Nikko AM to expand Ucits fund range

Nikko Asset Management is expanding its range of Ucits funds in a bid to meet demand from investors in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

The Japanese fund house will be launching two new funds this week as it attempts to “significantly expand” its EMEA business.

It comes soon after Nikko AM’s Asia chairman Blair Pickerell announced he would be retiring at the end of this month after a 30-year career in Asia.

Nikko AM yesterday announced it would launch two new Ucits funds this week – one for global equities and one focused on multi-asset.

Takuya Koyama, Nikko AM’s executive vice-president and global head of sales, added that the new funds were part of its expansion strategy: “The launch of more Ucits funds is central to our strategic effort to significantly expand our business in EMEA.”

Yu-Ming Wang, global head of investment, added that Nikko AM was "eager to leverage our expanded investment capabilities and expertise.”

The Tokyo-based asset manager said that it planned to launch more Ucits funds in the coming months amid growing demand from global investors for exposure to more markets and strategies.

Earlier this month, Nikko AM’s Hong Kong-based chief executive Blair Pickerell announced he was retiring at the end of this month.

The former Jardine Fleming, HSBC and Morgan Stanley IM CEO said he would take up an independent directorship at Principal Financial Group, but expected to work at less than 50% of his current capacity.