Hedge Fund Expansion Into Development Property

Hedge fund Three Arch Investors has begun buying tracts of abandoned development land in California.

“Property and land values in California have dropped to very low lows and at some stage they will recover." John Godden, managing partner of London-based IGS Group said, “This is the ultimate way to play what everyone knows to be the situation.”

"The price of homes have fallen by a little under 20% over the past year, and land prices have slumped by almost 80%." David Michelson, manager of the California Distressed Land Fund said. “The banks do not want this stuff, they want to get rid of it,” he said.

The fund, which has a target size of $150m to $250m, provides an alternative to commercial property funds or residential property index derivatives for those seeking to benefit from any upswing in the property sector.

Stanley Fink Retires From Man Group

Man Group announced the retirement of hedge fund magnate Stanley Fink, who will not be seeking re-election as a Director. He stepped down from Chief Executive in April of last year to become Deputy Chairman.

Fink joined Man in 1987 and was Chief Executive for seven years till 2000, prior to which he ran the investment management business.

"I have spent more than 21 years at Man Group, and have been on the Board for all but the first six months of that time," Stanley Fink said regarding his time with Man Group, "during which the company has undergone immense change which has seen it emerge as a leading player in the alternative asset management industry."

Fink also said, "I have many commercial and philanthropic interests outside Man Group to which I am increasingly committed and I am eager to pursue these, and other new opportunities, more fully."

Man is the leading global alternative investment management business, the original business being founded in 1783. It is ranked in the top 40 companies of the FTSE 100 Index with a market capitalisation of about $20 billion.