Tue, Jun 30, 2026
A A A
Welcome Guest
Free Trial RSS pod
Get FREE trial access to our award winning publications
Industry Updates

HFR: Hedge fund launches, liquidations accelerated in Q1 2012

Friday, June 15, 2012
Opalesque Industry Update – New hedge fund launches in 1Q12 increased to a level not reached since 2007 as hedge fund capital rose to a record level of $2.13 trillion, according to the latest Market Microstructure Industry Report, released today by HFR (Hedge Fund Research, Inc.), the global leader in the indexation and analysis of the hedge fund industry. New fund launches totaled 304 in the first quarter, narrowly eclipsing the 298 launches in 1Q11 for the highest quarterly total since 4Q07.

Hedge fund liquidations also increased during the first quarter, with 232 funds closing, the highest quarterly liquidation total since 240 funds closed in 1Q10. Fund of Hedge Funds (FOF) continued to experience a contraction in number of funds in the first quarter, with 64 FOF’s closing while 34 launched; 1Q12 was the 4th consecutive quarter of decline in number of FOF’s.

Hedge fund performance dispersion increased over the prior quarter, with the top decile of all hedge funds averaging a gain of over 20 percent in 1Q12, while the bottom decile of all funds declined by 28 percent on average. Dispersion over the trailing 12 months was essentially unchanged from the prior quarter. Hedge fund fees rose slightly in 1Q12 versus 1Q11, with average management fees of 1.63 percent and average incentive fees of 17.75 percent.

According to HFR’s research, service provider market share across prime broker, administrator, legal advisory and audit firms continued to fluctuate over the quarter, with J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs holding top PB shares with nearly half of all hedge fund assets globally. Administrators which experienced market share gains include BNY Mellon, GlobeOp and Citigroup.

“Innovative hedge funds are launching and finding opportunities as large financial institutions look to deemphasize trading activities as a result of anticipated regulation, realized trading losses and enhanced risk management requirements,” stated Kenneth J. Heinz, President of HFR. “Execution and risk control are integral components of successful hedge funds and these have been greatly enhanced by the evolution of transparency in recent years. These powerful trends will continue to support launches of new hedge funds designed to monetize inefficiencies in capital markets as financial institutions adapt to new reporting, risk and trading requirements.”

(press release)

HFR (Hedge Fund Research, Inc.) is the global leader in the alternative investment industry, specializing in the indexation and analysis of hedge funds. Established in 1992, HFR produces the HFRX and HFRI Indices, the industry’s most widely used benchmarks of global hedge fund performance. Source

Bg

What do you think?

   Use "anonymous" as my name    |   Alert me via email on new comments   |   
Previous Opalesque Exclusives                                  
Previous Other Voices                                               
Access Alternative Market Briefing

 



  • Top Forwarded
  • Top Tracked
  • Top Searched
  1. Other Voices: Nvidia extraordinary growth and the challenge of sustaining demanding valuations over time[more]

    Antonio Di Giacomo, Senior Market Analyst at XS.com, writes: Nvidia has established itself as one of the most extraordinary growth companies in the global technology sector. Over the past two fiscal years, its revenues have risen from levels close to $60 billion annually to well above $120 billi

  2. Secondaries take center stage: What the 2026 PE landscape means for GPs and investors[more]

    Matthias Knab, Opalesque for New Managers: The 2026 edition of Dechert's Global Private Equity Outlook - "Signs of a Gradual Thaw" - marks a notable shift in industry sentiment. After years of compr

  3. And, finally: Time to share it with the people[more]

    From Newsoftheweird: Leavenworth, Washington, has become a tourist destination because of the Bavarian theme businesses have adopted there, NPR reported. One shop, the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum, houses the world's largest nutcracker collection, thanks to 101-year-old Arlene Wagner. Wagner sta

  4. Opalesque Exclusive: Private Markets Evergreen Funds - An Insider's View[more]

    Matthias Knab, Opalesque for New Managers: Private Markets Evergreen Funds: What Investors Need to Know Before They Dive In The democratization of private markets is well underway. Structural barriers t

  5. Opalesque Exclusive: Governance, Scale, and Boutique Resilience in a Consolidating Hedge Fund Industry[more]

    Matthias Knab, Opalesque for New Managers: The hedge fund industry has undergone significant consolidation in recent years, with capital increasingly concentrated among large multi-strategy platforms. Yet boutique m