It has been a landmark week for Schroders.PARA_BREAK_SENTINEL_9f8e7d6c

It has been a landmark week for Schroders. After just 18 months of launching its alternative UCITS platform, Schroder GAIA, assets have now topped USD1billion reflecting the very obvious increase in demand for more flexible hedge fund-like strategies within the institutional investor community. Moreover, it would seem to suggest that appetite is strong for independent platforms operating outside of the global banking UCITS platforms such as Morgan Stanley’s FundLogic Alternatives and Deutsche Bank’s Platinum platform. GAIA has five UCITS funds on its platform, three of which are managed externally by hedge fund managers, the other two being managed internally. The most recent addition (April) was Schroder GAIA CQS Credit, an onshore credit long/short launched by global hedge fund heavyweight, CQS. A UCITS platform provided by an investment manager where active management and rigorous oversight are central to the offering has been well received by investors said Gavin Ralston (pictured), Global Head of Product at Schroders, as reflected in GAIA’s success. Eric Bertrand, Director of Schroder GAIA called it a “tremendous milestone” for the platform. “It is testament to the strength and weight of Schroders’ global distribution network as well as the credibility of the high quality internal and external fund managers that sit on Schroder GAIA,” added Bertrand.