Schroders is awaiting approval from the Financial Services Authority (FSA) to launch a Global Alpha Plus fund this May.

The asset manager says it is waiting for regulatory approval for the global equity fund which will hold around 30 stocks from across the globe.

The fund is designed to give international exposure to those investors that feel that the domestic economy is outpaced by greater drivers for growth from outside of the UK.

It will be jointly managed by Virginie Maisonneuve, head of global equities at Schroders and Jonathan Armitage, head of US equities – the pair have around 39 years combined experience.

Schroders’ Global Alpha Plus fund will attempt to outperform the MSCI World Total Return index. Virginie Maisonneuve, head of the global and international equities team today warned investors not to limit their universe.

She said, ‘Today, many companies think globally and increasingly compete on a global stage. A global approach offers investors managed exposure to best stock ideas independent of their base currency and regional origin.

‘We take a fundamentally-driven, bottom-up approach to identifying quality growth stocks with strong sustainable competitive advantage.

‘This approach is supplemented by a thematic assessment, which focuses on climate change, demographics and the growing significance of emerging market countries in the world economy. We believe this assessment highlights long-term structural growth trends that are often underestimated from a purely bottom-up perspective.’

Robin Stoakley, managing director of the UK Intermediary division at Schroders, said that the Alpha Plus range has already been very successful.

He explained, ‘As with our other Alpha funds, we are giving two of Schroders’ best managers the freedom to make money for investors. They’ll do that through a concentrated, best ideas approach combining the best of Schroders’ fundamental stock analysis and thematic research.

'I am very confident that Virginie and Jonathan will deliver the same class leading performance they have achieved for our institutional clients.'