HFR Hedge Fund Strategy Classification System

Equity Hedge

Equity Hedge strategies maintain positions both long and short in primarily equity and equity derivative securities. A wide variety of investment processes can be employed to arrive at an investment decision, including both quantitative and fundamental techniques; strategies can be broadly diversified or narrowly focused on specific sectors and can range broadly in terms of levels of net exposure, leverage employed, holding period, concentrations of market capitalizations and valuation ranges of typical portfolios. Equity Hedge managers would typically maintain at least 50% exposure to, and may in some cases be entirely invested in, equities – both long and short. EH is further subdivided into 7 sub-strategies.

Equity Market Neutral

EH: Equity Market Neutral strategies employ sophisticated quantitative techniques of analyzing price data to ascertain information about future price movement and relationships between securities, select securities for purchase and sale. These can include both Factor-based and Statistical Arbitrage/Trading strategies. Factor-based investment strategies include strategies in which the investment thesis is predicated on the systematic analysis of common relationships between securities. In many but not all cases, portfolios are constructed to be neutral to one or multiple variables, such as broader equity markets in dollar or beta terms, and leverage is frequently employed to enhance the return profile of the positions identified. Statistical Arbitrage/Trading strategies consist of strategies in which the investment thesis is predicated on exploiting pricing anomalies which may occur as a function of expected mean reversion inherent in security prices; high frequency techniques may be employed and trading strategies may also be employed on the basis on technical analysis or opportunistically to exploit new information the investment manager believes has not been fully, completely or accurately discounted into current security prices. Equity Market Neutral Strategies typically maintain characteristic net equity market exposure no greater than 10% long or short.

Fundamental Growth

EH: Fundamental Growth strategies employ analytical techniques in which the investment thesis is predicated on assessment of the valuation characteristics on the underlying companies which are expected to have prospects for earnings growth and capital appreciation exceeding those of the broader equity market. Investment theses are focused on characteristics of the firm’s financial statements in both an absolute sense and relative to other similar securities and more broadly, market indicators. Strategies employ investment processes designed to identify attractive opportunities in securities of companies which are experiencing or expected to experience abnormally high levels of growth compared with relevant benchmarks growth in earnings, profitability, sales or market share.

Fundamental Value

EH: Fundamental Value strategies which employ investment processes designed to identify attractive opportunities in securities of companies which trade a valuation metrics by which the manager determines them to be inexpensive and undervalued when compared with relevant benchmarks. Investment theses are focused on characteristics of the firm’s financial statements in both an absolute sense and relative to other similar securities and more broadly, market indicators. Relative to Fundamental Growth strategies, in which earnings growth and capital appreciation is expected as a function of expanding market share & revenue increases, Fundamental Value strategies typically focus on equities which currently generate high cash flow, but trade at discounted valuation multiples, possibly as a result of limited anticipated growth prospects or generally out of favor conditions, which may be specific to sector or specific holding.

Quantitative Directional

EH: Quantitative Directional strategies employ sophisticated quantitative techniques of analyzing price data to ascertain information about future price movement and relationships between securities, select securities for purchase and sale. These can include both Factor-based and Statistical Arbitrage/Trading strategies. Factor-based investment strategies include strategies in which the investment thesis is predicated on the systematic analysis of common relationships between securities. Statistical Arbitrage/Trading strategies consist of strategies in which the investment thesis is predicated on exploiting pricing anomalies which may occur as a function of expected mean reversion inherent in security prices; high frequency techniques may be employed and trading strategies may also be employed on the basis on technical analysis or opportunistically to exploit new information the investment manager believes has not been fully, completely or accurately discounted into current security prices. Quantitative Directional Strategies typically maintain varying levels of net long or short equity market exposure over various market cycles.

Sector: Energy/Basic Materials

EH: Sector – Energy/Basic Materials strategies which employ investment processes designed to identify opportunities in securities in specific niche areas of the market in which the Manager maintains a level of expertise which exceeds that of a market generalist in identifying companies engaged in the production & procurement of inputs to industrial processes, and implicitly sensitive to the direction of price trends as determined by shifts in supply and demand factors, and implicitly sensitive to the direction of broader economic trends. Sector – Energy/Basic Materials strategies typically maintain a primary focus in this area or expect to maintain in excess of 50% of portfolio exposure to these sectors over a various market cycles.

Sector: Healthcare

Sector – Healthcare strategies employ investment processes designed to identify opportunities in securities in specific niche areas of the market in which the Manager maintain a level of expertise which exceeds that of a market generalist in identifying opportunities in companies engaged in all development, production and application of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and healthcare products and services. Sector – Healthcare strategies typically maintain a primary focus in this area or expect to maintain in excess of 50% of portfolio exposure to these sectors over a various market cycles.

