Hedge Fund Focus

Cosmos Technologies

• Website: www.cosmostech.in
• Location: New York, London
• Phone: +44 (0) 20 7193-2190

Netik, LLC

• Website: http://www.netik.com/
• Location: New York, London, Santa Clara, Bangalore
• Phone: +1 212 267 8800
• Regulation:
• Others:

NEW YORK - May 25, 2010 – Netik LLC, a Symphony Technology Group (STG) company, and a global leading provider of financial data management and reporting services and products, announced today its expansion in the Asia Pacific region with the appointment of Ishan Manaktala as its managing director and head of Asia. He will sit on Netik’s executive management team reporting to Rob Flatley, CEO and President of Netik LLC.

Manaktala will assume responsibility for transforming Netik India so that it can service all aspects of the financial services information management value chain. Based in Bangalore, Manaktala will manage Netik’s Information Service group in India and build Netik’s operations in the Asian Pacific region.

“This is the first key hire in driving the future development of Netik’s goal to be the number one provider in information services to the financial community,” said Flatley, who recently came in as CEO and President of Netik LLC. “A big part of that strategy is to increase the sophistication, depth and scope of what Netik produces from its Bangalore based organization.”

Previously, Manaktala was a director and the global head of analytics for Deutsche Bank’s equities unit in New York. Prior to that, he worked for Quantitative Solutions Group and Russell Investment Group.

Manaktala holds a Master of Science degree in Finance from Bentley College, MA and a dual Master of Business Administration degree from Columbia Business School, NY and London Business School, UK.

About Netik

Netik is a leading global provider to the securities industry of financial data management and reporting services and products. Netik’s data management products, include Netik Global Securities Master, Netik GSM℠, a reference data managed service, Netik InterView™ a data warehouse for the storage of holistic financial data and Netik Information Portal℠ to visualize and report on data. These Netik solutions sit at the heart of investment and securities operations at many of the world’s leading Asset Managers, Hedge Funds, Wealth Managers, Private Banks, Prime Brokers, Fund Administrators, Custodians, Investment Operations Outsourcing providers and Investment Banks.

For more information please visit www.netik.com.
Netik media inquiries:
Paul Bowhay / Claudia Coleman Tel: +44 (0)20 7438 1100
netik@cognitomedia.com

About Symphony Technology Group

Symphony Technology Group (STG) is a strategic private equity firm with the mission of investing in and building great software and services companies. In addition to capital, STG provides transformative expertise to enable its companies to deliver maximum value to their clients to retain and attract the best talent and to achieve best in class business performance. All STG companies are expected to grow through innovation. STG’s current portfolio consists of 10 global companies.

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• Service Provider | Netik

BERMUDA, March 4 /PRNewswire/ — Opus Fund Services, announced today that it has been named the “Fastest growing hedge fund administrator” in the latest semi-annual survey conducted by HedgeFund.Net. The survey includes data from over 60 of the world’s leading firms, and is an excellent representation of the fortunes and trends within the fund administration industry.

“Our outstanding growth during an adverse economic environment is a key indicator that managers have been looking for a fresh and innovative approach to meeting their ongoing service and investor requirements,” said Opus CEO Robin Bedford. “We continue to receive a universally positive response to our ONE offering from clients, prospects and investors. This has translated directly into exceptional growth for Opus.”

“We’ve listened to our clients and their investors, and the ONE platform has been developed to meet their key requirements,” said Opus President Stephen Giannone. “Service, technology and process are the cornerstones of our firm. Our value-added services have evolved significantly in the last 24 months as the industry trends towards increased disclosure and adherence to operational best practice.”

The ONE offering combines a single proprietary ’state-of-the–art’ technology platform, a single SAS70 compliant process, and a single fixed-fee pricing methodology; for all clients regardless of size or complexity.

