← Search

Journal of Finance Vol. 64 No. 5 2009

Role of Managerial Incentives and Discretion in Hedge Fund Performance

Vikas Agarwal; Naveen D. Daniel; Narayan Y. Naik

Abstract

Using a comprehensive hedge fund database, we examine the role of managerial incentives and discretion in hedge fund performance. Hedge funds with greater managerial incentives, proxied by the delta of the option-like incentive fee contracts, higher levels of managerial ownership, and the inclusion of high-water mark provisions in the incentive contracts, are associated with superior performance. The incentive fee percentage rate by itself does not explain performance. We also find that funds with a higher degree of managerial discretion, proxied by longer lockup, notice, and redemption periods, deliver superior performance. These results are robust to using alternative performance measures and controlling for different data-related biases.

DOI
https://doi-org.simsrad.net.ocs.mq.edu.au/10.1111/j.1540-6261.2009.01499.x
Volume
64
Issue
5
Pages
2221-2256
Sources
bibtex:phds-export.bib

Cite