By YOUNG MONEY Staff
16 November 2011

Hedge funds in the Asia Pacific region with less than $100 million in assets have been turning to millionaires for capital as institutions favor funds with more assets under management. Hedge funds are attractive to investors as the equity markets have been experiencing significant volatility and the returns of hedge funds do not traditionally mirror those of the stock markets, Bloomberg reports.

In April, E Fund Management Co. stated China's first officially registered hedge fund and subsequently raised $100 million to manage, according to the media outlet. Iridium Asset Management, which is headquartered in Singapore, started buying assets in 2010 using capital provided by the family of the founder.

New hedge funds always face obstacles when raising money. "It is always hard to raise money for new startup hedge funds, but it is generally easier from family offices and private wealth," Zhen Liu, managing director of index and quantitative investment at Guangzhou-based E Fund Management, told the media outlet.

Alternatively, U.S.-based hedge funds are having little trouble rounding up capital. These financial entities have gained $39.9 billion in net inflows and pending searches from the beginning of 2011 through November 10, according to an analysis provided by Pensions & Investments.