Key Takeaways
- • Polar Asset Management Partners Inc., a Toronto-based global alternative asset manager, was selected by South Korea's National Pension Service (NPS) as a new hedge fund mandate during Q3 2021.
- • Polar Asset operates offices across Toronto, New York, Calgary, and London, with a 30-year track record as a niche-oriented alternative asset manager founded in 1991.
- • The mandate addition reflects NPS's continued diversification of its hedge fund manager roster and positions Polar Asset among the pension fund's institutional investment partners.
- • This appointment coincides with NPS posting a $56.5 billion return for the first three quarters of 2021, demonstrating strong institutional capital deployment during the period.
Summary
South Korea's National Pension Service (NPS) selected Polar Asset Management Partners Inc. as a new hedge fund manager during the third quarter of 2021, expanding its roster of external alternative asset managers. Polar Asset, headquartered in Toronto with additional offices in New York, Calgary, and London, brings over three decades of experience in alternative asset management since its founding in 1991.
The firm specializes in niche-oriented strategies within the alternative investment space and has established itself as a significant player in Canada's hedge fund industry. The mandate from NPS represents recognition of Polar Asset's investment capabilities and risk-adjusted return delivery, aligning with the pension fund's broader institutional investment strategy.
The timing of this appointment occurs against a backdrop of strong institutional capital performance, with NPS reporting a $56.5 billion return across the first three quarters of 2021. This robust performance underscores the institutional investor appetite for specialized alternative asset managers and the capital available for allocation to diversified hedge fund strategies. Polar Asset's selection reflects NPS's continued expansion of its alternative asset manager network, diversifying exposure across multiple investment approaches and geographies to optimize institutional portfolio construction and risk management objectives.
The firm specializes in niche-oriented strategies within the alternative investment space and has established itself as a significant player in Canada's hedge fund industry. The mandate from NPS represents recognition of Polar Asset's investment capabilities and risk-adjusted return delivery, aligning with the pension fund's broader institutional investment strategy.
The timing of this appointment occurs against a backdrop of strong institutional capital performance, with NPS reporting a $56.5 billion return across the first three quarters of 2021. This robust performance underscores the institutional investor appetite for specialized alternative asset managers and the capital available for allocation to diversified hedge fund strategies. Polar Asset's selection reflects NPS's continued expansion of its alternative asset manager network, diversifying exposure across multiple investment approaches and geographies to optimize institutional portfolio construction and risk management objectives.
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