For the first time, the Nordic Hedge Award will introduce a new category: Long-Only Equity Hedge Funds (ELO). This category aims to recognize strategies that, despite their long-only approach, exhibit key hedge fund-like characteristics. The addition of ELO reflects the evolving hedge fund landscape and responds to growing interest from investors and industry professionals who appreciate the value these funds bring.

The introduction of the Long-Only Equity Hedge Fund category at the Nordic Hedge Award follows the recent launch of a dedicated sub-index within the Nordic Hedge Index (NHX). While these funds do not engage in shorting like most traditional hedge funds, they share many fundamental aspects, including an AIF fund structure, the use of leverage and derivatives, portfolio concentration, hedge fund-like fee structures, origins as long/short spin-offs, and absolute return objectives. The inclusion of ELO as an additional category at the Nordic Hedge Award underlines HedgeNordic’s commitment to accurately reflecting the diverse nature of the Nordic alternative investment space.

The Nordic Hedge Award follows a structured and transparent evaluation process, combining quantitative performance analysis with qualitative assessments. The quantitative evaluation considers risk-adjusted returns and other key performance metrics, while the qualitative assessment is conducted by a jury of independent industry experts. This dual approach ensures that funds are recognized not only for their raw performance but also for their investment strategy, risk management, and overall contribution to the industry.

KvinnoKapital will be presenting the winners of the ELO category. This collaboration highlights a shared commitment to promoting excellence and diversity within the financial industry. KvinnoKapital, known for its advocacy in increasing female representation in asset management, brings a fresh and valuable perspective to the event.

The Nordic Hedge Award remains the leading event for the region’s hedge fund industry. With the introduction of the ELO category, HedgeNordic reinforces its commitment to recognizing and driving innovation in Nordic alternative investments. We look forward to celebrating the inaugural winners of this new category and witnessing the industry’s ongoing evolution.

Nominees – Best Nordic Equity Long-Only Hedge Fund 2024: