HFA looks to hedge

Hedge Funds of Australia’s (HFA) aggressive push into the retail market is paying dividends with the listing of its ABC fund two further major distribution platforms.

HFA managing director Spencer Young says he is confident the hedge fund will be available through the BT Portfolio Services wrap account in the next few weeks and has recently been listed on the Navigator master trust approved list.

The BT listing will make the ABC fund, which invests in hedge positions relative to the Australian equity market, avbailable to a number of dealer groups who use the BT wrap through badged services, including Count, Associated Planners and Lonsdale.

Success with both BT and Navigator follows approval by van Eyk Research early this year and listing on the Confidens and Symetry master trusts last year.

Young says HFA is also looking to further hedge funds on the market witin the next year. He says the group expects to launch a hedge fund based on international equities before the end of the year and another product in the first half of next year.

In an effort to boost the distribution impact of these funds, HFA has also made a number of key appointments.

Former Advisor Investment Services director Paul Manka will join the HFA board to replace Ray Orloff who has left the business but maintained his stake in the group.