(HATTERAS LOGO)

                                    EXHIBIT A

           COVER LETTER TO OFFER TO PURCHASE AND LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

     IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO SELL YOUR LIMITED PARTNERSHIP UNITS AT THIS TIME,
     PLEASE DISREGARD THIS NOTICE. THIS IS SOLELY NOTIFICATION OF THE FUND'S
                                  TENDER OFFER.

March 30, 2009

Dear Hatteras Multi-Strategy TEI Fund, L.P. Partner:

     We are writing to inform you of important dates relating to a tender offer
by Hatteras Multi-Strategy TEI Fund, L.P. (the "Fund"). IF YOU ARE NOT
INTERESTED IN HAVING THE FUND REPURCHASE SOME OR ALL OF YOUR LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
UNITS (INCLUDING FRACTIONS THEREOF) ("UNITS") VALUED AS OF JUNE 30, 2009, PLEASE
DISREGARD THIS NOTICE AND TAKE NO ACTION.

     The tender offer period will begin on March 30, 2009 and will end at 12:00
midnight, Eastern Standard Time, on APRIL 24, 2009, AT WHICH POINT THE TENDER
OFFER WILL EXPIRE. The purpose of the tender offer is to provide liquidity to
Partners of the Fund that hold Units. Units may be presented to the Fund for
purchase only by tendering them during one of the Fund's announced tender
offers.

     Should you wish to tender all or some of your Units for purchase by the
Fund during this tender offer period, please complete and return the enclosed
Letter of Transmittal so that it is received by UMB Fund Services, Inc.
("UMBFS") no later than APRIL 24, 2009. If you do not wish to have all or some
of your Units repurchased, simply disregard this notice. NO ACTION IS REQUIRED
IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO HAVE ANY OF YOUR UNITS REPURCHASED.

     If you would like to tender your Units, you should complete, sign and
either (i) mail (via certified mail, return receipt requested) or otherwise
deliver the Letter of Transmittal to Hatteras Multi-Strategy TEI Fund, L.P., c/o
UMB Fund Services, Inc. at P.O. Box 1623, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-1623,
Attention: Tender Offer Administrator; or (ii) fax it to UMBFS at (816)
860-3138, Attention: Tender Offer Administrator (if by fax, please deliver an
original, executed copy promptly thereafter), so that it is RECEIVED BEFORE
12:00 MIDNIGHT, EASTERN STANDARD TIME, ON APRIL 24, 2009.

     If you have any questions, please refer to the enclosed Offer to Purchase
document, which contains additional important information about the tender
offer, or call the Tender Offer Administrator at UMBFS at (800) 504-9070.

Sincerely,

Hatteras Multi-Strategy TEI Fund, L.P.