Features

The first thing to know about sovereign wealth funds is that it’s hard to know anything about sovereign wealth funds. Even basic information – how many there are and what assets they manage – is subject to some speculation. But one thing everyone – particularly hedge fund managers – does know about SWFs is that they make attractive potential investors.

Morten Spenner, CEO of one of Europe’s oldest fund of hedge funds managers, recently spoke with FINalternatives senior reporter Mary Campbell from London about the company’s recent history, the fallout from the financial crisis, and his take on proposed new EU regulations for alternative investment fund managers.

The financial crisis and myriad hedge fund frauds have been a wakeup call for investors. Andy Smith, executive vice president of fund administration firm Butterfield Fulcrum, recently spoke with FINalternatives about how the hedge fund administration business has changed and what investors can expect in the future.

Michael Kart is a managing partner and fund manager at Moscow-based Marshall Spectrum. Kart recently spoke with FINalternatives senior reporter Mary Campbell from Moscow, telling her why investors should not fear the Russian market.

Two year ago cleantech, or green, investing was the strategy du jour. Today, industry expert and best-selling author Peter Fusaro explains that the industry is in a lull, though he still believes that investors can diversify their risk by investing in green funds.

It’s estimated that women manage only 3% of the $1.5 trillion invested worldwide in hedge funds. That makes Pamela Lawrence, co-founder of distressed debt hedge fund Restoration Capital Management, a rarity.

Jonathan NeillJonathan Neill is chief strategist and lead portfolio manager for long directional funds at UK-based FPP Asset Management. Neill took some time last week to speak with FINalternatives senior reporter Mary Campbell about the attractions of undervalued stocks, the upside to risk aversion, and the truth about China ‘experts.’

Investors are demanding transparency, and the hedge fund industry—often labeled as secretive and opaque—is giving it to them. Andrew Rogers, president of Gemini Fund Services, recently spoke with FINalternatives about how hedge funds can not only be transparent, but how they can use this new openness to their advantage.

Peter HarrisonFINalternatives senior reporter Mary Campbell speaks with Peter Harrison, chief executive of $2.5 billion RWC Partners, about the pros and cons of UCITS III funds and what proposed EU regulations could mean for alternative investment fund managers.

Justin DewFile this one under "silver linings." The end of what has been termed a "25-year bender" for equities could see institutional investors looking for other options, and Justin Dew, senior managing director of strategic development at Welton Investment Corporation, has the answer, managed futures.