About Opus Fund Services:

Opus Fund Services was established in 2006 and is a leading independent and privately owned full service fund administration company providing automated, integrated middle- and back-office and administration services to hedge funds and asset management firms. Opus Fund Services is headquartered in Bermuda, and has offices in the Cayman Islands, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco. Opus Fund Services (Bermuda) Ltd. is licensed by the Bermuda Monetary Authority under the Investment Funds Act 2006

SOURCE Opus Fund Services

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Opus Fund Services

• Website: http://www.opusfundservices.com/
• Location: Bermuda, Cayman Islands, New York
• Phone: 441.296.2559
• Regulation:
• Others:

NEW YORK, May 18 /PRNewswire/ — OANDA Corporation, provider of innovative online foreign exchange (forex) services and the world’s most accurate currency data, has launched an iPhone app for fxTrade™—the company’s award-winning forex trading platform.  Available as a free download from Apple iTunes, this mobile version gives users the same tight spreads and much of the trading functionality provided by the online fxTrade platform.

fxTrade Mobile for iPhone provides OANDA’s leading trading technology and standards of openness and transparency on an intuitive, iPhone-friendly interface. The result is a mobile forex trading application that offers the flexibility and features needed to trade anywhere, any time:

• One-click execution on market trades and limit orders
• 24/7 trading on 54 currency pairs and 4 precious metal pairs
• Trading from several views within the app: Rates, Buy/Sell, Positions, Trades (open trades can be closed from the Positions and Trades views)
• Limit order features: take profit, stop loss, trailing stops, lower and upper bounds
• Custom views of real-time exchange rate data
• Candlestick and Min/Max charts in multiple timeframes
• Landscape color charting for optimal visualization
• Dynamic account values available: unrealized/realized P&L; margin used/available; net asset value
• OANDA customer service support accessible by email from inside the app

“With the launch of fxTrade Mobile for iPhone, we are continuing our push to make the forex trading market more accessible and more fair,” says Michael Stumm, CEO, OANDA Corporation. “We were the first to offer the world a 24/7 forex trading platform that was accessible from any machine attached to the Internet. This mobile launch reinforces the concept of a trading platform available anywhere, for anyone.”

About OANDA

OANDA started in 1995 as the first online provider of comprehensive currency exchange information. Since then the OANDA Rate® has become the benchmark for corporations, tax authorities, auditing firms, and central banks. In 2001 OANDA launched fxTrade, the first fully automated online forex trading platform. fxTrade was the first platform to offer immediate execution, support trades and accounts of any size, enable true 24/7 trading, and eliminate the rollover swap by calculating interest by the second. OANDA’s innovative technology has enabled it to sustain a large trading volume. Peak performance has been measured at 1.5 million trades a day, far exceeding the volume typically handled through any of the leading global banks or electronic communication networks (ECNs) that trade forex.

OANDA Corporation is a registered Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and is a forex dealer member of the U.S. National Futures Association (NFA). OANDA Corporation owns the following subsidiaries: OANDA Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore with a Capital Markets Services license; and OANDA Middle East Corporation Ltd., with a license from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). OANDA Canada is regulated by the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC).

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NEW YORK, May 27 /PRNewswire/ — International accounting and advisory services firm Rothstein Kass (www.rkco.com) today announced the release of “Call to Action,” a survey report on key trends impacting the fund of funds sector. Results were based on online and / or telephone interviews with 103 fund of fund managers and executives representing a total of 93 companies and 294 funds. Findings suggest that the industry expects intense competition for investment capital as firms work to enhance transparency. Nearly half of survey respondents indicated that they anticipate increased competition from single-manager vehicles, and over 45 percent expect greater competition from institutional investors replicating fund of funds. As the sector confronts this challenge, 60 percent of fund of funds are providing greater transparency to investors in response to market conditions.

