Third of asset managers offer 'early-bird' European fund share classes

Averaging 47% discount for equity funds

One-third of asset managers now offer early-bird share classes to European investors in a bid to boost interest in newly launched funds, according to Fitz Partners' research.

With discount share classes now available to European investors from 33% of firms, it is the first time the figure is large enough for Fitz to start tracking its growth. CFA UK: Tiered fund fees best for retail investors CEO of Fitz Partners Hugues Gillibert said the firm had seen "a growth in the number of these early-bird share classes being launched" in recent years, and growth "in the number of assets managers across Europe launching these seeding share classes with preferential fee levels". The research found the levels of discount offered by early-bird share classes "are dive...