Minnesota-based Värde Partners founder easing out of globe-spanning firm
Neal St. Anthony, Star Tribune
George Hicks, one of three former Cargill financial executives who launched Värde Partners in 1993, next year will be the last to phase out of managing the Minneapolis-based investment firm.
A lawyer by training, Hicks is the antithesis of the go-go stereotype of a hedge-fund jockey. He is thoughtful, methodical and careful with his words.
"We're a registered investment adviser and our funds are private," said Hicks, 67. "Our goal is to top equity-like returns of 8 percent to 9 percent with good downside protection. A bad deal is break-even. We fall into clients' alternative-investment bucket, along with private equity and venture capital.''