Liontrust Asset Management is set to acquire specialist emerging markets investor Occam Asset Management as part of development strategy.

The acquisition will expand Liontrust's range of funds, with the addition of Asia and global emerging markets products.

Four Dublin-based funds, including the Occam Emerging Markets Opportunities, Occam Asia Focus, Occam Asia Absolute Return and Occam Europe Focus funs will join the range.

Mark Williams will continue to manage the Asia Focus and Asia Absolute Return funds.

Eoghan Flanagan and James Mellersh will continue managing the Emerging Markets Opportunities fund.

Two Cayman Islands-based hedge funds - Occam Sorbus and Occam Diversity - will also come under the banner of Liontrust, with existing managers James Inglis-Jones and Gary West taking over management.

Flanagan was a co-manager of the Thames River Nevsky team, where Mellersh also worked, while Williams previously managed the Friends Provident International GIP Far East SICAV and the F&C Pacific Growth fund.

John Ions, chief executive of Liontrust, said the acquisition was the 'next step' in its development.

He said, 'The business now has the foundations from which to grow following the restructuring of the business, developing the brand, raising awareness and returning to net inflows.

'Having re-established these fundamentals, now is the right moment at which to make this acquisition, expanding our fund management capability and diversifying into new asset classes which are increasing investor interest.'

Jonathan Hughes-Morgan, chief executive of Occam, will join the Liontrust board as an executive director. 

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