Search This Blog

14 Feb 2007

G7 Meeting Calls for Closer Monitoring of Hedge Funds

The two-day G7 meeting in Essen concluded with a call for the monitoring of hedge funds worldwide and urged talks with the industry. They said energy efficiency and diversification, particularly renewable forms, remains an economic priority. They also reiterated concerns about volatility in foreign exchange markets.

The G7 is comprised of official representatives from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States. The group released their conclusion that the world's major developed economies show solid growth, but foreign exchange fluctuations, the rising power of hedge funds and dwindling energy supplies are a concern.

"We are confident that the implications of these developments will be recognized by market participants and will be incorporated into their assessment of risks," the statement said, which was released after the G-7 participants ended their two-day meeting.

"Given the strong growth of the hedge fund industry and the instruments they trade, we need to be vigilant," the statement added, also saying that the group will talk with the private sector and hedge fund operators and would ask the Financial Stability Forum to update its 2000 report on hedge funds.

Investcorp Launches Early Stage Fund for Hedge Fund Investors

Investcorp, the global asset manager specializing in alternative investments with a $5 billion hedge fund program, has announced the launch of the Investcorp Early Stage Fund.

Early stage funds are typically set up by experienced money managers who have recently left other hedge funds or investment banks, or by managers who have existing hedge funds and are launching a new vehicle to focus on different strategies.

The initial portfolio will be composed of approximately 15-20 managers with targeted returns of 12-14% with annualized volatility of 5-7% over the medium term. The fund offers quarterly liquidity with a one-year lock up period.

Deepak Gurnani, Managing Director and co-head of the Investcorp Hedge Funds program said: "The Early Stage Fund is a unique investment opportunity which provides access to promising early stage funds, while minimizing the potential issues investors face in investing with such funds. Investors will have the benefit of immediate diversification, with quarterly liquidity and an anticipated attractive return and volatility relationship over the medium term."

Since 1996, Investcorp has invested with more than 50 hedge funds within the first 12 months of their launch and now manage approximately $1 billion in early stage investments.