Absolute Return Absolute Return + Alpha
Symposium 2009
NOVEMBER 3 & 4, 2009 583 PARK AVENUE, NEW YORK
• State of the industry: Post crash, post redemptions – is normalcy returning? • The quant conundrum: They’re back, but will regulatory changes derail them? • Event-driven: What’s the next big trade now that activism is dead – or is it? • Macro: Is the developed world in an irreversible decline? • Equities: Financials have powered a rebound, but is there another shoe to drop? • Regulation: Is Washington up to the task of regulating hedge funds? • Hedge fund restructuring: Lessons from the past year • Distressed investing post-Chrysler: It’s only getting better
• Learn from the best. Hear from keynote speakers: Izzy Englander, founder of Millennium Partners Larry Fink, chairman and chief executive of BlackRock Paul Ruddock, co-founder of Lansdowne Partners
• Network at the cocktail reception on Tuesday November 3 • Over 400 participants expected
Interac tive form on booking t page o he last f this p df. Click H ERE to book n ow
WWW.ABSOLUTERETURNSYMPOSIUM.COM
Introducing the Absolute Return Symposium 2009 What is the Absolute Return Symposium? The Symposium is a major hedge fund event which attracts the industry’s elite from within the U.S. and around the globe. The event offers incisive and topical content and will address the overall outlook for the hedge fund industry and financial markets, as well as the challenges and risks across a range of specific strategies.
When is the Absolute Return Symposium? The Symposium will be held in the Fall, on November 3 & 4.
Where is the Absolute Return Symposium? The Symposium will again be held at 583 Park Avenue between 63rd & 64th Streets. The venue offers ample space for networking breaks, lunches and a comfortable lecture theatre.
Who will be at the Absolute Return Symposium? Last year’s Absolute Return Symposium attracted over 400 delegates. The breakdown of delegates comprised mostly of top hedge fund managers and investors. We expect the level of attendance to be at least as strong again. For a list of companies that attended last year’s event, turn to the back page of this brochure, or go to our website: www.absolutereturnsymposium.com
Why attend the Absolute Return Symposium? • Hear from a line up of speakers you will not find at another hedge fund event • Meet both managers and investors from around the globe • Focus on the industry as a whole, as well as individual strategy areas • Discuss the most topical issues to you and your industry • Understand the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead • Find out what investors are really thinking
BOOK NOW & SAVE! ✔
Early Bird! Book before September 4 and we will give you 20% off the full ticket price. Save up to $700.
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Subscribe to a HedgeFund Intelligence product? If you are a subscriber to AR: Absolute Return + Alpha, AsiaHedge, EuroHedge or InvestHedge you are entitled to a 15% discount.
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Three tickets for the price of two: Are there a number of people in your organization who wish to attend? We are happy to offer three tickets for the price of two. This offer is only available to hedge fund managers and investors. Please write to
[email protected] to organize your multiple ticket deal. One discount offer is available per person. Three tickets for the price of two is only available with full price tickets
Keynote
ISRAEL ENGLANDER, FOUNDER OF MILLENNIUM PARTNERS Israel Englander is the managing member of Millennium Management LLC and Millennium International Management LP. He is also the general partner’s chairman and CEO. He founded Millennium in 1989 with $35 million under management. Israel has over 35 years of experience in securities and derivatives. He worked as a floor broker and trader on the American Stock Exchange, has owned a specialist operation since 1982, and is former chairman of the Specialist Association.
Keynote
LAURENCE D. FINK, CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF BLACKROCK Laurence D. Fink is chairman and chief executive officer of BlackRock. He leads one of the world’s largest publicly traded investment management firms. Prior to founding BlackRock in 1988, Laurence was a member of the management committee and a managing director of The First Boston Corporation. He joined First Boston in 1976 and quickly became one of the first mortgagebacked securities traders on Wall Street.
Keynote
Speakers at the Absolute Return Symposium
PAUL RUDDOCK, CO-FOUNDER OF LANSDOWNE PARTNERS Paul Ruddock is a co-founder, director and chief executive officer of Lansdowne Partners. Until he founded Lansdowne Partners in 1998, Paul was, from 1992, managing director and head of the International Department of Schroder & Co. Inc. which he had joined in 1984. From 1993, he was also a director of the Schroder Securities European Division of Schroders Plc and a director of Schroder Securities Europe Limited and Schroder Securities (Switzerland) Limited.
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Other panelists include: • Kyle Bass of Hayman Capital • John Burbank of Passport Capital • Eddie Fishman of D. E. Shaw • Ross Garon of SAC Capital Advisors • Michael Geismar of Quantitative Investments • Marc Lasry of Avenue Capital Management • Jim Melcher of Balestra Capital • Mihir Meswani of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation • Rishi Narang of Telesis Capital • Roy Niederhoffer of RG Niederhoffer Capital Management • Geoffrey Sherry of Lucidus Capital Partners • Peter Thiel of Clarium Capital Management
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Advisory board: We are proud to have the following industry leaders advise us on the program: • Frank Brosens, co-founder of Taconic Capital Advisors; • Mike Hennessy, managing director of Morgan Creek Capital Management; • Joel Katzman, industry consultant and former chief executive of JPMorgan Alternative Asset Management; • Marc Lasry, chairman, chief executive officer, and a founding partner of Avenue Capital Group; • Max Stone, executive committee member, D. E. Shaw; • Eric Vincent, president of Ospraie Management and chairman of the Managed Funds Association.
