News

Mercury Real Estate Advisors has restricted withdrawals from two of its hedge funds stricken by the credit crisis.

Activist hedge fund manager The Children’s Investment Fund is stepping up its battle with Japan’s largest electric utility.

For the second time, a U.S. court has rejected a collapsed hedge fund’s bid for bankruptcy protection during its offshore liquidation.

New York hedge fund Ramius Capital Group has been stymied in battle for representation on the board of Luby’s Inc.

A pair of Liongate Capital Management funds of hedge funds has the British fund manager smiling. The firm’s $1.44 billion Multi-Strategy Fund gained 17.73% while its $216 million Select Fund fared even better at 24.36%.

Hedge funds set yet another record for inflows last year, as the industry added $194.5 billion in new capital, Hedge Fund Research said.

BlackRock co-founder Keith Anderson has joined Soros Fund Management as chief investment officer. Anderson, who left BlackRock last month, replaces firm founder George Soros’ son, Robert, in the post. He starts next month.

Private equity firm Aureos Capital has held a first close on its Aureos Latin America Fund I at US$140 million, and is looking to hard-close the new offering at some US$300 million.

The average hedge fund returned 12.56% in 2007, according to the Credit Suisse Index Co., making last year one of the most successful in recent memory for the industry.

London-based Lansdowne Partners has taken a small stake in fellow hedge fund Och-Ziff Capital Management.