Artisan Partners has launched the Artisan Developing World Fund. The Fund is managed by Lewis S Kaufman, founding portfolio manager of the Artisan Partners Developing World Team.

Kaufman joined Artisan Partners in February to start the new autonomous investment team. He has eight years of portfolio management experience, including the last five years overseeing a developing world strategy, and 15 years of industry experience.

Artisan Partners CEO Eric Colson, says: “We have been gradually evolving our investment strategies to reflect increasing degrees of investment freedom, which further allow our teams to manage investment risks and outcomes. The Developing World Fund—a natural fit with this philosophy—is a high value-added strategy in an asset class that allows active managers to differentiate themselves. Lewis and his team have a unique approach to capitalising on the tremendous growth opportunities in the developing world.”

Kaufman says: “We believe compounded business value drives long-term capital appreciation, and seek to optimise our stock selection process for challenges unique to the developing world. Our investment process emphasises financially sound, free cash-flow generative companies with compelling business models, while seeking to mitigate the volatility of returns.”