HedgeCo.net –NEW YORK, October 17, 2006 – In the wake of the collapse of Amaranth, many investors are searching for answers on how to use and screen alternative investments. These Investors,regardless of their assets under management are looking for ways to avoid the pitfalls of long-only investments and are focused on investments that are designed to deliver results regardless ofmarket conditions. The inaugural Edge Forum, to be held on November 6th at The Colony in NYC, is a half day seminar that addresses the needs of smaller, less sophisticated endowments and foundationsthat are looking for answers to their alternative investment questions.
“Everyone wants to learn more about how to use alternatives but there are very few opportunities to do so in today’s marketplace,” said Daniel Strachman, a co-founder of The Edge Forum. “The EDGEprovides professionals who work for the endowment and foundation community an opportunity to meet and exchange ideas on how alternatives can and should be used in their diversified portfolios.”
Focused on the often overlooked segment of endowments and foundations with less then $1 billion in assets, The EDGE is a half day seminar that includes panel discussions, case studies and roundtablesexchanges about the how’s and why’s of alternative investments.
“We want this to be a forum for people to be able to communicate and share ideas without feeling intimidated,” said Strachman. “The EDGE will provide endowment and foundation professionals withunique and objective insight into hedge funds with real case studies from some of the most successful practitioners in this arena.”
“In light of recent events, it is more apparent than ever that due diligence is the most important thing to think about when allocating to hedge funds,” said Robert Schulman, CEO of Tremont GroupHoldings, Inc. a leading consultant and fund-of-funds. “We believe that investor education is the most important variable and participating in The EDGE allows us to be at the forefront of thiscritical process.”
Along with Schulman other speakers at The EDGE include:
1. James Collins, Executive Vice President for Finance at Clark University
2. Jeff Diermeier, Chief Executive Officer of the worldwide CFA Program
3. Lawrence Siegel, Director of Research for the Investment Division the Ford Foundation
The EDGE will take place on November 6th at New York City’s Colony Club from 12:45 to 7:00 pm. To learn more about this exciting event and to register please go to www.theedgeforum.com. The EDGE Forum has been created to provide endowment and foundation professionals’ objective information about alternative investments.Speakers and presenters include experts from leading endowments, foundations and investment organizations. The next conference is being planned for Chicago in the Spring of 2007.
Sophie Sophaon l Walek & Associates l Office: 212.590.0522 l Cell: 202.270.4870 l ssophaon@walek.com
