HedgeWorld, a Bermuda-based company and the parent company of hedgeworld.com, has launched a no-transaction fee marketplace for hedge fund investors.

Called HedgeWorld Markets, the new online marketplace enables investments from US-based accredited investors, qualified institutions and advisers.

The company claimed that HedgeWorld Markets is the first global, no-transaction fee marketplace allowing approved members to research, invest in, and monitor single and multi-manager hedge funds through a secure password-protected Web-enabled marketplace.

The transactions were said to be backed up with support from an offline investor services team of hedge fund professionals and registered representatives. So far, the company reported strong interest having already received membership applications from nearly 3,000 accredited investors

The company added that more than 100 hedge funds have been selected for distribution during the pre-US launch phase.

It's tough going to get membership approval however with self-directed accredited investors, registered investment advisers, financial planners, qualified institutions and hedge fund of funds must first pass a set of regulatory requirements before being granted membership access privileges.

The company reported that HedgeWorld Markets' offerings include a variety of single-manager hedge funds from already established managers as well as access to new and emerging managers and a variety of fund of funds. CEO and founder Johann Wong said: "The launch of HedgeWorld Markets comes at a time of tremendous growth and interest in the global hedge fund industry.

"We believe US.investors, such as accredited investors, financial intermediaries, family offices and hedge fund of funds want a `one-stop' solution they can rely on for their alternative investment needs."

The service also includes access to news, data, hedge fund education, research and investment products, said to never before have been accessible for a single source.

HedgeWorld is a private company that set up on the Island in 1999 and went live in September of that year. It has 28,000 registered members worldwide and offers information and market services to the industry.