Hailed as one of the biggest events of the year, over 550 experts across the Hedge Fund industry will join together at HOME nightclub on Thursday 21 September to rock with Ian Moss of Cold Chisel fame, Typhoon, Shy Guys and Choir Boys to commemorate Hedge Funds Rock’s 5th year. The event, which also formally recognises Australia’s leading Hedge Fund specialists, raises much needed funding for children’s cancer.

Hedge Funds Rock supports Cure Our Kids, a children’s cancer charity providing services for families affected with cancer, as well as commissioning principal research to help alleviate the burden of pediatric cancer. In the past five years alone, the Australian Hedge Fund Industry has successfully raised over $1.07 million through sponsorship in the Asia Pacific Hedge Fund & Alternatives Directory and charitable giving on event nights.

“This is a great opportunity for the Hedge Fund industry to come together, network and give to the broader community in which we work,” said Mr Steve Howell, Managing Director, Basis Capital.

“It’s all about having fun, recognising the best within the industry and giving to a meaningful cause.”

The Hedge Funds Rock event pays homage to the industries movers and shakers in more ways than one with the 2006 Australian Hedge Fund Awards. Award presentations will be made across eight categories, judged by independent asset consultants Angela Ashton (IWL) and Simon Ibbetson (S&P).

The 2006 categories and finalists follow:

Best Emerging Manager Award

• Finalists K2 Select International Absolute Return Fund

• MIR Absolute Return Fund

• Naos Small Companies Fund

Best Long Short & Absolute Return Fund Award

• Finalists Hayberry Australian Equity Fund

• Opis Capital Dynamic Equity Fund

• Saltbush Absolute Return Fund

Best Market Neutral Fund Award

• Finalists Austral Equity Fund

• Fortitude Capital

• Wallace Absolute Return Ltd

Best Global Macro / Futures Fund Award

• Finalists Active Global Commodities Fund

• BGI Global Ascent Fund

• Merrill Lynch Asset Allocation Alpha Fund

Best Fund of Fund 2006 Award

• Finalists Asia Pacific Australian Equity Opportunity Fund Series 1

• Pioneer Momentun AllWhether Absolute Return Fund

• Select Gottex Market Neutral Fund A$

Best Investor supporting Australian Managers Award

• Finalists BT Funds – Total Return Fund

• Colonial First State

• Saltbush

Australian Hedge Fund of the Year Award

• Finalists Basis Aust-Rim Opportunity Fund

• Blue Sky Japan US$

• Hayberry Australian Equity Fund

Contribution to the Australian Hedge Fund Industry Award

Finalists not announced prior.