K2 Advisors

K2 Advisors
TypePrivate
IndustryInvestment Management
Founded1994; 32 years ago (1994)
FoundersDavid Saunders
William Douglass
DefunctOctober 2024; 2 years ago (2024-10)
FateAcquired by Franklin Templeton. Brand name removed in 2024.
HeadquartersStamford, Connecticut, U.S.
ProductsFund of hedge funds

K2 Advisors was an American fund of funds investment firm headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. It was one of the largest fund of hedge funds in the United States. It was acquired by Franklin Templeton.

Background

K2 advisors was founded in 1994 by David Saunders and William Douglass. The firm was named after the K2 mountain in the Karakoram range where the pair attended a fundraiser to benefit a team to climb it. Saunders previously worked for Julian Robertson at the firm Tiger Management as Head Trader making K2 Advisors part of the Tiger Cubs group. Douglass previously worked at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette.

Since 2006, K2 Advisors has been known to be investing in ESG securities as well as Insurance-Linked Securities.

In 2007 TA Associates acquired a minority interest in K2 advisors for an undisclosed amount of money.

In 2011, K2 Advisors considered selling the firm with The Carlyle Group being one of the main bidding frontrunners.

In 2012, K2 Advisors was acquired by Franklin Templeton Investments. K2 Advisors used the money from deal to buy out TA Associates stake which allowed Franklin Templeton Investments to have 100% ownership of K2 Advisors.

In 2019, K2 Advisors expanded its business to Europe with a new fund range which allowed local investors there to have access to U.S.-based fund managers.

In October 2024, K2 Advisors ceased to exist as a separate brand under Franklin Templeton and was rebranded to Absolute Return Portfolio Management Team.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Zuckerman, Jenny Strasburg And Gregory. "K2 Advisors in Talks for Potential Sale". WSJ. Archived from the original on April 29, 2012. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Barth, Chris. "Franklin Templeton Acquires World's 7th Largest Hedge Fund Of Funds". Forbes. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 "Franklin Resources buys prominent hedge fund firm K2". Reuters. September 19, 2012. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 "Franklin Templeton taking majority stake in K2". Pensions & Investments. September 19, 2012. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 "Forgoing tradition: Face to Face with David C. Saunders". Pensions & Investments. March 19, 2009. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Five Questions: K2's David Saunders Weighs Changes in Fund-of-Funds Industry". Institutional Investor. Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  7. ↑ "No plain vanilla portfolios here". Pensions & Investments. December 15, 2006. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  8. ↑ "TA Associates takes stake in K2 Advisors". Reuters. March 27, 2007. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Franklin Templeton's K2 expands in Europe with new fund range". Reuters. October 1, 2019. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  10. ↑ "About the Absolute Return Portfolio Management Team". Franklin Templeton. Retrieved April 30, 2026.