistic to distressed and vice versa"
Wed, 03/06/2009 - 07:00

Randy Black, a principal with LandBaron Investments, says the firm's newly-launched Western States Distressed Land Fund aims to capitalise on an un

The Interview - Stephen Johnston, Agcapita Partners: "Farmland combines strong inflation hedging qualities with stable income streams"
The Interview - Stephen Johnston, Agcapita Partners: "Farmland combines strong inflation hedging qualities with stable income streams"
Tue, 11/08/2009 - 08:52

Direct investment in farmland has outperformed stock and bond returns over various timescales with substantially lower volatility than the US equit

The Interview – Andrew St. Pierre, Merestone Partners: “Real estate is in for a long recovery at a subdued pace”
The Interview – Andrew St. Pierre, Merestone Partners: “Real estate is in for a long recovery at a subdued pace”
Mon, 16/11/2009 - 07:00

Andrew St. Pierre, president of multistrategy real estate investor Merestone Partners (pictured), argues that the huge overhang of US commercial real estate debt coming due over the next two to three years will place enormous pressures on banks –especially the regional banking system.

The interview – Marc Thiel, Euro Ejendomme: “We see growing demand for two- and three-star business hotels in central locations”
The interview – Marc Thiel, Euro Ejendomme: “We see growing demand for two- and three-star business hotels in central locations”
Wed, 25/11/2009 - 20:23

Marc Thiel, chief executive of real estate investor and manager Euro Ejendomme, says the firm’s new hotel fund, which is aiming to close with EUR500m in capital by next June, aims to capitalise upon the relative lack in Germany of the middle-range business hotels common in the UK and France.

The Interview: Jakes Ferguson, Sarasin & Partners: "With one of the greatest responsibilities for CO2 emissions, real estate faces moral, financial and legislative pressures to adapt quickly"
The Interview: Jakes Ferguson, Sarasin & Partners: "With one of the greatest responsibilities for CO2 emissions, real estate faces moral, financial and legislative pressures to adapt quickly"
Mon, 07/09/2009 - 07:00

Jakes Ferguson, a partner and head of real estate at Sarasin & Partners, believes that the Sarasin Sustainable Equity - Real Estate Global EUR

Single Manager Hedge Funds (14)

Interview - Charlie Metcalfe, First State Investments
Interview - Charlie Metcalfe, First State Investments
Tue, 23/12/2008 - 07:00

Charlie Metcalfe, chief executive of First State Investments, says the First State Media Fund has embarked on a fresh round of fundraising after investing virtually all its initial commitments on a diverse range of musical copyrights, and argues that media and entertainment assets tend to be more resilient than other sectors in times of recession.

The Interview - Anthony Limbrick, Pure Capital: "Alpha - if it actually exists - is the timing of beta alone"
The Interview - Anthony Limbrick, Pure Capital: "Alpha - if it actually exists - is the timing of beta alone"
Fri, 07/08/2009 - 07:00

New Zealand-based quant manager Pure Capital is about to launch its first pooled fund, the Guernsey-based Pure Protection Fund, alongside its range

The Interview - Carlo Scevola, Leader Fund: "Markets have proved to be unpredictable over centuries of history"
The Interview - Carlo Scevola, Leader Fund: "Markets have proved to be unpredictable over centuries of history"
Fri, 08/05/2009 - 07:00

Carlo Scevola, president of Carlo Scevola & Partners, which is portfolio manager to the Leader Fund, says his firm's model-driven process for i

The Interview - Giovanni Pennetta, KPR Capital: "During financial crises, investors prefer things that they can easily understand"
The Interview - Giovanni Pennetta, KPR Capital: "During financial crises, investors prefer things that they can easily understand"
Wed, 13/05/2009 - 07:00

Giovanni Pennetta, chief executive of Goldwinds Asset Management, investment adviser to the KPR Diamond Fund, says that in times of market turbulen

The Interview - Julie Bouhuys, Concerto Asset Management: "Volatility in the loan and bonds market will remain high"
The Interview - Julie Bouhuys, Concerto Asset Management: "Volatility in the loan and bonds market will remain high"
Wed, 15/07/2009 - 07:00

Julie Bouhuys, founder and chief executive of Concerto Asset Management, says that although the Concerto Credit Opportunity Offshore Fund I benefit

The Interview - Katherine Buck, Wayne Hummer Asset Management: "As the recovery plays out, stock-picking will once again be rewarded"
The Interview - Katherine Buck, Wayne Hummer Asset Management: "As the recovery plays out, stock-picking will once again be rewarded"
Tue, 09/06/2009 - 07:00

