Top 50 hit for Deutsche
Deutsche Funds Management (DFM) is about to launch what it believes are Australia's first themed international funds.
The suite of four funds, to be known as Top 50, includes a global fund as well as three regional funds. Each fund invests in what the investment manager, Deutsche Bank subsidiary DWS, regards as the 50 top stocks in its mandate.
Appointing DWS as the single investment manager is DFM's first departure from its multi-manager strategy, however director Sarah Brennan says it is not a change in direction.
"These funds are designed to complement multi-manager funds which have a slightly lower risk profile," she says.
Brennan says themed funds are already an established part of the financial services landscape in the US and Europe and she expects a warm reception to the funds in Australia.
When the Top 50 was launched in Germany last year, Deutsche reported inflows in the first month of nearly $1 billion.
"These funds are designed to take the mystique out of international investing.
The underlying stocks and the concept behind each fund is clearly visible to investors," Brennan says.
Brennan says the fund is the result of a closer working relationship with other Deutsche Bank subsidiaries.
"Deutsche is the biggest fund manager in the world and we are accessing one of the biggest investment teams in the world through DWS which has people on the ground in almost every country," she says.
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