Former Sprott hedge fund manager Jean-Francois Tardif may have left the investment industry, but evidence of his stellar stock-picking skills is still surfacing.
Mr. Tardif, formerly a frequent guest on Business News Network, won Globe Investor's My One and Only stock- picking contest for the third consecutive year with Premium Brands Inc. . You can read more about it here:
The former hedgie, who ran about $420-million in assets several offerings that included Sprott Opportunities Hedge Fund, retired from Sprott Asset Management Inc. last July at age 40. His funds have suffered from redemptions since his departure.
Mr. Tardif denied recent whispers in hedge fund circles that he is set to return to the industry in late spring to run a hedge fund that would be seeded to the tune of $40-million by two Quebec brokers at National Bank Financial Inc.
"It's not true - I have heard many rumours," Mr. Tardif said in an interview. "I am happy at home…I work out five times a week [at the gym] am spending quality time with people, enjoying my new life and getting healthier."
He even went skiing recently. "There are very small mountains in Ontario, but it's better than nothing," quipped the father of two children and who has spent many years in Quebec. "I've called friends to say 'let's go to Florida and play golf' but they are all working."
Asked if he is totally out of the investment business, he replied: "I certainly am now…Who knows about the future?"