SLI targets income growth with GEM fund launch

Standard Life Investments has launched a global emerging markets income fund for manager Mark Vincent.

Aimed at delivering a sustainable level of income and dividend growth relative to the developed world, the fund will invest in a diversified portfolio of up to 100 emerging markets stocks, targeting a yield of at least 115% of the MSCI Emerging Markets index.

As well as targeting income, the team sees potential for capital appreciation given the level of growth in the emerging markets.

Jacqueline Lowe, head of SLI's UK wholesale, said: ‘This is the right time to invest for income and there are excellent opportunities in emerging regions where we see strong dividend growth and companies are establishing themselves as global winners.’

SLI has a nine-strong emerging markets team that will support Vincent on the fund.

The fund house's latest offering will sit in the Investment Management Association’s global emerging markets sector and has a total expense ratio of 1.97% on the retail share class.

On the bond side, the firm recently launched an emerging market debt fund for Richard House.

The Standard Life Emerging Market Debt fund, available to both retail and institutions, aims to deliver income plus some capital growth. It does not target a specific yield, although it will offer a yield of around 4.7%.