HedgeNews Africa Awards highlight best risk-adjusted returns in 2025

The 17th annual HedgeNews Africa Awards held in Cape Town last night recognised the outstanding performance of a strong line-up of nominees based on their 2025 calendar-year returns.

The Awards measure the best risk-adjusted returns of funds across 15 different categories. They are based on monthly data submitted to the HedgeNews Africa database, which includes South African hedge funds as well as other pioneering strategies applied across the broader markets.

The prestigious Fund of the Year accolade went to the Fairtree Silver Oak Equity Long Short FR Retail Hedge Fund, which delivered an exceptional net return of 51.2% in 2025 on a Sharpe ratio of 4.6.

Amongst long/short equity funds, the industry’s biggest category, the OysterCatcher RCIS Long Short Retail Hedge Fund took the top honours, with a return of 50.4% on a Sharpe ratio of 6.7.

OysterCatcher Investments also won in the market neutral and quantitative category, with the OysterCatcher RCIS Smart Alpha Retail Hedge Fund returning 21.6% during the calendar year, on a Sharpe ratio of 3.3.

Amongst fixed income funds, the Oakhaven Strategic Fixed Income FR QI Hedge Fund was the winner, with a net return of 28.2% on a Sharpe ratio of 3.1.

The Obsidian SCI Multi Asset Retail Hedge Fund took the title for best multi-strategy fund in 2025, with a net gain of 21.5% and a Sharpe ratio of 2.5.

Pan-African mandates enjoyed a stellar year, with a double award going to the Laurium Africa Limpopo Fund (return 57.7%, Sharpe ratio 7) and the Steyn Capital Africa Fund (return 67.7%, Sharpe ratio 5.2).

The Steyn Capital Frontier Fund took the title for best global fund for the third consecutive year, gaining a net 55.7% on a Sharpe of 6.4.

Amongst worldwide mandates, the Rozendal Worldwide Flexible Prescient QI Hedge Fund received the honours, with a net return of 21.7% (Sharpe ratio of 1.9).

In specialist strategies, the Greenpoint Specialised Lending Private Credit Fund was the winner, with a return of 15.5% and Sharpe of 36.8.

The fixed income-focused Abax Agile FI Prescient Retail Hedge Fund won for best new fund, based on launches within the past 12-23 months, with a net return of 21.3% in 2025 on a Sharpe ratio of 3.8.

The Momentum Portable Alpha QI FoHF took the title of best fund of hedge funds in 2025, returning 45.8% on a Sharpe of 5.6.

In the long-term single-manager categories, dual awards were made across both five and 10 years.

Over five years, the Steyn Capital FR Retail Hedge Fund and the Blue Quadrant Capital Growth Prescient RI Hedge Fund were the standout performers, with respective annualised gains of 23.9% (Sharpe 1.7) and 28% (Sharpe 1.2).

Over 10 years, the Blue Quadrant Capital Growth Prescient RI Hedge Fund was again recognised with an annualised 20.4% return and 0.5 Sharpe ratio, as was the Acumen AcuityFour FR QI Hedge Fund, with an annualised return of 16.9% and a 0.8 Sharpe ratio.

Old Mutual Multi-Managers Long Short Equity FoHF was named the best fund of hedge funds over five years, with a net return of 16.6% on a Sharpe ratio of 2.2.

The Corion Multi-Strategy FR Retail Hedge Fund claimed the title for best fund of hedge funds over 10 years, returning a net annualised 10.3% on a Sharpe ratio of 0.6.

The Awards use an established methodology and independently verified data submitted to HedgeNews Africa, the region’s leading independent publisher focused on the hedge fund and alternative asset management industries.

“The shortlists for this year’s Awards reflect an impressive group of resilient and robust managers delivering alpha to investors,” notes Gwyneth Roberts, the publisher of HedgeNews Africa. “South African hedge funds had another strong year in 2025, delivering solid after-fee returns while protecting against downside risks. The industry continues to demonstrate a consistent standard of excellence.”

The annual awards were hosted in partnership with top industry service providers, namely RMB, Absa, Peresec, Prescient Fund Services and RisCura Analytics, and presented at a gala dinner in Cape Town.