“The growth of the fund of funds sector was propelled by its ability to offer portfolio diversification, superior results consistent with specific risk profiles and to some extent, peace of mind. Though investor resolve was shaken by market events and high-profile incidents of malfeasance, the fund of funds industry was sustained by an institutional investment community that recognized that the fundamental benefits were unchanged by short-term market volatility,” said Howard Altman, Co-CEO and Co-Managing Principal of Rothstein Kass. “As they seek to raise new capital, however, fund of funds managers are finding that institutional investors are placing a greater emphasis on due diligence processes. By continuing to act institutional themselves, fund of funds can provide a window into their operating environment to restore investor confidence and effectively compete with single manager vehicles and fund of funds replication strategies that are more aggressively pursuing institutional assets.”

Rothstein Kass commissioned market research firm Infosurv to conduct research for “A Call to Action” to gain insight into the trends shaping the fund of funds space and the outlook for the future. 34 percent of participants’ underlying funds reported assets under management under $50 million, with 36 percent reporting assets under management between $50 and $150 million. 19 percent of survey respondents indicated assets under management between $150 and $500 million, with the balance, 11 percent reporting assets under management over $500 million. Survey participation included but was not limited to Rothstein Kass clients. Notable findings include:

• 60 percent of respondents indicated that they are providing increased transparency in response to market conditions
• 58 percent of survey participants would consider lowering fees in exchange for longer investment lock-up periods
• 34 percent of fund of funds are providing increased liquidity in response to market conditions
• 47 percent of respondents suggested that of existing service providers, they would be most likely to review or change their fund administrator relationship this year
• 25 percent of participants indicated that they would be most likely to review or change their custodian, with 28 percent most likely to review or change their auditor or legal counsel

“The institutional investment community’s trust in the alternative investment sector has not been shattered, but it’s fair to say it has been rattled. As they work to thoroughly address the market-driven demand for greater transparency, for many fund of funds, the dynamics of the relationship have changed,” said Jeff Kollin, a Director in the Financial Services practice of the Rothstein Kass Business Advisory Services Group. “Fund of fund managers also understand that they will be judged, to a greater extent, on the quality of professional relationships. As a result alignment with reputable third-parties has become a key differentiator in the marketing of these investment vehicles.”

About Rothstein Kass:

Rothstein Kass is a premier public accounting and advisory services firm that has served privately held and publicly traded companies, individuals, and families for more than 50 years. Rothstein Kass is consistently ranked as a top CPA firm to the alternative investment industry in independent, third-party surveys. The Rothstein Kass Financial Services Group provides services to many high-profile and respected clients including hedge funds, fund of funds, private equity and venture capital funds.

Rothstein Kass Business Advisory Services, LLC professionals provide value-added and results-oriented consulting services in the areas of strategy, operations, technology, risk, compliance, dispute resolution and investigations to clients across industries. Rothstein Kass Business Advisory Services, LLC is an affiliate of Rothstein, Kass & Company, P.C., a premier certified public accounting firm serving clients for more than 50 years.

The Rothstein Kass Financial Advisory Services practice is a division of the firm’s Advisory Services Group that provides independent and objective guidance on matters spanning all aspects of the client relationship. The Financial Advisory Service practice advises Rothstein Kass clients in tactical service areas including strategy, operations, technology, compliance and risk. Strategic services include infrastructure and operations, service provider evaluation, and organizational advisory. Clients include hedge fund and private equity fund managers, institutional investors, mutual funds, broker / dealers and insurance companies.

SOURCE Rothstein Kass

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CHICAGO, May 24 /PRNewswire/ — Even as social media platforms like blogging, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn experience phenomenal growth on a global scale, financial services professionals are making their own strides at tapping into their networking power – despite oft-cited concerns over running afoul of FINRA regulations over allowable communications.

Most of the respondents (82 percent) to a recent “spot” survey by Horizon Cash Management were at least somewhat familiar with social media; 55 percent using them both professionally as well as personally.

The survey base included hedge fund managers, financial services providers, managed futures funds professionals and other investors or brokers. Horizon Cash Management is a Chicago-based provider of independent asset management services to institutional investors.

