Investors and Industry Experts Meet Canada's Award-Winning Hedge Fund Managers

TORONTO, May 16, 2016 /CNW/ - Canada's top investment industry experts joined a group of high-net-worth investors at the prestigious Albany Club on Thursday to hear from four particularly interesting winners of 2015 Canadian Hedge Fund Awards (CHFAs).

These award-winning hedge fund managers re-grouped in a panel discussion moderated by Laura Reid, Senior Manager at KPMG, to further detail their successful investment strategies, as well as their perspectives on the market opportunities - and challenges – facing investors today. They also discussed the role and importance of including hedge funds in investment portfolios.

Canada's rapidly growing hedge fund industry is now estimated to have $30 billion in assets under management. In this low interest rate environment, with current equity market conditions, discerning investors are increasingly seeking out alternative investment strategies.

"We are very pleased to have participated in this event," commented Richard Pilosof, founding partner, Chief Executive Officer and Head of Risk for RP Investment Advisors (RPIA), who delivered the Keynote Address. "Low rates are the new normal and investors have to diversify into alternatives as traditional strategies fail.  Investors need to embrace alternatives and alternative asset managers need to satisfy investors' expectations. Events like this help to bring both sides together."

Mackenzie Crawford, Managing Director of CommonWealth Fund Services, was the MC for this exclusive event which included presentations by:

• Pierre Thauvette, Senior Investment Research Analyst, Claret Asset Management Corporation, whose Claret Global Multi-Asset LP took 1^st place for best 1-Year return in the managed futures category at the 2015 Canadian Hedge Fund Awards. This fund is a systematic, long-term, trend following program that invests in over 150 futures contracts and/or ETFs across various asset classes.
• Sean Rogister, CEO and CCO, Cortland Credit Distinct Debt Capital. The Cortland Credit Strategies LP is a proprietary investment strategy, Supply Chain Finance - an asset-based lending platform consisting primarily of trade receivables and funded sale obligations. This unique fund was the 1^st place winner of a 2015 CHFA for best 1-Year return in the credit focused category.
• Richard Pilosof, co-founder, CEO and Head of Risk, RP Investment Advisors. The RP Debt Opportunities Fund is a long/short credit fund which took 1st place at the 2015 CHFAs for best 5-year Sharpe ratio and 3^rd place for best 5-year return in the credit-focused category. A long-only credit fund, RP Fixed Income Plus, took 3^rd place in that category for best 5-year Sharpe ratio.
• Scott Reid, President & CIO, Stornoway Portfolio Management. The Stornoway Recovery Fund is a very unique strategy focused on capturing the upside associated with investing in corporate turnarounds where and when others are unwilling or unable to invest. The fund was the 1^st place winner at the 2015 Canadian Hedge Fund Awards for best 5-year return in the credit-focused category.

Attendees also got a sneak peek at the new risk ratings regime for Canadian hedge funds which is nearing the end of its industry consultation phase and will be implemented later this year. "As with our risk ratings for mutual funds, ETFs and segregated funds that have been in place for some time, this new regime for Canadian hedge funds will help Investors and their Investment Advisors better assess their options before investing", said Brooke Biscoe, Vice President of Business Development at Fundata Canada.

"Seeking diversification from alternatives is like getting insurance." Pierre Thauvette pointed out. "You should do it before you need it."

"Clearly, there is considerable talent in Canada's hedge fund industry, and the attendees have expressed their gratitude to these award-winning hedge fund managers for so generously sharing their insights and to the sponsors for making this year's CHFA Winners Showcase event possible." said Julie Makepeace, Managing Director, Alternative IQ.

SOURCE Alternative IQ

For more information about this event, please contact: Julie Makepeace, Managing Director, Alternative IQ, [email protected], 416-906-3782