Switzerland’s reputation as a leading player in the hedge fund universe rests on its long established fund of hedge fund (FoHF) industry which manages over $300 billion in assets, not including UBS A&Q which is managed mainly from the US. Switzerland accounts for close to 30% of the global market, has achieved a robust annual growth rate of 20%, and ranks only behind the United States in terms of assets. The industry’s phenomenal expansion, over the past three decades, originated largely within the Switzerland’s renowned private banking sector. Indeed, many of the leading FoHF firms were global pioneers in identifying the opportunities that hedge funds offer as a means for diversifying and adding value to their clients’ portfolios.
In the following section of this report, we profile a number of outstanding Swiss FoHFs –veteran players as well as newer innovative firms –...