Research and publications

The Fund of Hedge Fund Reporting Puzzle: Reconciling Investors’ Expectations and Fund Managers’ Constraints

The development of alternative investment has not yet been accompanied by a genuine consideration of the specific characteristics of the risks and returns of hedge funds with regard to the provision of information to investors. This inadequacy came to light in a study published by EDHEC in 2003, a study that showed that a very large majority of European hedge fund managers were satisfied with a reporting method designed for investment in traditional asset classes. This method proposes a mean variance-structure that is inappropriate for the risk and return profiles of alternative investment and does not inform investors of extreme risk and risk factors affecting the different returns of the hedge fund strategies in which the funds of funds are invested. To address this issue, in 2004, EDHEC launched, an international consultation process for the implementation of a new framework for funds of hedge funds reporting. A revisited version of this paper was published in the Journal of Risk Finance µ, 1st Quarter 2006.

Author(s):

Noël Amenc, Philippe Malaise, Mathieu Vaissié

Summary:

The development of alternative investment has not yet been accompanied by a genuine consideration of the specific characteristics of the risks and returns of hedge funds with regard to the provision of information to investors. This inadequacy came to light in a study published by EDHEC in 2003, a study that showed that a very large majority of European hedge fund managers were satisfied with a reporting method designed for investment in traditional asset classes. This method proposes a mean variance-structure that is inappropriate for the risk and return profiles of alternative investment and does not inform investors of extreme risk and risk factors affecting the different returns of the hedge fund strategies in which the funds of funds are invested. To address this issue, in 2004, EDHEC launched, an international consultation process for the implementation of a new framework for funds of hedge funds reporting. A revisited version of this paper was published in the Journal of Risk Finance µ, 1st Quarter 2006.

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Type :	Working paper
Date :	04/06/2004
Keywords :	Alternative Investments

About EDHEC

Operating from campuses in Lille, Nice, Paris, London and Singapore, EDHEC is one of the world’s top 15 business schools. Fully international and directly connected to the business world, EDHEC commands a strong reputation for research excellence and the ability to train entrepreneurs and managers capable of breaking new ground. EDHEC functions as a genuine laboratory of ideas and produces innovative solutions valued by businesses. The School’s teaching is inspired by its research work and a focus on “learning by doing”, all with the aim of equipping people with the skills to succeed in business.

About EDHEC-Risk Climate Impact Institute

Marking the priority assigned by the School to sustainability issues and building on its research programmes exploring the relationships between climate change and finance, EDHEC-Risk Institute became EDHEC-Risk Climate Impact Institute in October 2022. The Institute's mission is to help private and public decision-makers manage climate-related financial risks and make the best use of the financial tools available to transition to low-emission and climate-resilient economies. The Institute’s research programmes explore the relationships between climate change and finance and our key ambition is to become a leading academic reference point for long-term investors, helping them to manage the asset-pricing implications of climate change as well as mitigation and adaptation efforts.