KLS Zebra Global Equity Beta Neutral is the first sub-fund of KLS Icav, a Dublin-domiciled Ucits structure.
The fund mirrors the Connecticut-based asset manager’s existing offshore hedge fund with a target net return of 7-8% per annum over a market cycle with volatility of 5-6%.
The underlying strategy is typically made up of 650 long and 450 short equity positions and uses Zebra’s own “popularity factor” approach. The core theory revolves around the idea that fundamentally strong but unpopular stocks tend to outperform fundamentally weak but popular companies.
The fund carries an annual fee of 1% and a performance fee of 10%.
Laurie Robathan, head of sales at Kepler Partners, said: “Kepler has raised $1.3bn (£1bn, €1.2bn) for Ucits fund clients since 2010 and, after biding our time for some years, it is exciting to have now made the logical step into this space by launching our own dedicated Ucits platform.”
Looking ahead, he added: “The idea in time is to add a small number of additional strategies as and when we find the appropriate managers, but for the moment we are definitely focusing on the first fund that we have launched.
“We have a current estimated capacity of around $500m and the platform is completely dependent upon further strategies that we may launch further down the line.”
Founded in 2008, Kepler Partners’ business has been built on independent advisory and asset raising, particularly in the fields of investment trusts and Ucits absolute return funds.
