Cogent Hedge Fund Data To Be Available Thru PerTrac

by Carla Johnson, Investors Offshore.com

13 September 2006

Cogent Investment Research LLC has announced a strategic alliance with PerTrac to make its database of over 5,400 alternative investments directly accessible from within the PerTrac software platform.

The CogentHedge database includes funds of funds, managed futures programs, highly specialized long-only investment schemes, offshore funds and privately placed hedge funds, and Cogent describes it as the largest independent information resource for institutional investors, investment analysts and other financial professionals.

Cogent also reports that with over 1,600 alternative investments reporting August results, the Cogent Dynamic Averages are clawing their way back from the -2.64% three-month loss recorded through July.

The drawdown from an all-time high in April 2006 through July was the worst slide for hedge funds since CogentHedge started maintaining records in January 2000. This decline is in sharp contrast to the spectacular run-up experienced by alternative investments for the period from November 2005 through April 2006, when funds on average gained 11.66% - the second greatest period of gain after the 12-period ending March 2004, which saw funds gain on average 19.42%.

PerTrac Financial Solutions was founded in 1996 by Frank Smith and Milt Baehr with the goal of creating a comprehensive suite of software solutions for investment professionals. The PerTrac Analytical Platform offers the most complete array of statistical measurements available, combined with portfolio construction, optimization, efficient frontier, peer and style analysis, retirement planning and Monte Carlo simulation capabilities.

Investment data is readily available in PerTrac format from a wide variety of outside sources on a wealth of investment vehicles, including hedge funds, CTAs, mutual funds and separately managed accounts. Now an industry standard, the PerTrac Analytical Platform is used by more than 1,500 clients in 45 countries, including banks, brokerage firms, consultants, plan sponsors, family offices, investment managers and funds of funds.

PerTrac Financial Solutions is headquartered in New York, with additional offices in London, Reno, Memphis, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. The company received a major round of growth financing from Insight Venture Partners in July 2005. Gerald D. Mintz was named President and Chief Executive Officer the following September. The company acquired London-based Whittaker Garnier, maker of the CMS contact and information management software, in January 2006. The firm was originally known as Strategic Financial Solutions but changed its name to PerTrac Financial Solutions in July 2006 to reflect its dramatic change and growth upon the completion of its first decade.

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