The fund will invest in equities and equity-related securities in Asia Pacific within a Ucits framework.
Based on an existing Ucits fund managed by Indus, the new 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 research overlay.
Indus Capital
The new fund will be managed by the investment team at Indus Capital, led by Sheldon Kasowitz, managing partner and co-founder of Indus Capital, who has been involved in long/short equity strategies for more than 20 years.
Established in 2000, Indus specialises in equity strategies investing primarily in the Asia Pacific region including Japan and in emerging markets. The firm manages approximately $5.3bn (£4.1bn, €4.8bn) for foundations and university endowments, corporate and public pensions, high net worth individuals, family offices, sovereign wealth funds, and financial institutions.
Exploit mis-pricing
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.”
Kasowitz added: “We have been running PacifiChoice in a Ucits structure for over five years and look forward to partnering with Schroders and are excited to have the fund on the Schroder GAIA platform.
“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 mis-pricings, both long and short, being presented across Asia.”
