Hong Kong-based PMA Investment Advisors, a member of the SPARX Group and one of Asia’s leading hedge fund managers, is to join forces with SPARX and Cosmo (another member of
Hong Kong-based PMA Investment Advisors, a member of the SPARX Group and one of Asia’s leading hedge fund managers, is to join forces with SPARX and Cosmo (another member of the SPARX Group) in a new Pan-Asian equity l/s fund. The fund will pull together the very best research from the equities teams of all three firms, using research-based analytics to seek out value companies. Speaking with HedgeWeek, PMA’s Managing Director, Samir Tabar, said that portfolio construction is currently being studied. “Operationally, the fund will be supported out of the PMA office in Hong Kong, which has an institutional platform,” said Tabar, who went on to confirm that members of PMA’s equities division would be actively involved in the investment portfolio’s construction. PMA staff are spread across three main business divisions: credit, macro and equity. “We expect the fund to start trading in Q1,” said Tabar. “Actual performance parameters are yet to be determined as these will be driven by the investment portfolio once it’s been completed.”
The fund signals an interesting move by SPARX Group, Asia’s second largest hedge fund with approximately USD7.5billion in AUM, as it looks to harness the firm’s collective resources. “Shuhei Abe’s vision is to establish a united centre of Asian intelligence and this fund is one step towards achieving this,” said Tabar. Asked as to how PMA fared in 2010, Tabar confirmed that performance was “very good across the board on both a relative and absolute return basis”. Indeed, the fact that PMA runs one of Asia’s first institutional hedge fund platforms (SAS 70 type 2) has stood it in good stead when adapting to the increased due diligence demands of investors. “Investors are always impressed with the operational set-up and level of transparency we provide,” said Tabar. More products, aside from the Pan-Asian equity fund, are being developed by PMA to roll out in 2011. “Right now we’re developing certain marketing initiatives for the region and the US that will help drive further asset allocation this year so we’re feeling confident about 2011,” concluded Tabar, adding that the firm had already managed to open a number of accounts with bluechip investors throughout 2010.
