Apostle Asset Management has formalised a distribution partnership with London boutique H2O Asset Management to market H2O's products to Australian institutional investors.
"The team at H2O AM has a long track record in fixed income, global macro and newer volatility strategies, which we believe will have good relevance in a more volatile post GFC market environment," said Apostle managing director Karyn West.
"H2O AM's forte is to capture alpha between asset classes globally and deliver returns with clear risk objectives, liquidity and transparency," she said.
H2O's global distributor, French fund Natixis Asset Management, has provided the capital to staff the new venture and provide international marketing, as well as legal and compliance infrastructure, according to West.
H2O AM was launched in July 2010 by chief executive Bruno Crastes and chief investment officer Vincent Chailley, both formerly of Amundi Asset Management, in partnership with Natixis.
Crastes said the firm has long seen the opportunities Australia offers to global investments firms but understood local expertise was required for success in the market.
"That is why we have partnered with Apostle to ensure Australian clients can access local expertise in local time," he said.
"By executing our strategy in liquid markets, we're able to make the changes required quickly and adjust portfolios' risk factor exposures given changes in the marketplace," he said.
