Specialist Investment Firm of the Year

From the start, Financial Risk Management’s fund of hedge funds asset management business was built specifically for the needs of institutional investors, as the firm’s research in the 1990s led it to believe that hedge funds offered tremendous benefits to institutions.

The past year has been one of FRM’s strongest and most significant in terms of product innovation, performance and industry leadership. The firm expanded into Asia in May, announced new London listings in April and launched its first thematic fund, FRM Phoenix, in September.

Judges noted the quality of information in FRM’s award entry, highlighting that information is highly crucial in the complex hedge fund world. “They have excellent materials and are very investor friendly,” said one. Another pointed out that “they do not duck out of dealing with big issues in their client newsletter”.

FRM’s participation in pushing for industry standards garnered respect from the judges, while the timing of the Phoenix fund launch impressed the panel. 

Click the screen to watch a video of the presentation.

Also shortlisted ...

Aberdeen Property Investors 
An international property investment management business, Aberdeen Property Investors has a local presence, international reach and an independent approach. The firm’s core philosophy is to provide an integrated property service and a development and investment service to its clients.

Its local presence particularly impressed judges. A good presentation caused another to remark: “They seem to know what they are talking about.”

BlueBay Asset Management
Founded in 2001, BlueBay is one of the largest specialist managers of fixed income credit products in Europe with a total of $21bn in assets under management as at June 2008. BlueBay focuses on managing assets within a single defined asset class while applying an absolute-return mindset to a disciplined and risk controlled investment process.

“They have done well for their clients and negotiated the markets very well,” a judge said.

Reech CBRE Alternative Real Estate
A unique model, good performance and good timing for its Iceberg fund launch attracted judges to Reech CBRE Alternative Real Estate.

The firm is a joint venture between a derivatives and risk management house and a real estate services company. Judges recognised the firm’s claim that the partnership brings together a unique combination of market knowledge, analysis, data and professional expertise, coupled with the quantitative, trading and risk management sell-side expertise from proven individuals.