The respondents provided information on their familiarity with social media and how they are used, professionally and personally. Among the findings:

• LinkedIn is the most popular, cited by 84 percent of respondents. Facebook (64 percent), Skype (44 percent), Twitter (33 percent) and YouTube (29 percent) were the next most-popular social media sites, along with blogging (22 percent).

• Sixty percent said they utilize social media to collect business information or intelligence on the professional side; 75 percent who use it for personal purposes said they do so to stay in touch with friends or family.

• Of those currently using social media, the majority (61 percent) expect to expand their usage over the next 12 months. Of those who currently do not use social media, the majority (80 percent) have no plans to change that status within the next year.

“With financial companies considering new policies regarding the use of social media tools in the workplace, it will be interesting to see how these actions might affect what clearly is a familiar concept for a majority of those within the industry,” said Pauline Modjeski, president of Horizon Cash Management.

An executive summary of this research can be obtained on the Horizon Web site (www.horizoncash.com/contact).

Horizon Cash Management, LLC (www.horizoncash.com) is an independent, SEC-registered investment advisory firm with a sole focus on providing cash management and liquidity management services to managed futures funds, hedge funds and institutional investors. For nearly 20 years, Chicago-based Horizon has helped clients preserve principal and optimize capital efficiency through customized portfolios that suit the individual needs of investors worldwide.

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RBC Hedge 250 Index had a net return of -0.18 per cent in January, and has averaged an annual net return of 3.97 per cent.  The RBC Hedge 250 Index is comprised of 250 hedge funds and has become one of the more representative investable indexes of the hedge fund industry’s performance.

The full text of the press release is reprinted below, and can also be found here.

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RBC Hedge 250 Index(R) returned -0.18 per cent in January 2010

Year-to-date performance is -0.18 per cent

NEW YORK, Feb. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - RBC Capital Markets today reported that for the month of January 2010 the RBC Hedge 250 Index(R) had a net return of -0.18 per cent. This brings the year-to-date return of the Index to -0.18 per cent. These returns are estimated and will be finalized by the middle of next month. The return for December 2009 has been finalized at 0.73 per cent.

The RBC Hedge 250 Index is an investable benchmark of the performance of the hedge fund industry. The Index operates in accordance with a unique construction methodology. Comprised of approximately 250 actual hedge funds, the RBC Hedge 250 Index is positioned as the industry’s most diversified and representative investable index. The Universe on which the Index is based currently consists of 5,145 hedge funds (excludes funds of hedge funds) with aggregate assets under management of $992 billion.

Since its inception on July 1, 2005 through the end of December 2009, the RBC Hedge 250 Index has had an annualized net return of 3.97 per cent. In comparison, over the same period, other investable indices have averaged 0.90 per cent while non-investable indices have averaged 6.05 per cent, according to information reported by the sponsors of those indices.

For more information about the RBC Hedge 250 Index, including historical performance information, please visit www.rbchedge250.com.

About RBC’s Alternative Assets Group

For the past 10 years, RBC’s Alternative Assets Group has created structured products referencing portfolios of hedge funds. It holds investments in over 1,200 hedge funds. AAG is the oldest dedicated group in the industry and has developed a significant infrastructure and extensive experience in the areas of fund due diligence, risk analysis, transaction execution, and portfolio administration and valuation.

About RBC Capital Markets

RBC Capital Markets is the corporate and investment banking arm of RBC and is active globally in debt origination, sales and trading, foreign exchange, infrastructure finance, structured products, metals and mining, and energy. Its North American platform includes leading equity, underwriting, sales, trading and research businesses and a significant U.S. investment banking franchise. Bloomberg ranks the firm as one of the Top 20 investment banks globally.

Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future returns. Performance data for the RBC Hedge 250 Index(R) (the “Index”) is net of underlying manager fees and an Index Fee as set forth in the Index administration rules (the “Index Rules”), and gross of any product fees. The Index composition is based on the Index Rules which are subject to change at any time and from time to time subject to Index Committee approval. Index funds may be added or removed, and allocations among funds, sectors and strategies may be changed, based upon the criteria set forth in the Index Rules. Implementation of the Index Rules in certain circumstances may involve the exercise of discretion. Inclusion of a hedge fund, sector or strategy in the Index does not represent an endorsement by RBC as to the investment merits of the fund, sector or strategy. Statements as to diversification and representative nature reflect RBC Capital Markets’ opinion based on a comparison of the RBC Hedge 250 Index with other major investable hedge fund indices across a combination of factors, which include the number of hedge funds included in the index, the methodology used to weight strategies and funds, and the performance of the index versus the non-investable hedge fund indices. This material is not intended as investment advice, or as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security or other financial instrument. For further information on composition, fees and administration of the Index, see the Index Rules.

Certain statements in this Press Release constitute “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. RBC assumes no obligation to update these forward looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumption or changes in other factors affecting such forward looking statements.

SOURCE RBC

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The partnership between a leading hedge fund administrator and a leading provider of risk management and corporate governance services enables hedge fund clients to better represent their fund’s risk.  RiskMetrics allows LaCrosse clients access to their applications at no charge.

The full text of the press release is reprinted below, and can also be found here.

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LaCrosse Global Fund Services Partners with RiskMetrics Group to Enhance Investor Risk Reporting: Hedge Funds Now Have a Trusted Data Provider for Risk Reporting

NEW YORK, Feb 11, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — LaCrosse Global Fund Services, a leading hedge fund administrator, today announced it is partnering with RiskMetrics Group, a leading provider of risk management and corporate governance services to the global financial community, to offer LaCrosse’s hedge fund clients access to RiskMetrics’ HedgePlatform Community. LaCrosse’s clients can now access at no cost RiskMetrics’ RiskManager(TM) Investor Reporting Application, allowing them to create custom monthly risk reports for their investors.

“The addition of RiskMetrics’ new tools furthers our ability to create an accurate representation of a hedge fund’s risk, including understanding and verifying representation of risk, communicating risk to investors, and staying current on the latest risk methodology,” said Mike Carpenter, managing director and head of Global Product Management for LaCrosse.

RiskMetrics’ HedgePlatform Community allows hedge funds and funds of hedge funds to provide holding-based risk transparency to investors without disclosing holding level details beyond RiskMetrics. In a secure environment, hedge funds have control over the level of granularity and statistics they wish to report to investors. Additionally, all risk results generated can be incorporated into the LaCrosseLink+ client workstation.

“Flexibility in reporting is key at a time when investors are demanding risk transparency,” said Brian Schmid, head of RiskMetrics Group’s Alternative Investments Business Strategy. “This partnership adds a critical component to the high quality suite of services that we provide to the alternative investment industry.”

To learn more about RiskMetric’s HedgePlatform community, visit: www.riskmetrics.com/hedgeplatform.

About LaCrosse Global Fund Services

LaCrosse Global Fund Services is a provider of operations, middle-office and administration services to managers of complex hedge funds globally. The firm operates in nine global office locations: Bogota, Buenos Aires, Caracas, Istanbul, London, Minneapolis, Moscow, New York, and Singapore. LaCrosse provides support for a wide range of strategies traded by global portfolio managers covering fixed income, distressed debt, structured credit, foreign exchange, equities, commodities and a full range of related derivatives. For more information, visit: www.lacrosseglobal.com.

About RiskMetrics Group

RiskMetrics Group (RISK 18.91, +0.04, +0.21%) is a leading provider of risk management and corporate governance products and services to financial market participants. By bringing transparency, expertise and access to the financial markets, RiskMetrics Group helps investors better understand and manage the risks inherent in their financial portfolios. Our solutions address a broad spectrum of risk across our clients’ financial assets. Headquartered in New York with 20 global offices, RiskMetrics Group serves some of the most prestigious institutions and corporations worldwide. For more information, please visit: www.riskmetrics.com.

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