DLA Piper advises LGT Capital Partners on the launch of its first Australian fund

Global law firm DLA Piper advised LGT Capital Partners on the establishment and registration of its first Australian registered managed investment scheme, the LGT Multi-Alternatives Australia Fund (Fund).

DLA Piper Australia assisted with the preparation of the fund documentation of the Fund, including the fund constitution, compliance plan and product disclosure statement and the lodgement of the management investment scheme registration application with ASIC, and provided advice on the marketing of the Fund to retail clients in Australia.

The DLA Piper team was led by partner Martin Jamieson, head of DLA Piper Australia’s Investment and Funds Management team, and principally assisted by Senior Associate Kelvin Lau.

Through the process, DLA Piper Australia advised on a number of recent issues that have been subject to regulatory change, including the changes to ASIC’s Regulatory Guide 97 and the introduction of the design and distribution obligations regime.

The Fund will be marketed in New Zealand as well, and DLA Piper New Zealand also advised on the New Zealand aspects for the Fund’s launch.

LGT Capital Partners is a leading alternative investment specialist owned by the Princely House of Liechtenstein with US$85 billion of assets under management and a team of more than 650 professionals working in 12 locations across the globe, including in Australia.

LGT Capital Partners has marketed its investment products in the Australian market for many years, however previously it had only sought to target wholesale clients in Australia.  The establishment of the Fund represents the first time Australian retail clients can access the alternatives investment strategy offered by LGT Capital Partners.

The Fund invests predominantly in private markets, such as private equity, real estate, infrastructure and private debt as well as liquid alternatives including insurance-linked strategies, hedge funds and alternative risk premia.

DLA Piper Australia’s funds management practice has market leading experience in respect of all legal issues impacting funds management entities and their service providers, including fund and investment management operator structuring, product development, distribution, initial and ongoing regulatory compliance.