MEDIA RELEASE: Man GLG, the discretionary investment management engine of Man Group, has launched the Man GLG Asia Opportunities Fund in response to increasing adviser demand for, and opportunities in, Asian equities.

The fund has been awarded a ‘RECOMMENDED’ rating from Zenith.

The fund applies a concentrated long-only strategy that is style agnostic. It will invest in equities either listed on exchanges in the Asian region, or which derive a majority of their revenues from the Asian region.

It aims to achieve a gross return of 3-5 per cent greater than its benchmark – the MSCI All Country Asia ex Japan Net Index (A$) - over rolling three-to-five-year periods.

Andrew Swan, portfolio manager, Man GLG, says: “The fund’s philosophy is to maximise long-term capital appreciation.

“We take a flexible, fundamentals-driven approach to investing to create a concentrated high conviction portfolio of 35-45 stocks from a universe of 1200 stocks.

“This provides exposure to a broad universe of Asia ex-Japan equities that can be difficult for individual investors to access,” Swan says.

He adds that there are a number of reasons to be optimistic on the outlook for markets in the Asian region.

“Relative to developed markets, there are minimal inflation pressures in the Asian region generally.

“Compared to the situation in developed markets, there is a lower level of speculation in Asian asset prices to be unwound. This presents good opportunities for astute investors,” he says.

GSFM is the responsible entity and distributor of the Man GLG Asia Opportunities Fund in the Australian and New Zealand markets.

GSFM chief executive officer, Damien McIntyre said GSFM has been looking for a partner to build out an Asian equity strategy for some time, to meet market demand for the asset class.

“The fund provides the opportunity to invest in a strategy managed by a dedicated and experienced investment team.

“Andrew Swan is an experienced portfolio manager with a great track record in managing Asian equities.

“The investment team’s core focus is to capture turning points in companies that have high earnings per share revision potential over a forecast period of up to 12-18 months. I am confident that this proven, fundamentals driven approach to investing, will produce good results for investors,” he says.

In its research report, Zenith notes that the fund provides investors with a relatively concentrated, style agnostic Asian (ex-Japan) equities exposure. It says: “GLG invests across the market capitalisation spectrum through an investment process that is driven by macroeconomic and fundamental research.

“The team has the required experience and expertise to successfully manage the fund.

“Zenith has high regard for the portfolio manager, Andrew Swan, and believes that the fund is well positioned to deliver upon its investment objectives,” Zenith says.