Sector: Technology

Sector – Technology strategies employ investment processes designed to identify opportunities in securities in specific niche areas of the market in which the Manager maintain a level of expertise which exceeds that of a market generalist in identifying opportunities in information technology companies. Sector – Technology strategies typically maintain a primary focus in this area or expect to maintain in excess of 50% of portfolio exposure to these sectors over a various market cycles.

Short Bias

EH: Short-Biased strategies employ analytical techniques in which the investment thesis is predicated on assessment of the valuation characteristics on the underlying companies with the goal of identifying overvalued companies. Short Biased strategies may vary the investment level or the level of short exposure over market cycles, but the primary distinguishing characteristic is that the manager maintains consistent short exposure and expects to outperform traditional equity managers in declining equity markets. Investment theses may be fundamental or technical and nature and manager has a particular focus, above that of a market generalist, on identification of overvalued companies and would expect to maintain a net short equity position over various market cycles.

Multi-Strategy

Equity Hedge: Multi-Strategy Investment Managers maintain positions both long and short in primarily equity and equity derivative securities. A wide variety of investment processes can be employed to arrive at an investment decision, including both quantitative and fundamental techniques; strategies can be broadly diversified or narrowly focused on specific sectors and can range broadly in terms of levels of net exposure, leverage employed, holding period, concentrations of market capitalizations and valuation ranges of typical portfolios. EH Multi-Strategy managers do not maintain more than 50% exposure in any one Equity Hedge sub-strategy.

Macro

Macro Investment Managers which trade a broad range of strategies in which the investment process is predicated on movements in underlying economic variables and the impact these have on equity, fixed income, hard currency and commodity markets. Managers employ a variety of techniques, both discretionary and systematic analysis, combinations of top down and bottom up theses, quantitative and fundamental approaches and long and short term holding periods. Although some strategies employ RV techniques, Macro strategies are distinct from RV strategies in that the primary investment thesis is predicated on predicted or future movements in the underlying instruments, rather than realization of a valuation discrepancy between securities. In a similar way, while both Macro and equity hedge managers may hold equity securities, the overriding investment thesis is predicated on the impact movements in underlying macroeconomic variables may have on security prices, as opposed to EH, in which the fundamental characteristics of the company are the most significant and integral to investment thesis.

Active Trading

Macro: Active Trading strategies utilize active trading methods, typically with high frequency position turnover or leverage; these may employ components of both Discretionary and Systematic Macro strategies. Strategies may contain distinct, identifiable sub-strategies, such as equity hedge or equity market neutral, or in some cases a number of sub-strategies are blended together without the capacity for portfolio level disaggregation. Strategies employ an investment process based on systematic, quantitative evaluation of macroeconomic variables in which the portfolio positioning is predicated on convergence of differentials between markets, not necessarily highly correlated with each other, but currently diverging from their historical levels of correlation. Strategies focus on fundamental relationships across geographic areas of focus both inter and intra-asset classes, and typical holding periods are shorter than trend following or discretionary strategies. Diversified Trading strategies are distinct from other macro in that Trading strategies characteristically emphasize rapid market response to new information and high volume of turnover in liquid but frequently volatile and unstable market positions.

Commodity – Agriculture

Macro: Commodity – Agriculture strategies are reliant on the evaluation of market data, relationships and influences as they pertain primarily to Soft Commodity markets focusing primarily on positions in grains (wheat, soybeans, corn, etc.) or livestock markets. Portfolio the investment process can be predicated on fundamental, systematic or technical analysis, and Agricultural strategies typically invest in both Emerging and Developed Markets. Commodity: Agricultural strategies typically would expect to have greater than 50% of portfolio in dedicated Agricultural exposure over a given market cycle.

Commodity – Energy

Macro: Commodity – Energy strategies are reliant on the evaluation of market data, relationships and influences as they pertain primarily to Energy commodity markets focusing primarily on positions in Crude Oil, Natural Gas and other Petroleum products. Portfolio investment process can be predicated on fundamental, systematic or technical analysis, and strategies typically invest in both Emerging and Developed Markets. Commodity: Energy strategies typically would expect to have greater than 50% of portfolio in dedicated Energy exposure over a given market cycle.

Commodity – Metals

Macro: Commodity – Metals strategies are reliant on the evaluation of market data, relationships and influences as they pertain primarily to Hard Commodity markets focusing primarily on positions in Metals (Gold, Silver, Platinum, etc.). Portfolio investment process can be predicated on fundamental, systematic or technical analysis, and strategies typically invest in both Emerging and Developed Markets. Commodity: Metals strategies typically would expect to have greater than 50% of portfolio in dedicated Metals exposure over a given market cycle.

