10% on Top of 2 and 20% No Longer Sensible?

FT Alphaville reports:

In its latest findings, Hedge Fund Research, an industry data provider, estimates investors redeemed up to $104bn from hedge funds in the first quarter, versus the record $152bn withdrawn from the industry in the fourth quarter of 2008. The first-quarter figure makes up some 7.4 per cent of industry assets.

However, here’s the clincher: withdrawals from ‘fund of hedge funds’ specifically totalled $85bn in the first quarter — that far exceeds the fourth quarter 2008 redemption of $50bn and accounts for the majority of capital withdrawn from the hedge fund industry overall.