Alternative funds conference kicks off in Bermuda

HAMILTON, Bermuda, Oct. 24, 2016 -- An estimated 220 asset management industry professionals are attending this week’s Global Fund Forum, being held in Bermuda for the second consecutive year.

Premier Michael Dunkley will officially open the event tomorrow morning at the Fairmont Southampton. Hosted by New York-based Hedge Connection, the forum—running through Wednesday—is focused on topics around the alternative funds industry.

“We are delighted to be returning to the beautiful island of Bermuda with the Global Fund Forum,” said Lisa Vioni, CEO of Hedge Connection. “Because Bermuda is a central hub of business for the alternative industry, we feel it is a wonderful venue to host our annual event.”

Vioni said the majority of overseas delegates attending this year’s forum have flown in from North America. Other attendees include members of 100 Women in Hedge Funds (100WHF) Bermuda, as well as 10 RCA Bermuda Compliance Certification (RBCC) programme scholarship recipients from the island. The educational and training initiative was established in 2015 as a partnership between the Bermuda government, the Bermuda College, and the US-based Regulatory Compliance Association (RCA).

“This year we have expanded the event to include a track of speakers, in addition to one-on-one meetings between managers and allocators,” Vioni added. “We are covering topics such as structured credit, Impact Investing, ILS, water as an asset class, and investment opportunities in 2017.”

The forum includes Deal Ring, a manager pitch competition, as well as a deconstructed panel track called Table Talks. Outside of business, the event launches tonight with a beach dinner party sponsored by Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA), and ends with a boat cruise for delegates Wednesday afternoon.

In addition to distinguished speakers from the financial industry, the forum also features presentations from James Rosebush, late former first lady Nancy Reagan’s chief of staff and Ronald Reagan’s deputy assistant; legendary mountain climber Ed Viesturs; and actor-producer Alysia Reiner, of the feature film Equity.

“We’re delighted to welcome Hedge Connection back to Bermuda, as well as all delegates—new and returning—for this year’s Global Fund Forum,” said Sean Moran, Business Development Manager of the BDA. “The programme this time is significantly more ambitious, and the audience larger and more diverse, than last year. Attendance is more than double what it was in 2015, so the event is obviously gaining momentum.

“We’re also excited that this year we’re going to have an opportunity to spotlight more of Bermuda’s asset management talent,” Moran noted, “through our industry members’ involvement in the Table Talks and several speaking panels.”

For more information on the Global Fund Forum, go to: https://www.hedgeconnection.com/gff/index.php#page-top

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