Hedge funds play it safe

Expecting hedge funds and private equity players to invest in second-lien loans and mezzanine financing is a bit like expecting a Ferrari to run on diesel. But in an environment where performance is hard to come by, such an approach seems to be gaining credence

In the enigmatic world of alternative fund management, one of the latest investment strategies of choice is surprisingly conventional. As banks have tightened lending standards for small companies with tenuous risk profiles, hedge funds and private equity companies have begun to dip their toes into the most traditional of markets, the loan industry. And in an increasingly difficult return environment for hedge funds, the hunt for yield has led many to seek out lending opportunities in the realm