Abrdn Links with HFR for Alternatives Offering
Posted by Colin Lambert. Last updated: July 14, 2022
Asset manager Abrdn has launched Eclipse, a platform offering institutional investors passive exposure to hedge fund strategies underpinned by indices from hedge fund index provider HFR. The firms say the launch breaks new ground being the first hedge fund index tracking platform.
Domiciled in the Cayman Islands, Eclipse offers Abrdn’s clients access to the investable hedge fund benchmark HFRI 500, as well as eight sub-strategy indices including Long/Short Equity, Equity Market Neutral, Merger Arbitrage, Event Driven Multi-Strategy, Discretionary Macro, Systematic Macro, Fixed Income Relative Value, and Volatility Relative Value strategies.
“In an unsettled market environment, investors are looking for unique, differentiated sources of returns leading them towards alternatives – and hedge funds, in particular, were making a strong case for an increased allocation even before the current market dislocation took hold,” says Darren Wolf, global head of investments, alternatives at Abrdn. “Working with our partners at HFR and drawing upon Abrdn’s expertise in delivering investment solutions, we have arrived at a first-of-its-kind proposition that is highly accessible, flexible in its delivery to clients and built to last. We are delighted to officially launch this platform and continue to help it grow as investors are reminded of the value proposition that this exposure can provide alongside a portfolio of traditional assets.”
Joseph Nicholas, founder of HFR adds, “The HFRI 500 family of indexes provides investable benchmarks that are diversified, representative, ESMA Registered, IOSCO compliant, audited annually, with quarterly liquidity, with due diligence conducted on all constituents. Abrdn’s launch of tracking products for HFR’s benchmarks provides allocators with new options and solutions, including a way to address unfunded exposure risk, reduce active selection risk and a passive, cost effective, low risk avenue to achieving market performance.”