Short list for European FoHF awards announced

Hedge Funds Review has announced the short list for its eighth European Fund of Hedge Funds Awards.

The Hedge Funds Review FoHF awards is the only one celebrating success in the FoHF industry.

Chaired by Phil Irvine, Pi-Rho Consulting, the judging panel is impartial and unbiased. It seeks to reward genuine performance and success.

Previous recipients of these awards have seen as much as a 10 fold increase in their assets under management (AUM) in the 12 months after winning. This means being included on the shortlist alone should give managers increased awareness in the investor community and an enhanced reputation.

The judging process for the awards begins by running a screen across all entrants, selecting managers with a significant European presence, typically some investment or due diligence function.

For one-year awards the period under consideration is July, 2008 to June 30, 2009. For three-year awards the period is July 1, 2006 to June 30th 2009 while for the 10-year awards it is July 1, 1999 to June 30, 2009.

Each fund of hedge funds is ranked against its peers by its annualised return, its Sharpe ratio and its annualised return over its worst month for the relevant period. These three rankings are added to produce an aggregate ranking and a long-list.

Other metrics such as volatility, total return, percentage of positive and negative months and age and size of fund are also generated and included in the statistics that the judges review.

The judges then discuss the various merits of each fund, from both a qualitative and quantitative perspective. Whether groups are of a sound basis and expert management that could be expected to continue producing, are also taken into account.

A shortlist is drawn up from which a winner is chosen by unanimous decision by the judges.

This year’s judging panel included chairman Irvine as well as Tushar Patel from HFIM, Neil Campbell from Tullett Prebon and Margie Lindsay, editor of Hedge Funds Review.

The winners of the 2009 awards will be announced at a black-tie ‘Moulin Rouge’ themed gala dinner on November 26 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. Hosted by Sandi Toksvig, the dinner promises to be an amazing experience, with all the lights, music and dancing of the most famous cabaret of all.

For more information about how to book a table, contact Ben Cronin (+44 (0)20 7484 9735) or visit the awards website.

8th European Fund of Hedge Funds Awards — Shortlist

Fund names are followed by the investment management company in brackets.

Product awards

Best performing diversified FoHF over 10 years
Aurum Isis Fund (Aurum Funds)
GAM Diversity II – USD Open (GAM)
Nemrod Diversified Holdings Ltd (Rothschild Blackpoint)
Olympia Star 1 (Olympia Capital Management)
Permal Fixed Income Holdings (Permal Asset Management)
Stenham Universal USD Class (Stenham Asset Management)

Best performing diversified FoHF over 3 years
Blackpoint Global Trading (Rothschild Blackpoint)
Culross Global Fund (Culross Global Management)
HI Varengold CTA Hedge (Varengold Wertpapierhandelsbank)
Liongate Multi-Strategy Fund (Liongate Capital Management)

Best performing diversified FoHF over 1 year
Aurum Isis Fund (Aurum Funds)
Blackpoint Global Trading (Rothschild Blackpoint)
Culross Global Fund (Culross Global Management)
GAM Multi-Diversified LV – US Z Class (GAM)
HDF Multi Alternatives Class A USD (HDF Finance)

Best performing specialist FoHF over 10 years
Aurum Investor Fund (Aurum Funds)
GAM Trading USD (GAM)
Stenham Quadrant USD Class (Stenham Asset Management)

Best performing specialist FoHF over 3 years
ACL Alternative Fund (Abbey Capital)
Crown Managed Futures (LGT Capital Partners)
Gems Perennial (Gems Advisors)
RMF Managed Futures (Man Investments)

Best performing specialist FoHF over 1 year
Abbey Capital Macro Fund (Abbey Capital)
Crown Managed Futures (LGT Capital Partners)
Defensive Equity Fund (Fortune Group)
FRM Sigma Fund (Financial Risk Management)
GAM Trading USD (GAM)
RMF Managed Futures (Man Investments)

Best performing energy/commodity FoHF
Ermitage Resources Fund (Ermitage Group)
Moonraker Commodities USD Fund (Moonraker Fund Management)
Opus Commodities Fund Ltd. (New Finance Capital)

Best performing capital-protected FoHF
Winner to be announced on November 26

Best performing new FoHF (launched after July 2nd 2008)
Winner to be announced on November 26

Product provider awards

Best high net worth/private client FoHF provider
Winner to be announced on November 26

Best institutional FoHF provider
Winner to be announced on November 26

Best managed account platform
Winner to be announced on November 26

Best overall investment platform
Winner to be announced on November 26

Qualitative awards

Best overall group
Aurum Funds
Culross Global Management
Financial Risk Management
HDF Finance
Liongate Capital Management
Stenham Asset Management

Most innovative FoHF
47°N Innovation Fund (47°N Capital Management)
Harcourt Belair (Lux) Sustainable Alternatives SRI Fund (Harcourt Investment Consulting)
OPTICS Portfolio Construction and Risk Management System (Ermitage Group)

Best investor relations team
Credit Suisse
Financial Risk Management
GAM
Liongate Capital Management

Long-term achievement in FoHFs (awarded to an individual)
Winner to be announced on November 26