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Alternative Market Briefing

Industry veteran Dixon Boardman celebrates 25 years of Optima

Friday, May 31, 2013

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Dixon Boardman
by Beverly Chandler, Opalesque London:

1988 saw Dixon Boardman establish one of the first independent funds of hedge funds in the US, Optima Fund Management. Some 25 years later the firm has $3.8bn under management for investors across the world drawn from institutions and high net worth individuals on a 60/40 split.

Boardman describes his business as being built on two essential principles: invest with the 'best and brightest’, and adhere to a stringent approach to risk management. "Innovation has been our hallmark since Day One," says Boardman. "Optima was on the cutting edge when we launched our first single manager fund, the Platinum Fund, with one of the true stars of the business, Kerr Neilson back in 1994." According to the databases, Neilson’s Platinum Fund has recorded a net annualised return of 11.5% to end March 2013. Boardman adds: "We were also on the cutting edge when we started to build customized programs for institutions in 1999 and have also been very innovative in recognizing compelling niche opportunities."

Two recent examples of such niche opportunities are the Optima Partners Focus Fund and The American Farmland Company. Launched in 2007, the Focus Fund enables investors to invest with a highly select group of accomplished hedge fund managers, each running a concentrated portfolio of their 'best ideas’.

The Focus Fund is one of Optima’s newest award winners, having gained top spot ......................

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