Navbar logo new
Pictet Asset Management expands Total Return franchise with the launch of Pictet Total Return-Lotus fund
Calendar20 Dec 2022
Theme: Funds
Fundhouse: Pictet

Pictet Asset Management has expanded its USD 11 bn1 actively managed Total Return franchise with the launch of the Pictet Total Return-Lotus fund, an event driven special situations Asia equity fund.

Pictet-TR Lotus seeks to capture the distinctive opportunity in Pan-Asian equities. This includes short to medium-term corporate catalysts, and longer-term secular trends such as China’s restructuring, the growth of South East Asia and the improving corporate governance in Japan.

The strategy invests in three areas: defined catalysts (equity capital market trades, thematic, special situations); pre-event (M&A, divestment/spin-off); and announced M&A. This diversification helps to provide stable, all-weather results in a region defined by dynamic but often dislocated markets. These market conditions create unique opportunities to generate alpha outside of a traditional long-only approach.

The strategy aims for consistent, uncorrelated returns with limited volatility throughout the cycle. It is focused on disciplined risk management and rigorous analysis of companies and situations.

Jon Withaar, Head of Asia Special Situations, explains “Asia is a great source of alpha due to its size, diversity and less-crowded opportunity set. Opportunity and risk often come hand-in-hand however, so we are adopting a well-diversified and cautious investment approach.”

Pictet TR-Lotus is managed by an experienced team of three led by Jon, and benefits from the resources of one of Europe’s leading hedge fund managers. Based in Singapore, Jon has 20+ years’ experience in Asian financial markets, producing positive returns in challenging periods including 2001, 2007-2008, 2015 and 2020. He is joined by Shawn Ban, Analyst and Jeremy Thia, Analyst.

Pictet TR-Lotus is offered as a weekly-dealing UCITS strategy. The fund is registered for sale in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, and the UK.

The Pictet TR-Lotus fund is the latest addition to Pictet AM’s Total Return fund range. Market neutral funds in this range are Agora (European equity), Aquila (Global equity) and Diversified Alpha (multi-strategy). Also in the range are the equity long/short directional funds, Corto (European equities), Mandarin (China equities), Atlas (Global equities), Atlas Titan (Global equities) as well as the distressed debt and special situations (event driven) and Sirius (EMD long/short).

1 Source: Pictet Asset Management, as at 31.10.2022