Barry Cohen, features and special reports editor, HedgeFund Intelligence
Although 2006 proved to be a challenging year for Canadian hedge fund managers, the industry continued to benefit from good performance and a growing interest on the part of foreign investors. Adept managers took advantage of a steady flow of new investment opportunities, especially in the all-important resources sector, while coping with significant legislative and regulatory changes.
The lack of hard credible industry data makes it very difficult to calculate precisely the size of the domestic market. While hedge fund numbers are frequently contested, insiders generally agree on a consensus estimate that Canada's approximately 200 hedge funds account for around $30 billion in assets. However, compared to their counterparts elsewhere, 70% of the industry comprises relatively small funds with assets of less than $20 million. Relying mostly on family and friends, many of them tend to fall below most investors' radar...