Categories and criteria
To ensure the HFM European Performance Awards continues to be the pre-eminent industry awards, the categories are developed in consultation with leading firms to ensure they reflect the fast-moving nature of the sector.
Recognising the full breadth of the European hedge fund sector with over 40 categories, entering the Awards provides a platform to demonstrate your achievements in front of investors and stand out from your competitors.
2025 Categories
Credit*
Credit long/short - over $500m
Credit long/short - up to $500m
Credit - distressed over $500m
Credit - distressed up to $500m
Credit - relative value up to $500m
Credit - relative value over $500m
Credit long-term performance (5 years)
Newcomer – credit
CTA/Managed futures
Alternative markets fund
Managed futures (CTA) long-term performance (5 years) - over $1bn
Managed futures (CTA) long-term performance (5 years) - up to $1bn
Managed futures (CTA) over $1bn
Managed futures (CTA) up to $1bn
Newcomer - managed futures/macro
Quantitative strategy over $1bn
Quantitative strategy up to $1bn
Equity
ESG Fund
European equity long-term performance (5 years) - over $500m
European equity long-term performance (5 years) - up to $500m
European equity over $500m European equity up to $500m
Global equity long-term performance (5 years) - over $500m
Global equity long-term performance (5 years) - up to $500m
Global equity over $500m Global equity up to $500m
Market Neutral
Newcomer – equity
Event-driven
Event driven over $500m
Event driven up to $500m
Merger arbitrage
FoHF
Fund of hedge funds
Fund of hedge funds long-term performance (5 years)
Fund of hedge funds specialist
Macro**
Global Macro over $500m
Global Macro up to $500m
Macro long-term performance (5 years) over $500m
Macro long-term performance (5 years) up to $500m
Other
Alternative risk premia
Digital assets fund
Commodities fund
Emerging market debt
Emerging market equity
Multi-strategy over $1bn***
Multi-strategy up to $1bn***
Volatility fund
Ucits
Ucits – credit
Ucits – diversified
Ucits – equity
Ucits – macro
Ucits - managed futures
Nomination-only categories
Billion Dollar Fund of the Year
Management Firm of the Year
* Open-ended funds only with at least quarterly redeemable share classes
** Discretionary global macro funds only
*** Open to funds trading multiple distinct hedge fund strategies. Excludes FoHFs
Entry criteria
1. Inclusion:
The Awards are open to all European hedge funds, fund of funds, and CTA firms. A link to the entry form will be sent to all eligible managers and contacts in the With Intelligence database. Other interested managers can access the online entry form via this website. Funds interested in participating in the awards programme must submit all information via the official HFM European Performance Awards 2025 online entry form .
Please note that all funds must have submitted a completed entry form with end of June 2025 data to be considered for the awards; incomplete information might lead to disqualification from the entry process.
Please note that the “Management firm of the year”, and “Best billion dollar fund” categories are not open to entries. The shortlist for these categories will be compiled by a panel of industry experts.
2. Criteria:
Any fund satisfying the following criteria is eligible for the HFM European Performance Awards 2025:
» Base of operations: Funds must have their management/advisory company or team based in Europe.
» Share class: Funds must submit monthly performance data for their USD share class.
» Assets under management: Funds submitting for all categories (apart from newcomer, digital assets and fund of hedge funds categories) must have a minimum of $25m in AuM as of end of June 2025. Funds submitting for newcomer and digital assets categories must have a minimum of $10m in AuM as of end of June 2025. Funds submitting for funds of hedge funds categories must have a minimum of $50m in AuM as of end of June 2025.
» Track record: Funds entering any of the categories except newcomer, ESG, best digital assets and alternative risk premia must submit a 3-year track record of monthly performance data through enf of June 2025. Funds entering the newcomer categories must have a track record of monthly performance data of at least 12 months and less than 36 months (that is between 12 and 35 months) through end of June 2025. Funds entering the ESG, best digital assets and alternative risk premia categories must have a track record of monthly performance data of at least 12 months through end of June 2025. Funds entering the long-term performance (5 years) categories must submit a 5-year track record of monthly performance data through end of June 2025.
Entry enquiries
If you have any questions or need any more information please contact Josie.