Marshall Wace and Matrix Group are both planning to grow their Ucits III fund ranges in the coming m...
Marshall Wace and Matrix Group are both planning to grow their Ucits III fund ranges in the coming months.
The former is planning a Greater China launch next month while Matrix is also planning to roll out a number of Ucits compliant funds this year, building on the current trend of hedge fund managers bringing their products to the UK retail market.
Alternative management specialist Marshall Wace has already opened four of its long/short equity funds under the Ucits banner, which it says reassures investors concerned about illiquidity and risk in hedge funds.
It also opens the products to the retail market, through third-party distributors. Merrill Lynch currently markets the MW TOPS Ucits fund (Market Neutral) fund retail share classes.
The Greater China fund will be a long-only equity vehicle, launched to take advantage of economic recovery in the region.
MW head of investor relations Anthony Marber says: "It was attractive to us because we did not have to contort our strategies to fit into the Ucits framework.
Meanwhile Matrix is planning a series of Dublin-domiciled Oeics for Europe-wide distribution, set to go live in November.
Director Bridget Guerin says the company has yet to establish whether it will adapt existing strategies to fit Ucits rules or design new products.
"We are hoping to get the range set up by August, to register with the FSA, so they will be operational by the end of November," she adds.
Hedge fund manager BlueCrest launched the BlueTrend Ucits Sicav, aimed at UK retail investors via Merrill Lynch, modelled on the existing BlueTrend CTA hedge fund, and Brevan Howard is reported to be planning three retail funds under Ucits III.
