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Concurrent with total hedge fund industry assets reaching a record level of $2.2 Trillion, the total number of single-manager hedge funds also reached a record level of 7,867 funds in 3Q12. However, in contrast to this trend, and indicative of an increased propensity for investors to invest directly into hedge funds, the total number of Funds of Hedge Funds (FOF) in existence declined to fewer than 1,900, a level not seen since 1Q05. Launches in both Macro and Relative Value Arbitrage (RV) strategies exceeded launches in Equity Hedge for the first time in 3Q12, with over 100 new Macro funds and over 70 new RV funds launching in 3Q12, compared to 60 launches in Equity Hedge. Steady fund performance by RV strategies over the past four years has continued to attract new investor capital, with total assets in RV increasing to $586 Billion, equaling the amount of capital invested in Equity Hedge strategies.

After narrowing throughout 2011, performance dispersion between the top and bottom deciles of hedge funds increased in the trailing 12-month period ending 3Q12, with the top decile of funds averaging a gain of +34.0 percent and the bottom decile averaging a decline of -18.9 percent, creating a top/bottom decile dispersion of nearly 53 percent.

The industry-wide average management and incentive fees both declined as of 3Q12, with the average management fee falling 1 bps to 1.56 percent and the average incentive fee falling 14bps to 18.62 from the prior quarter. Meanwhile, the average fee structure of funds with assets greater than $1 Billion was slightly higher, averaging a 1.60 percent management fee and an 18.65 percent incentive fee.

“Recent hedge fund launches reflect the dynamic evolution of the entire hedge fund industry since 2008, with investor preferences shifting away from equity market beta and funds of hedge funds, and towards Macro and Arbitrage strategies which are able to accommodate the demand for transparency, liquidity and cost sensitivity of institutional investors,” stated Kenneth J. Heinz, President of HFR. “Hedge fund launches continue to be strong into year-end despite continued prospects for regulation and political uncertainty as a result of increased demand from institutional investors facing the challenge of achieving required rates of return through the current environment of low fixed income yields and high equity market volatility. Despite its record levels of growth, the hedge fund industry still represents only a fraction of total global capital base, which is likely to grow exponentially in coming years as both institutional and individual investors incorporate alternatives into their existing allocations.”

HFR

Press Release

BM