Key Takeaways
- • Brandon Haley's Holocene Advisors is planning a $1 billion hedge fund launch on April 3, 2017, positioning it as one of the year's most significant fund debuts.
- • Haley, former head of Citadel's Global Equities unit (2005-2015), is expected to make a substantial personal capital commitment to the fund, demonstrating founder conviction.
- • Holocene's initial strategy focuses on long equities across consumer, industrials, technology, media, and telecommunications sectors, with the New York-based firm already employing more than 20 staff members.
- • The fund has begun active capital raising, with Haley appearing at Goldman Sachs' emerging managers conference in February 2017 to attract institutional investors.
- • Holocene ranks among 2017's anticipated launches alongside Ben Melkman's Light Sky Macro ($400 million+), which has secured backing from prominent allocators including Dan Loeb, Philippe Laffont, Louis Bacon, and Steve Cohen.
Summary
Brandon Haley is launching Holocene Advisors, a new hedge fund expected to open with approximately $1 billion in assets on April 3, 2017. Haley brings significant pedigree to the venture, having led Citadel's Global Equities division for a decade from 2005 to 2015—experience that positions him among the more established emerging managers in the current fundraising environment.
The New York-based firm, located north of Madison Square Park, has already assembled operational infrastructure with over 20 employees and is actively raising capital. Haley made a notable appearance at Goldman Sachs' emerging managers conference in Florida in mid-February, signaling aggressive institutional investor outreach. According to sources familiar with the fund, Haley plans to deploy substantial personal capital into Holocene, a signal of founder alignment with external investors.
Holocene's initial investment mandate centers on long equity positions across five core sectors: consumer, industrials, technology, media, and telecommunications. The fund recently hired Mitul Shah, a portfolio manager from Sol Kumin's Folger Hill asset management firm, strengthening its portfolio management bench.
The 2017 hedge fund launch calendar includes several major debuts. Holocene's $1 billion target competes directly with Ben Melkman's Light Sky Macro, which is expected to launch in early March with at least $400 million under management. Light Sky Macro has distinguished itself through support from several prominent allocators—Dan Loeb, Philippe Laffont, Louis Bacon, and Steve Cohen—indicating strong institutional confidence in emerging managers this cycle.
The activity underscores robust demand for new flagship funds from experienced portfolio managers, particularly those departing from tier-one investment firms to launch independent operations.
The New York-based firm, located north of Madison Square Park, has already assembled operational infrastructure with over 20 employees and is actively raising capital. Haley made a notable appearance at Goldman Sachs' emerging managers conference in Florida in mid-February, signaling aggressive institutional investor outreach. According to sources familiar with the fund, Haley plans to deploy substantial personal capital into Holocene, a signal of founder alignment with external investors.
Holocene's initial investment mandate centers on long equity positions across five core sectors: consumer, industrials, technology, media, and telecommunications. The fund recently hired Mitul Shah, a portfolio manager from Sol Kumin's Folger Hill asset management firm, strengthening its portfolio management bench.
The 2017 hedge fund launch calendar includes several major debuts. Holocene's $1 billion target competes directly with Ben Melkman's Light Sky Macro, which is expected to launch in early March with at least $400 million under management. Light Sky Macro has distinguished itself through support from several prominent allocators—Dan Loeb, Philippe Laffont, Louis Bacon, and Steve Cohen—indicating strong institutional confidence in emerging managers this cycle.
The activity underscores robust demand for new flagship funds from experienced portfolio managers, particularly those departing from tier-one investment firms to launch independent operations.
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