Products June 8, 2009

U.K. Fund Focuses on Alternative Strategies

47 Degrees North Capital Management announced the launch of the 47 Degrees North Innovation Fund.
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A company news release said the fund offers access to a diversified portfolio of “new and innovative alternative investment strategies.” 47 Degrees builds a portfolio that offers return potential and diversification.

The U.K. Fund combines a thematic set of alternative investment strategies ranging from Transportation, Electricity, Middle East – Northern African Equities, Insurance-linked Securities, and Alternative Energy, to Volatility Arbitrage and Multi-Commodities.

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“This fund launch complements our product offering and is a natural extension of our focus on emerging hedge fund managers,” said Claude Porret, CEO of 47 Degrees North, in the news release. “New and upcoming hedge funds strategies are often managed by newer, independent, and entrepreneurial teams. Our Innovation Fund is an attractive offering for investors who want to get access and know-how in regard to new strategies in a diversified portfolio in order to mitigate risks.”

Deals & People June 8, 2009

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Unveils Institutional Consultancy

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney launched Graystone Consulting to provide investment consulting advice to institutional investors and the upper-tier private wealth market.
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A news release said Graystone is made up of 30 institutional teams led by one or more institutional consulting directors who average more than 20 years of professional investment experience. Each team also includes managers and technical analysts, reporting specialists, client-service professionals, and support staff.

Graystone teams also draw upon the manager due-diligence efforts of one of nearly 60 analysts.

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Current institutional clients include corporate retirement plans, foundations and endowments, health care organizations, state and local governments, and Taft-Hartley plans. Graystone also offers consulting services to wealthy families and family offices, the announcement said.

The news release said Graystone is an outgrowth of Citi Institutional Consulting, which was formed in 2006. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney was officially formed last week through a deal between Morgan Stanley and Citi.

“Based on the expertise within our teams and our unsurpassed research capabilities, we are confident Graystone Consulting will continue the legacy of Citi Institutional Consulting and grow into an even more powerful presence in the investment consulting community,” said James Tracy, director of the Consulting Group at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, in the release. “We are especially well-prepared to deliver the advice clients need as the markets continue to recover.”

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