Fidelity International has launched two new global equity funds, a Global Smaller Companies Fund and a Global Founders Fund.
Both funds offer access to investment approaches developed by Fidelity Investments, the separate US-based company.
Fidelity International acts as the management company for the funds, while a subsidiary of Fidelity Investments serves as sub-investment manager and is responsible for the investment strategy and underlying research.
The FF Global Smaller Companies Fund aims to achieve capital growth over the long term by focusing on opportunities across the global small-cap universe. The firm said the area of the market is often less extensively researched and can offer a broad opportunity set for active investors.
The fund combines qualitative stock selection with quantitative risk management to identify opportunities across the global small-cap universe. The fund typically holds around 125 companies and is managed by Shah Badkoubei.
The FF Global Founders Fund aims to achieve capital growth over the long term by investing in companies where a founder, their family or foundation remain closely involved in leadership or governance.
The strategy is based on the philosophy that significant ownership of a business confers a positive impact on both corporate and stock market performance. Managed by portfolio manager Thomas Williams, the portfolio invests in around 40-60 businesses captured in Fidelity Investments’ global database of founder-led companies.
Dennis Pellerito, head of wholesale, UK at Fidelity International, said: “Investors are increasingly looking for differentiated ways to access global equity markets, particularly in an environment where market leadership has narrowed and many portfolios are becoming more correlated.
“These new funds expand the range of value-add strategies available to our clients.”