Fidelity International is joining the ranks of asset managers launching semi-liquid private markets funds.
The Financial Conduct Authority, the UK’s financial regulator, has approved the firm to launch a Long-Term Asset Fund (LTAF) offering a mix of private and public investments.
The Fidelity Diversified Private Assets LTAF aims to provide globally diversified private markets exposure across private equity, private credit, infrastructure, real estate and natural resources, as well as exposure to public assets for liquidity purposes.
Fidelity’s firmwide exclusion list will be applied to the fund as part of ESG measures.
Among the drivers for the launch were defined contribution (DC) schemes aiming to enhance retirement outcomes for members.
More broadly, said the firm, the LTAF may be an attractive investment for an extensive range of eligible professional investors with longer-term investment horizons.
Henk-Jan Rikkerink, global head of solutions and multi asset at Fidelity International, said: “Today, a number of clients are already asking to include private assets in their solutions, and we only expect this to grow over the coming years. In a world of challenged returns and reduced diversification from more traditional asset classes, clients are looking for a wider range of options to meet their long-term investment objectives.”
Aviva Investors and Schroders are among other asset managers that have launched LTAFs.