Threadneedle has launched the Threadneedle (Lux) European Smaller Companies Absolute Alpha Fund, responding to client appetite for a European smaller companies absolute alpha product. Reinforcing the company’s absolute return fund range, the UCITS III fund will give manager Philip Dicken and his team flexibility in strategy and fund positioning. The fund will offer investors access to an investment vehicle focused on alpha-generation in a regulated format.

Dicken, manager of the Threadneedle (Lux) European Smaller Companies Absolute Alpha fund, said: “This is an exciting time to leverage our expertise in delivering absolute returns for our clients. With the dislocations of the past few years still fresh in investors’ minds, the opportunity to add value through fundamental and valuation analysis with high conviction long and short positions is considerable. “

“We are pleased to offer investors access to these opportunities in a regulated, liquid and transparent format. The Threadneedle (Lux) European Smaller Companies Absolute Alpha Fund enables a broader range of investors to access uncorrelated returns through the cycle. “

“We are looking forward to capitalising on the opportunities that our research has uncovered, on both sides of the book, to deliver value for investors across a broad range of European mid and small capitalisation stocks. “

Campbell Fleming, Head of Distribution at Threadneedle, said: “Threadneedle has a proven track record for delivering performance via absolute return funds. We believe that this fund will leverage our existing resources and experience to the next stage of development for absolute return. We have spoken extensively to our clients and they have indicated a great appetite for a product that will capitalise on the European smaller companies investment market in this form. The introduction of UCITS III regulation has triggered strong growth in the regulated absolute return sector and the migration of hedge fund strategies to the transparent, liquid and highly regulated UCITS market looks likely to continue to drive investor interest.”

The Threadneedle (Lux) European Smaller Companies Absolute Alpha Fund, which is a regulated UCITS III SICAV fund, has launched on the 3 March 2011.