New fund emerges from Standard Life Investments

Global fund manager, Standard Life Investments has announced the launch of its Emerging Market Debt OEIC Fund, aimed at both retail and institutional investors looking to broaden their investment universe and diversify their portfolios beyond global developed markets.

Benchmarked against the JP Morgan EMBI Global Diversified Index, the Fund will aim to provide income, with some capital growth, over the long term by investing primarily in US dollar denominated emerging market debt.

Emerging Market Debt (EMD) has become increasingly popular in recent years as investors have recognised the potential in growing economies where developments such as fiscal improvements and political stability have not yet been priced in. The asset class also has a highly diversified investment universe of over 50 countries and now comprises approximately 12% of the global bond market.

The EMD Team, led by Richard House, is set to exploit this wealth of investment opportunities using a differentiated approach. The Team will invest by taking a research driven, top-down view and using detailed country analysis to build a portfolio of their best investment ideas. The Fund will also benefit from the wide experience of Standard Life Investments 30 strong fixed income team.

Euan Munro, the Executive Director responsible for Fixed Income at Standard Life Investments, said; "The launch of the Emerging Market Debt Fund will enable investors to tap into this growing and truly diverse sector of the market and into Standard Life Investments' experience in managing both global emerging market assets and fixed income.

"Richard and his team bring a robust and repeatable investment process that is very much in keeping with our focus on change investment philosophy. They combine quantitative research with broader qualitative and market insights to identify those areas of the emerging debt opportunity set where their views are most divergent from consensus and where there are some identifiable triggers that will cause the market to change its mind.

"I am confident that this team will add alpha, generate income and grow capital for our clients over the longer term. I am sure this exciting new venture will appeal strongly to both retail and institutional investors."