Greenwich, Conn.-based ABS Investment Management is heading east–Far East–in a bid expand its footprint into Asia. The $2.7 billion global equity long/short fund of hedge funds manager has opened its first satellite office in Hong Kong to focus on researching Asian hedge fund managers. Donald Leung, partner, will head ABS’ initiative there.

Leung has been with ABS since 2004 joining as an investment analyst. The new research facility will assist ABS’s Greenwich team to “better access, monitor, and perform due diligence on Asian based hedge fund managers at a time when the region’s importance for investors continues to grow,” according to the firm.

ABS was launched in 2003 by principals Alain De Coster, Laurence Russian and Guilherme Valle.