Aberdeen Asset Management has launched five new funds simultaneously for sale to the public in Singapore. The five funds include the group’s first multi-asset funds here. They are the group’s first Luxembourg-domiciled funds to be available direct to retail investors in Singapore, under the MAS recognized scheme, namely:

Aberdeen Global – Australian Dollar Income Bond Fund
Aberdeen Global – Multi Asset Growth Fund
Aberdeen Global – Multi Asset Income Fund
Aberdeen Global – North American Smaller Companies Fund
Aberdeen Global – Select Emerging Markets Bond Fund

According to Nicholas Hadow, director of business development, Aberdeen’s approach to multi-asset differs from the majority of competitors because of its wide diversification, emphasis on low volatility and avoidance of complex derivatives.

The new funds invest in areas such as catastrophe bonds, aircraft leasing and corporate loans. These are typically accessed via closed-end structures.

Mike Brooks is in overall charge of the strategies, heading a team of five in Edinburgh. Alongside him Irene Goh, head of multi-asset solutions, Asia-Pacific, has been building local teams to manage regional assets. Aberdeen’s multi-asset division globally has 60 strong investment professionals, with approximately US$113.2bn in multi-asset mandates as of March 31 2017.