Wednesday, September 21, 2011

The Impact of the Weavering Judgment

The courts in Cayman have spoken and the spotlight is shining on the role of hedge fund board of directors. In the recent case of Weavering Macro Fixed Income Limited vs. Stefan Peterson and Hans Ekstrom, the Grand Court of the Cayman Island delivered a $111 million judgment against the Board of Directors for willful neglect and default. The court paid particular attention to the conduct during the Board of Directors meetings. This case has attracted significant media attention.

This topic will be explored in depth at GAIM Ops International during an extended session on Wednesday 12 October, 2011. In this session you will be able to hear from actual Board of Directors’ and Allocators as they discuss the implications of this case on the profession.

 Session Details
The Changing Landscape of Corporate Governance Practices in the Hedge Fund Industry
• Current perspectives from both directors and investors
• What type of transparency should investors be entitled to from the funds directors?
• What can we learn from the recent Weavering judgment?
• Should the investor community publish a director’s approved list?
• Timing and frequency of meetings, items that should be on the agenda, conflicts of interest, independence, and how to resolve disputes

Moderator: Eric Lazear, Head of Operational Due Diligence, FQS Capital Partners
Don Ebanks, Managing Director, dms Management Ireland
Malcolm Paterson, Director, Signina Capital AG Matthew Auriemma, Head of Operational Risk Management, UBP Asset Management
John Ward, Head of Operational Due Diligence, EIM Management (USA) Inc.
William Jones, Managing Director, ManagementPlus Group
Joyce E. Heinzerling, Principal, Meridian Fund Advisors
Roisin Cater, Principal, Carne Global Financial Services Ltd

Join us at GAIM Ops International- The premier event strengthening operational due diligence in response to game changing industry trends. Click here to review a list of the expert speakers.

 Why Do You Need to Be At GAIM Ops International

1. Global Attendance- Over 200 senior level executives from around the world at one place and one time
2. Regulatory Guidance- Drill down on the implications of recent regulations and hear what is happening at the FSA, SEC and European Commission
3. Peer to Peer Knowledge Sharing- Participate in 10+ hours of formal and informal networking including speed networking, speaker hosted lunches and champagne roundtables
4. Two Full Day Workshops- Deepen your knowledge in one subject- choose between "360 Degree View on Valuation Issues" or "Investor Due Diligence"
5. Cutting Edge Sessions- From the latest trends in due diligence to new developments in UCITS and managed accounts to cloud computing, this year's program is bursting with new ideas to spark conversation.

 Click Here for the Complete Brochure

This year’s conference will be located at the President Wilson Hotel in downtown Geneva. It is centrally located to allow you easy access to set up business appointments and provide numerous options for evening activities.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Last Chance to Save On GAIM Ops International

Don’t miss out on GAIM Ops International, which provides an unrivaled opportunity to network with the global leaders in operational due diligence and compliance across the globe from Europe, United States, and Asia.






Over 250 senior level professionals have already confirmed their attendance - 
Click here to see who is speaking so far 

The hedge fund world is rapidly evolving as regulators finalize the details of all the new reporting requirements. At the same time, investors are clamoring for increased transparency and better due diligence for current and future investments. Senior level operational due diligence professionals are addressing these issues including:

How to Conduct a Detailed Review on the Board of Directors (EXTENDED SESSION)
• Timing and frequency of meetings, items that should be on the agenda, conflicts of interest, independence, and how to resolve disputes
• What responsibility and liability does the Board have?
• Analysis of compensation, independence and structure of the Board
• Availability and review of Board of Directors records
Moderator: Eric Lazear, Head of Operational Due Diligence, FQS Capital Partners Don Ebanks, Managing Director, dms Management Ireland Malcolm Paterson, Director, Signina Capital AG Sophie van Straelen, President, Asterias Limited Matthew Auriemma, Head of Operational Risk Management, UBP Asset Management

  Demystifying the Due Diligence Process from the Hedge Funds Perspective
• Desire to receive more feedback from investors
• Questions that due diligence professionals should ask but don’t
• Increased demands from investors as consolidation continues- how can the mega funds allocate the COO or CFO time to meet all the potential investors
• How do investors balance their requirements for performance and controls?
Moderator: Howard Altman, Co-CEO and Co-Managing Principal, Rothstein Kass Hendrik Klein, CEO, Da Vinci Invest AG Didier Martineau, CEO, Sothic Capital Management Brian J. Tsai, Chief Operating Officer, IMC Asset Management

Expert Panel: Establishing Best Practices in ODD 
• Timing and frequency on initial and follow-up review
• Rating scales for reports
• Staffing and location challenges
Moderator: James Newman, Head of Operational Due Diligence, Barclays Max Ferri, Senior ODD Analyst, Laven Partners Odi Lahav, Vice President — Team Leader (Hedge Funds), Moody's Investors Service Alan Swersky, Director, Duff & Phelps Justine Lee, Senior Investment Consultant, Head of Operational Due Diligence, Towers Watson

Click Here for the Complete Brochure 

New Need To Meet Speakers Just Added To The Agenda
Carl Kruger, Director Operational Due Diligence, Gottex Fund Management
David Canty, Head of Operational Due Diligence, Fund of Funds, Pamplona Capital Management LLP Brian Dawson, Partner & Chief Operating Officer, WingSail Capital LLC
Ronald Paterson, Partner, Eversheds LLP

GAIM Ops International is the premier event strengthening operational due diligence in response to game changing industry trends. Take advantage of this opportunity to meet and network with the best in the industry.


Best rates expire 9th September 2011- Save €200!

We look forward to seeing you in Geneva!