Northern Trust Global Investments Launches Global Emerging Markets Index Fund

26/11/2007 11:09



PR Newswire



LONDON, November 26 /PRNewswire/ --
Northern Trust Global Investments Limited ("NTGIL"), the international investment management arm of Northern Trust, has launched the Global Emerging Markets Index Fund ("the Fund"), to meet demand from institutional investors seeking to achieve net returns that are in line with the return on the equity markets of the world's emerging markets. The Fund has been set up as a Variable Capital Company and extends NTGIL's existing range of Dublin-domiciled, UCITS III qualifying, pooled, quantitative funds available to non-U.S. investors.

"Emerging market stocks provide investors with some of the best long-term return prospects in the world. We are seeing increasing demand from investors, some who have not previously allocated assets to emerging markets, for funds that will enable them to do so in a risk-controlled way. Using an index fund can be a highly effective way for many investors to access emerging markets for the first time, and, equally, can be used in conjunction with active investment strategies," said Jason Toussaint, Senior Quantitative Strategist at NTGIL.

The Fund takes the MSCI Emerging Markets Index as its benchmark and will be managed using NTGI's proprietary 'Intelligent Indexing' process which uses unique optimisation and trading strategies to add value beyond traditional index investment techniques.

"NTGIL and its affiliates have been managing emerging markets index assets since 1998 and we currently have more than US $5 billion in emerging markets quantitative assets under management. Our team of investment professionals has over 50 years of combined experience, with the needed expertise to understand and navigate the challenges and complexities of emerging stock markets," said Steven Schoenfeld, Chief Investment Officer of the Quantitative Management group at NTGI. "We have designed the Global Emerging Markets Index Fund as a diversified and efficient vehicle to provide non-U.S. investors with the potential to increase returns and lower their aggregate portfolio risk in this dynamic asset category," added Mr. Schoenfeld.

As the Fund is pooled, smaller and medium sized investors can benefit from increased cost efficiency compared to the cost of a segregated account.

The initial minimum investment is US $500,000, or currency equivalent and share classes in GBP, Euro and USD are available.

About Northern Trust
Northern Trust Corporation (Nasdaq: NTRS) is a leading provider of investment management, asset and fund administration, fiduciary and banking solutions for corporations, institutions and affluent individuals worldwide. Northern Trust, a multibank holding company based in Chicago, has a growing network of 85 offices in 18 U.S. states and has international offices in 13 locations in North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. As of September 30, 2007, Northern Trust had assets under custody of US$4.1 trillion, and assets under investment management of US$761.4 billion. Northern Trust, founded in 1889, has earned distinction as an industry leader in combining high-touch service and expertise with innovative products and technology. For more information, visit http://www.northerntrust.com.

About Northern Trust Global Investments
Northern Trust Global Investments (NTGI) is a global,
multi-asset class investment manager serving institutional and personal clients worldwide. With around US$761.4 billion in assets under management worldwide, as of 30th September 2007, NTGI offers a full array of active, passive and enhanced products, as well as manager-of-managers programmes for alternative and long-only investments. NTGI is one of the world's largest and fastest growing investment managers. NTGI brings together the resources of The Northern Trust Company, Northern Trust Investments, N.A., Northern Trust Global Investments Limited, Northern Trust Global Investments Japan, K.K., and Northern Trust Global Advisors, Inc. and its subsidiaries. The Northern Trust Company (http://www.northerntrust.com) is the principal subsidiary of Northern Trust Corporation (Nasdaq: NTRS).

About Northern Trust Global Investments Limited
For legal and technical reasons, outside the United States, Northern Trust's asset management business is described as follows:


-- Northern Trust Global Investments Limited ("NTGIL") is the London-based subsidiary that carries out Northern Trust's non-US based asset management activities.


-- Northern Trust Global Advisors Limited ("NTGAL") refers specifically to Northern Trust's manager-of-managers business.


-- NTGIL together with its sister company, NTGAL, are leading providers of active, quantitative and manager-of-managers investment solutions to pension schemes and other institutions in the UK, Europe, Middle East and Asia.


-- NTGIL also provides investment services in Securities Lending and Transition Management, which complement Northern Trust's Global Custody and Fund Administration businesses.
NTGIL and NTGAL are authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority.

Where Northern Trust's UK entities undertake regulated business then they are authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority.

Web site: http://www.northerntrust.com

EMEA & Asia Pacific Contacts, Sara Murshed, +44-(0)-20-7982-2249, sm136@ntrs.com, or Camilla Greene, +44-(0)-20-7982-2176, cg81@ntrs.com, or US & Canada Contacts, John O'Connell, +1-312-444-2388, jo45@ntrs.com, or Alexis Geocaris, +1-312-444-3094, ag92@ntrs.com, all of Northern Trust Global Investments Limited