Natixis Global Asset Management has strengthened its European SICAV range with the launch of a managed futures fund from one of its affiliates focused on alternatives, AlphaSimplex Group.

AlphaSimplex’s Managed Futures Fund will invest in futures and forward contracts across a broad range of markets including equities, fixed income and currencies and aims to profit from current trends in the markets, taking long positions in assets in a rising price trend and short positions in those that are in a falling price trend. The fund also has indirect exposure to commodity markets.
 
The new fund will be quantitatively driven with full transparency and will be co-managed by a team of five portfolio managers.
 
Although the fund has only recently become available to European investors, AlphaSimplex has a six year track record in the US managing over USD3.5 billion in its Managed Futures strategy. 
 
“In a world that has become more and more interconnected, correlation has increased,” says Duncan Wilkinson, CEO of AlphaSimplex. We believe this product can be implemented as a strong diversifier in an equity-dominated portfolio.”
 
Chris Jackson (pictured), deputy CEO – international distribution at Natixis Global Asset Management, adds: “Through Natixis’ regular investor surveys we believe that individuals are becoming increasingly aware of the need to have an allocation to alternatives within a portfolio. As managed futures are typically uncorrelated to other asset classes, these strategies can be a useful way of diversifying an investor’s portfolio. AlphaSimplex has a solid track record, supported by an experienced team of managers and we believe that this successful offering will resonate well in the European marketplace.”