Forward thinking Italian rules sees minimum onshore investments halved

Hedge fund experts have heralded as a 'fundamental step' rules introduced in mid-May in Italy to halve the minimum investment in onshore hedge funds to E500,000. Alberto La Rocca, chief investment officer of Pioneer Alternative Investments, said the rules from Italy's Central Bank represented a 'fundamental step into a more mass affluent type of industry rather than limiting to the high net worth industry' in Italy. While La Rocca said the minimum would still be too high for many retail investors, he added the lowering was a 'step in the right direction.' 'Because of the nature of the...