Schroders has announced the launch of Schroder GAIA Indus PacifiChoice in partnership with Indus Capital Partners. The fund will invest in equities and equity-related securities in the Asia Pacific region within a UCITS framework.
The fund will be managed by the investment team at Indus Capital, led by Sheldon Kasowitz, CFA, Managing Partner and co-founder of Indus Capital. The fund will look across the entire Asia Pacific region including Japan, Greater China, India and Australia, combining primarily bottom-up stock picking with a macro reasearch overlay. The fund is based on an existing UCITS fund managed by Indus, which has delivered a positive annualised net return since inception in January 2011.
Established in 2000, Indus Capital is an investment firm specialising in equity strategies investing primarily in the Asia Pacific region including Japan and in emerging markets. The firm manages approximately US$ 5.3bn for foundations and university endowments, corporate and public pensions, high net worth individuals, family offices, sovereign wealth funds, and financial institutions.
The fund manager, Sheldon Kasowitz, has over 25 years of experience in the investment industry and has been involved in long/short equity strategies for more than 20 years.
Sheldon Kasowitz, Managing Partner and co-founder of Indus Capital, said:
“ Global macro concerns have taken their toll on Asian markets recently. While external pressures remain, and China’s structural issues will continue to create volatility, the policy framework within the region is broadly attractive, and valuations are at the low to moderate end of the range. Our deeply fundamental, bottom-up stock picking approach is well suited to exploit the mispricings, both long and short, being presented across Asia.”
Eric Bertrand, Director of Schroder GAIA, said:
“We continue to see very strong demand for liquid alternative investment strategies, as clients seek to diversify their portfolios. We’re delighted to partner with Indus who have an exceptional proven track record in this strategy and investing in Asia Pacific.”