Dutch investors to benefit Standard Life Investments' expertise

Standard Life Investments, the global fund manager, has announced that it will be making its Luxembourg-domiciled SICAV fund range available to Dutch investors with immediate effect after receiving public distribution status from the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AGM).

This will give investors in The Netherlands access to the fund manager's European Corporate Bond Fund SICAV, European Smaller Companies Fund SICAV and other funds across the SICAV range.

Pat Woods, Investment Director - Netherlands, Standard Life Investments, said: "Our authorisation from AGM comes at an opportune moment, with many Dutch advisers looking for new and exciting brands to offer their clients. Over the last 12 months we have seen growing interest from what is a very vibrant wholesale market in the Netherlands. In particular, the European Corporate Bond SICAV has helped capture the imagination of key advisers, particularly with its impressive performance throughout 2008 and 2009.

"Much of our SICAV range, which demonstrates expertise across equities, bonds and real estate, should appeal to Dutch retail and institutional investors, intermediaries and platform providers alike. They should also be left in no doubt to our growing commitment to this important European market."

Last November, Standard Life Investments' European Corporate Bond Fund SICAV broke through the EUR1bn barrier in assets under management. The fund has produced top quartile performance over three and five years and since its launch in September 2003. It is above median over one year. It has also outperformed its benchmark, the iBoxx European Corporate Bond Index, over the same time periods.

Launched in September 2007, the European Smaller Companies Fund SICAV's objective is to provide long term growth by investing predominantly in the shares of smaller companies listed on European stock markets. Managed by Ken Nicholson, the fund consists of 40 to 60 ‘highest conviction' stock ideas. Despite challenging market conditions, the European Smaller Companies Fund SICAV has produced top decile performance over one and two years and since its launch in September 2007.