Day 1 Program*
Tuesday November 3, 2009
9.00 – 9.45
Doors open and registration
9.45 – 10.00
Introductory briefing from HedgeFund Intelligence and AR: Absolute Return + Alpha A look at the key trends in the hedge fund world over the last year – the key stats on performance patterns, growth/decline of assets, new funds, shutdowns – and key talking points for debate inside the business.
10.00 – 10.45
State of the industry: Post crash, post redemptions is normalcy returning? In market conditions that were arguably the worst since the 1930s, many hedge funds struggled – and raised the ire of investors. With the dust now starting to settle, what kind of market will it be going forward? Can hedge funds thrive again – and if so, how?
10.45 – 11.15
Coffee break
11.15 – 12.00
Keynote Speaker: Izzy Englander, founder of Millennium Partners
12.00 – 12.45
The quant conundrum: They’re back, but will regulatory changes derail them? After the crazy panic that began in August 2007, quant strategies – especially in managed futures – were among the few real stars of 2008. But will they survive to trade just as effectively if there are new rules that inhibit rapid-fire trading?
12.45 – 2.00
Lunch
2.00 – 2.45
Event-driven: What’s the next big trade now that activism is dead. Or is it? Activist managers were arguably the most high-profile and public face of the hedge fund boom in recent years. But with markets and investors still recovering from the shock of the past two years, will other sorts of event-driven strategies become more dominant in future?
2.45 – 3.30
Keynote Speaker: Larry Fink, chairman and chief executive of BlackRock
3.30 – 4.00
Coffee break
4.00 – 4.45
STREAM SESSIONS This period is devoted to a choice of parallel stream sessions that provide an opportunity to drill down in greater depth into more specific and technical issues. Sessions will be announced closer to the event.
4.45 – 5.45
Macro players debate whether the developed world is in an irreversible decline – and how to play it. Some macro funds managed to thrive during the recent economic turmoil – by making correct calls on the direction of currencies, commodities, equities and interest rates. Now that emerging markets seem less affected by the crisis than was initially expected, what are the best ideas going forward?
5.45
Cocktail reception – 583 Park Avenue
Awards Absolute Return
Absolute Return + Alpha
2009
Monday November 2, 2009 The Absolute Return Awards identify the best performing U.S. hedge funds based on risk-adjusted returns. The awards are regarded as the most prestigious and accurate in the industry, with last year’s event attracting many of the largest hedge fund firms to host tables at the event. Over 300 hedge funds, investors and other industry professionals will come together to recognize the achievements of the best performing funds of the previous year at this stylish and prestigious dinner. Tickets to the Symposium do not cover the Awards dinner. To ensure your attendance at this event, book your table now! Contact Sumehr Sondhi + 1 (212) 224 3275 or
[email protected]
BO O K N O W!
Day 2 Program*
Wednesday November 4, 2009
8.30 – 9.00
Doors open & registration
9.00 – 9.45
Equities: Financials have powered a rebound, but is there another shoe to drop? Equity strategies were affected very badly by the crisis in 2008, but have rebounded strongly in 2009 – powered by gains both long and short in sectors like financials. But what will be the hot sectors going forward? And/or will there be more to do on the short side?
9.45 – 10.30
Regulation: Is Washington up to the task of regulating hedge funds? A radical overhaul of the regulatory system for hedge funds was already on the agenda even before the Democrats took full control in Washington. But what will be the effects of the new rules – benign or malign?
10.30 – 11.00
Coffee break
11.00 – 11.45
STREAM SESSIONS This period is devoted to a choice of parallel ‘stream’ sessions that provide an opportunity to drill down in greater depth into more specific and technical issues. Sessions will be announced closer to the event.
11.45 – 12.45
Keynote Speaker: Paul Ruddock, co-founder of Lansdowne Partners
12.45 – 2.00
Lunch
2.00 – 2.45
Hedge fund restructuring: Managers and investors debate approaches and terms Many hedge funds infuriated investors by imposing ‘gate’ provisions, creating side pockets or simply suspending redemptions last year. This bruising experience has made investors much more demanding on investment terms and fees – but what should be the new norms?
2.45 – 3.30
Distressed investing post-Chrysler: It’s only getting better. Managers and investors had been anticipating big returns from distressed strategies for quite a long time (during which they mostly made big losses) before big returns started to come through. How much more mileage is there in the distressed cycle – and what are the best ways to play it?
