Three former Macquarie Group Ltd. quantitative strategists have started a hedge fund with the backing of Ascalon Capital Managers Ltd. to invest in global equities using computer-trading models.

The new fund called Helix Partners Ltd. will invest using strategies developed by Brandt Leahy, Justin Webb and Matthew Perone, who worked as an investment team that used trading models at Macquarie Funds Group, Sydney-based Ascalon said in an e-mailed statement today.