One less hurdle to hedge funds

For the first time, investors in Poland will have the opportunity to invest in hedge funds, through an offer from London-based Man Investments, the world's largest hedge-fund provider, in cooperation with Citibank International.

Man Investments is a division of Man Group, a global financial-services firm listed on the London Stock Exchange and a member of the FTSE 100. For Polish investors, the company proposes two 12-year index notes (in US dollars at 13-16 percent returns and in euro at 11-14 percent). The products are not hedge funds themselves, but rather instruments based on the company's MGS Access portfolio, which comprises about 15 hedge funds.

The company confirms that such high expectations are realistic thanks to its strategy of exploring markets and novel methods of earning greater profits, which differs from traditional investment funds that occupy a single segment of the market and focus on performance. According to Sebastian Schäfer of Man Investments, "You can make money when the market is up but you can also make money when the market is down."

Citibank International guarantees capital protection of issued notes, covering 100 percent of their face value on their final redemption date, March 31, 2019. The minimum subscription and minimum holding are set at 10,000 US dollars or euro.

"Why should Poles choose our product?" asked Mark Chambers of Man Investments at the announcement of the firm's offer for Poland. "To create a diversification of finances and improve their investment portfolio."