The new UCITS fund expands Franklin Templeton’s FTAF range.

The Franklin K2 Emso Emerging Markets Ucits fund is launched as a part of FT subsidiary K2’s Luxembourg-based alternative funds’ range.

The fund will seek long and short exposures to debt securities of sovereign and corporate obligors and currencies in emerging markets. This will include the use of derivatives. (InvestmentWeek)

Franklin K2 Emso Emerging Markets Ucits fund

The new fund will be managed by Emso, a sub-advisor employed by K2 Advisors. Franklin Templeton acquired K2 in 2012.

Emso’s CIO Mark Franklin and senior portfolio manager John Hynes will manage the new fund.

The FTAF range of five funds was launched in October 2019.

“We currently have five managers spanning across long/short equity, relative value, and event-driven strategies and are delighted with the addition of the K2 Emso Emerging Markets fund to the platform,” said Bill Santos, senior managing director of K2 Advisors. “The manager’s flexible mandate allows the team to invest where they see value across a large universe, applying a consistent investment framework.”

The fund mirrors the strategy of the UCITS compliant multi-strategy vehicle, the Franklin K2 Alternative Strategies Fund. This fund is also run by Franklin and Hynes.

The strategy has generated an annualized return of 5.4%, with a standard deviation of 4.5%, according to HedgeWeek.

FT now a top provider of alternative solutions

Julian Ide, head of EMEA distribution at Franklin Templeton, said the firm is now one of the biggest providers of alternative solutions globally. It has over USD124 billion in assets under management.

“As we continue to focus on strengthening our cost-effective product range of liquid alternative solutions in Europe, we are pleased to launch this fund, which offers a differentiated global macro style of alpha generation and provides further robust diversification to client portfolios,” Ide said.

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