Katherine Buck, a managing director and portfolio manager for small-cap core equity strategies at Chicago-based Wayne Hummer Asset Management, beli

The Interview - Matthew Smith, Majedie Asset Management: "The underlying backdrop remains pretty lacklustre given the headwinds of deleveraging and weak wage growth"
The Interview - Matthew Smith, Majedie Asset Management: "The underlying backdrop remains pretty lacklustre given the headwinds of deleveraging and weak wage growth"
Tue, 15/09/2009 - 07:00

Majedie Asset Management'sTortoise Fund returned 12.1 per cent in 2008 and was up more than 25 per cent in the first half of this year despite a co

The Interview - Miriam Mascherin, Elite Advisers: "The price of grands crus is rising thanks to the mismatch between limited supply and growing demand"
The Interview - Miriam Mascherin, Elite Advisers: "The price of grands crus is rising thanks to the mismatch between limited supply and growing demand"
Thu, 25/06/2009 - 07:00

Miriam Mascherin, managing partner of Luxembourg-based Elite Advisers, says the firm's combination of investment management expertise and deep know

The Interview - Stephen Siderow, BlueMountain Capital Management: "We expect to move to an environment in which credit-picking skills will drive performance"
The Interview - Stephen Siderow, BlueMountain Capital Management: "We expect to move to an environment in which credit-picking skills will drive performance"
Thu, 21/05/2009 - 09:00

President Stephen Siderow says credit investment specialist BlueMountain Capital Management is planning to launch a series of funds this year to ex

The Interview – Ralph Nacey and Eric Phillipps, WestSpring Advisors: “Sound credit strategies should outperform equities over the medium term”
The Interview – Ralph Nacey and Eric Phillipps, WestSpring Advisors: “Sound credit strategies should outperform equities over the medium term”
Mon, 02/11/2009 - 22:17

WestSpring Advisors principals Ralph Nacey (pictured) and Eric Phillipps, who launched the FRM-backed firm’s first family of fixed-income funds last month, believe that the curren

The Interview – Sergey Grechishkin, Alcantara Asset Management: “Our strategies are designed to profit from our detailed knowledge of issuers in Russia and the CIS”
The Interview – Sergey Grechishkin, Alcantara Asset Management: “Our strategies are designed to profit from our detailed knowledge of issuers in Russia and the CIS”
Thu, 22/10/2009 - 22:22

Sergey Grechishkin, a principal with Alcantara Asset Management, says the firm’s newly-launched Alcantara Russia and CIS Fixed Income Opportunities Fund, which follows a mix of active long-only and relative value strategies, draws heavily on its founders close understanding and experience of fixed-income issuers in Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union.

The Interview – Sheriden Hure, Fortitude Capital: “Low-volatility positive performance stems from our risk management focus”
The Interview – Sheriden Hure, Fortitude Capital: “Low-volatility positive performance stems from our risk management focus”
Thu, 19/11/2009 - 01:01

Sheriden Hure, a senior portfolio manager at Sydney-based market neutral multistrategy manager Fortitude Capital, says the firm is currently seeing great opportunities in the pricing of

The Interview – Steven Gerbel, Chicago Capital Management: “The next few years will be a very good time to be invested in merger arbitrage”
The Interview – Steven Gerbel, Chicago Capital Management: “The next few years will be a very good time to be invested in merger arbitrage”
Tue, 15/12/2009 - 07:00

Steven Gerbel, founder and president of merger arbitrage specialist Chicago Capital Management, expects a historic number of mergers within the US banking industry over the coming years as a result of the crisis highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of institutions, and believes this will present the sector with some of the largest merger arbitrage spreads and profit margins ever seen.

The Interview: Andy Sowerby, Martin Currie: "We welcome more intense due diligence on managers"
The Interview: Andy Sowerby, Martin Currie: "We welcome more intense due diligence on managers"
Mon, 09/02/2009 - 09:50

Andy Sowerby, managing director of marketing, product development and distribution at Martin Currie, says the firm and its hedge fund strategies ha

Upcoming events

RetailALTS: The Advisor and Broker-Dealer’s Forum
6 hours from now - Boston
EXANTE Awards 2013
4 days 1 hour from now - Lisbon
Regulation of ETFs & Complex UCITS 2013
6 days 6 hours from now - London

all events

Upcoming training

Corporate Governance - Dubai
Sun, 02/06/2013 (All day) - Dubai
Operational Risk Management - Dubai
Tue, 04/06/2013 (All day) - Dubai
Managing Family Office & Wealth - Dubai
Sun, 09/06/2013 (All day) - Dubai

all courses