3.30
Close
*Please note that the program is subject to change
Programmers
Our events are renowned for their strong content, which unlike many other conferences, is put together by editors who are closely linked to the industry. The experienced and dedicated journalists of AR: Absolute Return + Alpha ensure that the Symposium covers only the most important topical issues to the industry. Neil Wilson – editorial director, HedgeFund Intelligence Neil has over 20 years of experience as a financial journalist. He has overall responsibility for the editorial content of EuroHedge, AsiaHedge, InvestHedge, and AR: Absolute Return + Alpha, as well as their associated online weekly news services, special reports and events. Michelle Celarier – editor, AR: Absolute Return + Alpha Michelle Celarier is an award-winning journalist who has been writing about the financial industry since 1983. Before joining Absolute Return as the editor in 2005, she had been the editor of Investment Dealers’ Digest, the U.S. editor of Euromoney magazine and European editor of Global Finance magazine. Carolyn Sargent – deputy editor, AR: Absolute Return + Alpha Carolyn has been a financial journalist for more than a decade. Prior to joining Absolute Return she was managing editor of Investment Dealers’ Digest. Carolyn has written about finance and business for numerous other publications, including the New York Post and the Financial Times. She holds an MBA in Finance from Columbia University.
How to get to the Absolute Return Symposium Directions Subway 583 Park Avenue is located on the Northeast corner of 63rd Street and Park Avenue. The closest subway stations are on 63rd and Lexington Avenue, and 59th Street and Lexington Avenue.
By car 583 Park Avenue is very close to the Queensboro Bridge to Long Island. Follow signs to 63rd Street then all the way to Park Avenue. The midtown tunnel is also close; get to 583 by heading North on either 1st, 3rd, Madison or Park Avenues to 63rd Street. There are several parking garages nearby.
By air New York is serviced by three main airports; John F. Kennedy International (JFK), Newark Liberty International (EWR), LaGuardia (LGA). Most major airlines fly regularly to New York.
Need somewhere to stay? The following hotels are in the vicinity of 583 Park Avenue.
The Pierre Hotel Fifth Avenue at 61st Street, New York, NY 10021 The Pierre Hotel, located on Fifth Avenue across from Central Park, is only ten minutes walk from 583 Park Avenue. This distinctive landmark hotel offers 201 rooms, 52 suites and 12 grand suites, high-speed internet access, 24hr room service, Business Center and Fitness Center with spa facilities. Tel: +1 212 838 8000 email:
[email protected] web: www.tajhotels.com/pierre/
The Lowell Hotel 28 East 63rd Street, New York, NY 10021 The Lowell Hotel, located on a quiet tree-lined street off Madison Avenue, is only five minutes walk from 583 Park Avenue. This boutique hotel offers 47 individually decorated suites and 21 deluxe rooms, complimentary hard-wired and wireless high-speed internet access, 24hr room service, Business Center and Fitness Center. Tel: +1 212 838 1400 email:
[email protected] web: www.lowellhotel.com
Four Seasons Hotel 57 East 57th Street, New York, NY 10022 The Four Seasons Hotel, located between Madison and Park Avenues, is 15 minutes walk from 583 Park Avenue. This luxury hotel offers 364 rooms and 61 suites, high-speed internet access, 24hr room service, Business Center and Fitness Center with spa facilities. Tel: +1 212 758 5700 web: www.fourseasons.com/newyorkfs/ HedgeFund Intelligence does not accept responsibility for accommodation and travel to the Absolute Return Symposium. Delegates should make their own travel and accommodation bookings directly.
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Who will be at the Absolute Return Symposium Last year, this event attracted over 400 top industry participants, broken down as follows:
OTHER 20%
FUNDS OF FUNDS 22%
INVESTORS 14% HEDGE FUNDS 44%
• 98% of last year’s attendees rated this event “excellent” or “very good” • To give you a ‘taste’ of who you might expect to meet at the Symposium, here is a selection of some of the companies that attended last year. We expect to have a similar audience this year. END INVESTORS
FUNDS OF FUNDS
HEDGE FUNDS
Bessemer Trust Company Boston University Ford Foundation Glenmede Trust Company Hamren-Larsson Family Office Harbourton Enterprises Legal Community Against Violence Novaris Corporation NYCERS NYS Common Retirement Fund Real Property Development The College of William & Mary The Goldman Family Foundation The Jordan Family Office The Rockefeller Center The Rockefeller Foundation The Rockefeller University Washington University Whitman Family Foundation
AIG Alternative Asset Mgt. Barlow Partners Convergent Wealth Corbin Capital Partners FIM Advisors Fix Asset Mgt. FRM Americas Harris Alternatives Ivy Asset Mgt. La Fayette Investment Mgt. Lozé & Associés Magnitude Capital Man Investments Maverick Capital Quest Trading Managers RMF SG Asset Mgt. SSARIS Advisors Weston Capital Mgt.
Balestra Capital Brevan Howard Capula Investment Mgt. Carlson Capital D.E.Shaw FiveT Capital Mgt. Goshen Investments Hayman Capital Partners Maple Leaf Partners MKP Capital Mgt. Moore Capital Mgt. Ospraie Mgt. Paulson & Co. Peter Kimmelman Asset Mgt. QFS Asset Mgt. Sprott Asset Mgt. TPG-Axon Capital Venus Capital Mgt. York Capital Mgt.
For a full list of companies that attended in 2008, visit www.absolutereturnsymposium.com
Absolute Return
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Absolute Return + Alpha
Symposium 2009
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