President's Working Group Releases Two Reports on Hedge Fund Practices

Two blue-ribbon private-sector committees established by the President's Working Group released separate yet complementary sets of best practices for hedge fund investors and asset managers today. The PWG tasked the committees with collaborating on industry issues and developing a set of best practices for their respective groups of stakeholders. The PWG includes the heads of the U.S. Treasury Department, the Federal Reserve, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

The best practices for the asset managers call on hedge funds to adopt comprehensive best practices in all aspects of their business, including the critical areas of disclosure, valuation of assets, risk management, business operations, compliance and conflicts of interest. Eric Mindich, CEO of Eton Park Capital Management, chairs the Asset Managers' Committee.

The best practices for investors include a Fiduciary's Guide and an Investor's Guide. The Fiduciary's Guide provides recommendations to individuals charged with evaluating the appropriateness of hedge funds as a component of an investment portfolio. The Investor's Guide provides recommendations to those charged with executing and administering a hedge fund program once a hedge fund has been added to the investment portfolio. Russell Read, Chief Investment Officer of the California Public Employees' Retirement System, leads the Investors' Committee.