Investec Asset Management launches three new UCITS III funds

Investec Asset Management is pleased to announce the launch of three new funds which use the full investment powers of UCITS III. The Luxembourg-domiciled funds will add to the expanding Global Strategy Fund range, Investec Asset Management’s internationally distributed fund range. The funds will be aimed at international investors, discretionary buyers, fund of funds and institutional buyers on a global basis and will be distributed via selected networks. The three funds, which are also registered for distribution in the UK, are as follows:

• Investec GSF Enhanced Natural Resources Fund

The Investec GSF Enhanced Natural Resources Fund is managed by Bradley George and George Cheveley. This complements the existing Investec Enhanced Natural Resources OEIC, one of the UK retail market’s first natural resource funds to use the full UCITS III extended investment powers, launched in May 2008. The new Fund will use full UCITS III powers to take both long and short positions in order to seek the best investment opportunities available whilst aiming to reduce volatility. This has the potential to protect investors against downside market movements as well as to take advantage of the upside, aiming for a better risk/return balance. The Fund can access a universe of over 30 commodities and 800 resource stocks spanning the entire commodity spectrum enabling investors to access exposure to a wide range of opportunities through one fund.

• Investec GSF Enhanced Global Energy Fund

The Investec GSF Enhanced Global Energy Fund is managed by Mark Lacey and Jonathan Waghorn. The Fund will use full UCITS III powers to gain exposure to energy related equities, commodities and derivative instruments taking both long and short positions in order to seek the best investment opportunities available whilst aiming to reduce volatility. This has the potential to protect investors against downside market movements as well as to take advantage of the upside, aiming for a better risk/return balance.  The portfolio is designed with a view to delivering lower volatility returns than those delivered via typical long-only investment products. The Fund adds to the current range of energy-related funds including the long-only Investec Global Energy funds with $1.8bn1 under management.

• Investec GSF Emerging Markets Currency Alpha Fund
  

The Investec Emerging Markets Currency Alpha Fund, managed by Werner Gey van Pittius has an absolute return objective and aims to deliver uncorrelated returns from actively managed positions in emerging market currencies. The Fund is able to invest in a universe of 55 emerging market currencies and returns are expected to be largely independent of equity and bond market movements. The Fund sits alongside Investec’s successful currency and emerging markets debt funds and builds upon the company’s 30 year track-record in currency management.

 

David Aird, Managing Director, UK Distribution for Investec Asset Management, commented:
'Our aim is to provide our clients with access to the best investment opportunities we can find in the market whilst making full use of UCITS III powers to provide better risk-adjusted returns. In 2008 we successfully brought one of the first UCITS III natural resource funds to our clients in the UK in the form of the Investec Enhanced Natural Resources Fund OEIC. Now, given Investec Asset Management’s long and highly regarded pedigree in the commodities, emerging market and currency management sectors, we are pleased to offer both our UK and international clients access to the investment opportunities in these asset classes, seeking to provide some protection in falling markets whilst at the same time generating attractive returns over time.'

 

Refers to the combined assets under management of the ‘A’ share class of the Investec GSF Global Energy Fund and Investec Global Energy Fund (OEIC) as at 30 November 2009