Edinburgh-based asset manager Standard Life says it has responded to client demand by registering some of its most popular funds, including the   Global Absolute Returns Strategies (GARS) fund, for sale in France, Belgium and Italy.

French, Belgian and Italian investors can now access the Sicav version of the GARS fund, as well as Standard Life’s European corporate bond and global high-yield bond Sicavs.

“We registered in Switzerland last year, expanded our German team at the start of the year, and have a real estate team based in Paris, so this was a natural progression for our European business,” says Jennifer Richards, co-head of European Business, Standard Life Investments.

Standard Life’s GARS fund has been one of the most successful of the many funds attempting to offer positive returns in all market conditions, a fund type often called absolute return. As of February, the main GARS fund contained more than £16 billion (€19 billion).

Standard Life’s Sicav funds were already available in 11 European countries and Hong Kong before the new registrations. The company had assets under management of £168 billion at the end of 2012.

Source : Funds Europe 15/04/2013