Hedge funds and FoHFs are back in fashion with European private banks

Absolute return and hedge funds have a large role to play for investors, say many private banks. Having them as part of asset allocation adds diversification and improves the risk/return profile.

Private banks rushed at every exit available to withdraw from hedge funds in the aftermath of the financial crisis, redeeming directly from portfolios, selling funds of hedge funds (FoHFs), draining bank platforms and offloading stakes privately.

Advisors to the world’s wealthy regarded some managers’ reputation as mud at the time, having been angered chiefly by widespread curbing of redemptions, side-pocketing or complete banning of withdrawals.

Adding to their anger were the revelations