Fund Times: 23 – 27 June 2008
Fraser takes over Aegon European Equity fund; Torry leaves SG Tech Fund; PIMCO's El Erian addresses Morningstar conference; Schroders add to MENA team; and Aegon look to allow property fund redemptions.
Former Standard Life European Equity Growth manager Stuart Fraser has officially taken charge of Aegon European Equity this week. Fraser, who has co-managed the fund since March this year, will take control from Alistair Duffy. Aegon poached Fraser from Standard Life Investments in October 2007. Duffy remains at Aegon, but will move to work on other projects.
Torry Leaves SG Tech Fund
Long serving fund manager Alan Torry has this week announced that he will be leaving SG Asset Management after ten years in charge of the group's SG Technology fund. Control of the fund will pass to co-manager Hugh Grieves. Grieves has worked with Torry for the past eight years.
PIMCO's El Erian Addresses Economy at Morningstar Conference
Mohamed El Erian, co-CEO and co-CIO of global bond giant PIMCO spoke Wednesday evening at the Morningstar Investment Conference in Chicago. El Erian addressed the sub-prime crisis head on, calling it a case of the previously "unthinkable" happening. El Erian made clear that he believed it was not just a one-time event, but part of a broader structural change that includes pressure on the consumer for the foreseeable future. He also pointed to emerging markets' strength as an offsetting factor that should help lessen the blow.
Schroders Adds to MENA Team
In previous editions of Fund Times we have noted a number of new launches of frontier emerging markets funds focussed on the Middle East and Africa. On the back of this, Schroders this week added Rami Sidani to its Middle East & North Africa (MENA) team. Sidani will take up the position of head of MENA investments at the group, working within the broader Schroders Emerging Markets team. He has over six year’s investment experience, and has managed money in all twelve Arab equity markets.
Aegon to Allow Property Fund Redemptions
Clients locked into Scottish Equitable life and pension property funds, run by Aegon Asset Management, could soon be allowed to exit. The funds were initially closed to redemptions for up to 12 months in January after heavy outflows substantially reduced liquid assets. The funds therefore closed their doors to redemptions to allow time to sell off a number of properties in a less panicked fashion. Now, with its cash balance restored to healthier levels, the fund is to reopen its doors to redemptions for customers who still wish to leave.