Macro: Commodity-Multi

Macro: Commodity – Multi strategies include both discretionary and systematic commodity strategies. Systematic commodity have investment processes typically as function of mathematical, algorithmic and technical models, with little or no influence of individuals over the portfolio positioning. Strategies employ an investment process designed to identify opportunities in markets exhibiting trending or momentum characteristics across commodity assets classes, frequently with related ancillary exposure in commodity sensitive equities or other derivative instruments. Strategies typically employ quantitative process which focus on statistically robust or technical patterns in the return series of the asset, and typically focus on highly liquid instruments and maintain shorter holding periods than either discretionary or mean reverting strategies. Although some strategies seek to employ counter trend models, strategies benefit most from an environment characterized by persistent, discernible trending behavior. Systematic Commodity strategies typically would expect to have greater than 35% of portfolio in dedicated commodity exposure over a given market cycle. Discretionary Commodity strategies are reliant on the fundamental evaluation of market data, relationships and influences as they pertain primarily to commodity markets including positions in energy, agricultural, resources or metal assets. Portfolio positions typically are predicated on the evolution of investment themes the Manager expect to materialize over a relevant timeframe, which in many cases contain contrarian or volatility focused components. Investment Managers also may trade actively in developed and emerging markets, focusing on both absolute and relative levels on equity markets, interest rates/fixed income markets, currency; frequently employing spread trades to isolate a differential between instrument identified by the Investment Manager to be inconsistent with expected value. Discretionary Commodity strategies typically would expect to have greater than 35% of portfolio in dedicated commodity exposure over a given market cycle.

Currency: Discretionary

Macro: Currency: Discretionary strategies are reliant on the fundamental evaluation of market data, relationships and influences as they pertain primarily to currency markets including positions in global foreign exchange markets, both listed and unlisted, and as interpreted by an individual or group of individuals who make decisions on portfolio positions; strategies employ an investment process most heavily influenced by top down analysis of macroeconomic variables. Portfolio positions typically are predicated on the evolution of investment themes the Manager expect to materialize over a relevant timeframe, which in many cases contain contrarian or volatility focused components. Investment Managers also may trade actively in developed and emerging markets, focusing on both absolute and relative levels on equity markets, interest rates/fixed income markets, currency; frequently employing spread trades to isolate a differential between instrument identified by the Investment Manager to be inconsistent with expected value. Discretionary Currency strategies typically would expect to have greater than 35% of portfolio in dedicated currency exposure over a given market cycle.

Currency: Systematic

Macro: Currency: Systematic strategies have investment processes typically as function of mathematical, algorithmic and technical models, with little or no influence of individuals over the portfolio positioning. Strategies which employ an investment process designed to identify opportunities in markets exhibiting trending or momentum characteristics across currency assets classes, frequently with related ancillary exposure in sovereign fixed income. Strategies typically employ quantitative process which focus on statistically robust or technical patterns in the return series of the asset, and typically focus on highly liquid instruments and maintain shorter holding periods than either discretionary or mean reverting strategies. Although some strategies seek to employ counter trend models, strategies benefit most from an environment characterized by persistent, discernable trending behavior. Systematic Currency strategies typically would expect to have greater than 35% of portfolio in dedicated currency exposure over a given market cycle.

Discretionary Thematic

Macro: Discretionary Thematic strategies are primarily reliant on the evaluation of market data, relationships and influences, as interpreted by an individual or group of individuals who make decisions on portfolio positions; strategies employ an investment process most heavily influenced by top down analysis of macroeconomic variables. Investment Managers may trade actively in developed and emerging markets, focusing on both absolute and relative levels on equity markets, interest rates/fixed income markets, currency and commodity markets; frequently employing spread trades to isolate a differential between instrument identified by the Investment Manager to be inconsistent with expected value. Portfolio positions typically are predicated on the evolution of investment themes the Manager expect to materialize over a relevant timeframe, which in many cases contain contrarian or volatility focused components.

Systematic Diversified

Macro: Systematic Diversified strategies have investment processes typically as function of mathematical, algorithmic and technical models, with little or no influence of individuals over the portfolio positioning. Strategies which employ an investment process designed to identify opportunities in markets exhibiting trending or momentum characteristics across individual instruments or asset classes. Strategies typically employ quantitative process which focus on statistically robust or technical patterns in the return series of the asset, and typically focus on highly liquid instruments and maintain shorter holding periods than either discretionary or mean reverting strategies. Although some strategies seek to employ counter trend models, strategies benefit most from an environment characterized by persistent, discernable trending behavior. Systematic Diversified strategies typically would expect to have no greater than 35% of portfolio in either dedicated currency or commodity exposures over a given market cycle.

