Schroders’ Global Multi-Asset Income adds retail GBP hedged share class

Schroder ISF Global Multi-Asset Income has added a retail GBP hedged share class, which will allow UK retail investors to access the fund for the first time in local currency.

The addition of this share class on 27th March coincides with the first anniversary of the fund today. Schroder ISF Global Multi-Asset Income has reached $1 billion in assets under management since launch and returned 11.0% since inception.
 
The fund aims to provide sustainable income by investing in attractive income opportunities across a range of asset classes, regions and sectors.  It is managed by Aymeric Forest and Iain Cunningham within the Multi-Asset team. The objective is to pay a distribution of five per cent per annum in quarterly or monthly instalments with an expected seven per cent total return per annum over a full market cycle.
 
Robin Stoakley, Managing Director of UK Intermediary at Schroders, said: "We are pleased to be able to expand our offering within the UK retail space to include this fund, particularly given the strong demand for income that is currently being seen not just in the UK, but globally. Given current low government bond yields and cash rates available in most developed markets, investors are increasingly forced to look elsewhere for sources of income. Schroder ISF Global Multi-Asset Income is not restricted by an index or forced to invest in a particular asset class. The fund offers an unconstrained search for quality income opportunities wherever they occur globally while also offering the diversification benefits associated with a multi-asset portfolio."

Aymeric Forest, Fund Manager of Schroder ISF Global Multi-Asset Income at Schroders, added: "Within Multi-Asset our focus is on outcomes and one of the key outcomes is income.  Our flexible approach means that we can look across the investment universe to find the most attractive income opportunities globally. At present we prefer equities and have increased our exposure to high quality stocks in recent months. However, we continue to believe that central banks' support for government bond markets will prevent a ‘great rotation' from bonds into equities. The Cyprus bailout drama provided a clear reminder that political instability and elevated debt levels are still problems in Europe. As such, we prefer quality issuers and continue to avoid exposure to peripheral Europe where sensitivity to political risk is high. Our focus is on managing risk, as much as on generating income, and we avoid chasing yield at any price."
 
As well as a dedicated Multi-Asset Investment team based in London, Schroders has Multi-Asset professionals located in key financial centres across the globe. In total, the team now consists of over 90 professionals worldwide who manage in excess of £40.5 billion (as at 31st December 2012) in Multi-Asset Investments and Portfolio Solutions mandates.