New fund launches

Baring MENA (Class A GBP)

Please view our fund factsheet for more information on this fund.

Martin Currie China (Class A)

Martin Currie is launching a China Fund on 10 March 2010 under the stewardship of James Chong who has 15 years’ experience in the Chinese market. The firm has had presence in China for 16 years, and indeed was the first foreign investor in the country when the market opened some years ago. China forms an important part of the Martin Currie business as it has a significant amount (25%) of its total assets invested in the region. It therefore has a dedicated team of analysts based in Shanghai and the fund will also draw on the resources of the Asian team based in Edinburgh.

Please view our fund factsheet for more information on this fund.

Legal & General UK Absolute Return (Class R)

Legal & General has launched a UK Absolute Return Fund which aims to deliver positive absolute returns over time regardless of market conditions. The lead manager of the fund is Robert Churchlow. He is the head of the UK equities team at Legal & General and will be supported by Graham Taylor on this fund. The team has delivered solid outperformance on their traditional UK actively managed funds and they are looking to extend their capability to this new fund.

Please view our fund factsheet for more information on this fund.

Legal & General European Absolute Return (Class R)

Legal & General has launched a European Absolute Return Fund which aims to deliver positive absolute returns over time regardless of market conditions. The fund is managed by Gavin Launder and Ian King. They may not be well known by private investors but they have built up experience in managing hedge funds prior to joining Legal & General. Hedge funds can employ similar strategies to absolute return funds.

Please view our fund factsheet for more information on this fund.

Invesco Perpetual Tactical Bond

Corporate bonds are an essential part of a diverse portfolio. In terms of risk, they generally sit between cash and shares and many high-quality corporate bonds still offer yields in excess of 5%. Following a strong run for corporate bonds last year, some investors are now asking if the best opportunities have passed. Some of the returns on individual bonds last year were exceptional and are unlikely to be repeated, but in our opinion many bonds still look excellent value, and we were excited to learn of a new corporate bond fund from two of our favourite bond fund managers, Paul Read and Paul Causer. So what makes this fund stand out? Firstly, the strength of the management. Paul Read and Paul Causer have built an outstanding reputation managing Invesco Perpetual's range of fixed interest funds since the mid-1990s. They already run two funds on our Wealth 150 and we have no hesitation in adding this one.

Please view our fund factsheet for more information on this fund.

Sarasin Equisar UK Thematic Opportunities

Sarasin has been investing on a thematic basis for over 20 years across various global funds and is now looking to apply the same strategy to a UK fund. The UK market is home to an increasing number of international companies and this fund offers investors a way to benefit from the growth in the global economy. Given that two-thirds of revenues in the UK stock market are thought to be generated overseas, Sarasin believes the UK needs to be viewed in a global context.

Please view our fund factsheet for more information on this fund.

Glendevon King Global Bond

Glendevon King Asset Management is launching the Glendevon King Global Bond Fund on 5th February 2010. The fund will be managed by Nicola Marinelli and Peter Baum who will invest across both corporate and government bond markets. Within the corporate bond market, they will have a particular focus on the financial sector, as they have particular expertise in this area. Financial bonds include those issued by banks, insurers and other financial services companies.

Please view our fund factsheet for more information on this fund.

IFSL Blacksquare Multi-Manager Absolute Return

Blacksquare Capital is a specialist in managing multi-manager funds (also known as fund of funds) in specific sectors. Their aim is to identify fund managers that they believe have proven their ability to deliver superior returns in a variety of market conditions. This fund focuses on investing in absolute return funds which aim to deliver positive returns each year regardless of market conditions. While absolute return funds are designed to deliver positive returns each year, this performance is not guaranteed and the value of the investment may fall as well as rise.

Please view our fund factsheet for more information on this fund.

Fidelity Multi Asset Growth

Fidelity has recently launched the Multi Asset Growth Fund. The fund is designed for investors looking for equity type returns but with a broadly diversified portfolio of assets. The fund can invest in cash, bonds, shares, property and commodities. It is likely to have a higher allocation towards shares, property and commodities compared to cash and bonds. The asset allocation can range between 65-100% in shares, property and commodities and up to 35% in bonds and cash.

Please view our fund factsheet for more information on this fund.

Fidelity Multi Asset Defensive

Fidelity has recently launched the Multi Asset Defensive Fund. The fund is designed for more cautious investors looking for a fund that has lower volatility. The fund can invest in cash, bonds, shares, property and commodities but given that it is aimed at the more cautious investor it is likely to have a higher allocation towards cash and bonds compared to the other assets. The asset allocation can range between 65-100% in cash and bonds and up to 35% in shares, property and/or commodities.

Please view our fund factsheet for more information on this fund.

Jupiter North American Equities (L USD)

Jupiter has recently launched its North American Equities Fund, making the skills of the manager, Sebastian Radcliffe available to a wider overseas audience. It is an offshore fund which is available to UK investors, although please remember that an offshore fund does not attract the same regulatory protections as an onshore equivalent. Sebastian Radcliffe also manages the Jupiter North American Income Fund and both funds will be managed along similar lines, although this new fund has the ability to use wider investment tools which may increase risk. Additionally, the new fund will not have a requirement to deliver an income.

Please view our fund factsheet for more information on this fund.

UBS Multi-Asset Income

UBS has recently launched the Multi Asset Income Fund. Its aim is to provide an income through a diversified portfolio of investments. The fund can invest globally across a multiple of asset classes including bonds, shares, real estate and cash. These investments are made in a number of ways. For example the shares exposure is gained through exchange traded funds (ETFs), the high yield bond exposure is made through other funds, and the property exposure is through Real Estate Investment Trusts. It can also invest directly in index linked gilts as a way to help protect against inflation.

Please view our fund factsheet for more information on this fund.

Thames River Global Credit (Class A GBP)

This is one of two new launches that Thames River is bringing to the market. The fund will be managed by Stephen Drew and he will be supported by a team of three co-managers and a larger team of analysts. The Thames River Global Credit Fund will be focused on developed markets, but the team will also have the flexibility to include some exposure to emerging markets.

Please view our fund factsheet for more information on this fund.

Thames River Credit Select (Class A GBP)

Thames River is bringing to the market two new corporate bond funds under the stewardship of Stephen Drew. He will be supported by a team of three co-managers and a larger team of analysts. The Thames River Credit Select Fund is the more conservative of the two new launches and will predominantly focus on developed markets. The fund will invest predominantly in higher quality 'investment grade' bonds, which are likely to make up around 80 - 90% of the portfolio. Up to 20% may also be invested in higher risk, high yield bonds. The aim is to target a yield in the region of 4.5% (variable and not guaranteed) and this income will be paid quarterly.

Please view our fund factsheet for more information on this fund.

HIM Income

This new fund launches on 15 October and will be managed by Nick Brind who recently joined HIM Capital. He comes with 15 years’ experience investing in the financial sector and this new fund will primarily focus here with exposure to the banks, insurance and real estate. This is a global fund with exposure to the UK, Europe, Asia, US and other parts of the world.

Please view our fund factsheet for more information on this fund.

New Star European Special Situations

This is a recent launch managed by Richard Pease. It has a concentrated portfolio of primarily small and medium-sized companies, and this makes it higher risk. This focus does play to Richard Pease’s strengths however, and the fund has the potential to generate superior returns. Unusually for a special situations fund, it has an income share class which may attract those investors seeking a yield from their investment.

Please view our fund factsheet for more information on this fund.