Macro Multi-Strategy

Macro: Multi-Strategy strategies which employ components of both Discretionary and Systematic Macro strategies, but neither exclusively both. Strategies frequently contain proprietary trading influences, and in some cases contain distinct, identifiable sub-strategies, such as equity hedge or equity market neutral, or in some cases a number of sub-strategies are blended together without the capacity for portfolio level disaggregation. Strategies employ an investment process is predicated on a systematic, quantitative evaluation of macroeconomic variables in which the portfolio positioning is predicated on convergence of differentials between markets, not necessarily highly correlated with each other, but currently diverging from their historical levels of correlation. Strategies focus on fundamental relationships across geographic areas of focus both inter and intra-asset classes, and typical holding periods are longer than trend following or discretionary strategies.

Fund of Funds

Fund of Funds invest with multiple managers through funds or managed accounts. The strategy designs a diversified portfolio of managers with the objective of significantly lowering the risk (volatility) of investing with an individual manager. The Fund of Funds manager has discretion in choosing which strategies to invest in for the portfolio. A manager may allocate funds to numerous managers within a single strategy, or with numerous managers in multiple strategies. The minimum investment in a Fund of Funds may be lower than an investment in an individual hedge fund or managed account. The investor has the advantage of diversification among managers and styles with significantly less capital than investing with separate managers.

Fund of Funds: Conservative

FOFs classified as “Conservative” exhibit one or more of the following characteristics: seeks consistent returns by primarily investing in funds that generally engage in more ‘conservative’ strategies such as Equity Market Neutral, Fixed Income Arbitrage, and Convertible Arbitrage; exhibits a lower historical annual standard deviation than the HFRI Fund of Funds Composite Index. A fund in the HFRI FOF Conservative Index shows generally consistent performance regardless of market conditions.

Fund of Funds: Diversified

FOFs classified as “Diversified” exhibit one or more of the following characteristics: invests in a variety of strategies among multiple managers; historical annual return and/or a standard deviation generally similar to the HFRI Fund of Fund Composite index; demonstrates generally close performance and returns distribution correlation to the HFRI Fund of Fund Composite Index. A fund in the HFRI FOF Diversified Index tends to show minimal loss in down markets while achieving superior returns in up markets.

Fund of Funds: Market Defensive

FOFs classified as “Market Defensive” exhibit one or more of the following characteristics: invests in funds that generally engage in short-biased strategies such as short selling and managed futures; shows a negative correlation to the general market benchmarks. A fund in the FOF Market Defensive Index exhibits higher returns during down markets than during up markets.

Fund of Funds: Strategic

FOFs classified as “Strategic” exhibit one or more of the following characteristics: seeks superior returns by primarily investing in funds that generally engage in more opportunistic strategies such as Emerging Markets, Sector specific, and Equity Hedge; exhibits a greater dispersion of returns and higher volatility compared to the HFRI Fund of Funds Composite Index. A fund in the HFRI FOF Strategic Index tends to outperform the HFRI Fund of Fund Composite Index in up markets and underperform the index in down markets.

Blockchain

The HFR Blockchain Indices are a series of benchmarks designed to reflect the performance of hedge fund managers investing in blockchain digital currency and distributed ledger technologies.

The Blockchain strategy is subdivided into two substrategies: Cryptocurrency and Infrastructure technology. Fund managers focusing in Cryptocurrency utilize a variety of trading strategies to profit from exposure to Bitcoin, Ethereum and other digital currencies. Managers focusing in Infrastructure invest in companies developing blockchain and other distributed ledger technologies which are fundamentally disintermediating payments, banking, market trading structure, Internet of Things (IoT), healthcare, remittances, supply chains, digital identity and more.

Cryptocurrency

Investment Managers trade in cryptocurrency directly. The primary purpose of the strategy is to trade cryptocurrency, seeking profits by investing in or shorting bitcoin or other digital currencies. The overall investment thesis is to provide returns through an actively managed portfolio of cryptocurrency assets. Managers may use a variety of trading strategies that can be discretionary techniques or employ a variety of automated bitcoin trading algorithms to analyze the market, and then adjust their portfolios as necessary. These trading strategies include, but are not limited to, arbitrage, event-driven and momentum.

Infrastructure

Managers invest in blockchain, other digital assets technology and other investments related to emerging blockchain protocols. Infrastructure strategy aims to offer access to the most promising, cutting-edge, blockchain companies in the digital asset space. Managers focus on how blockchain technologies have begun to, and will continue to, fundamentally change payments, banking, market trading structure, Internet of Things (IoT), healthcare, remittances, supply chains, digital identity and more. In addition, key themes include cloud storage, decentralized computing, digital investment platforms and on-chain fund tokens, blockchain infrastructure protocols and promising innovations involving token interconnectivity and transaction scalability.