AP4, Stockholm, hired Martin Currie, Capital International and APS Asset Management to manage a combined $557 million in active overseas equities, said Bjorn Linder, CIO at the $15 billion plan. Martin Currie will run $397 million in active Japanese equities, while Capital and APS will handle $80 million each in Asia ex-Japan equities, Linder said.
The plan had invested most of its $15 billion in assets in passive mandates. Like the other AP funds, last year it decided to invest some assets with active managers for the first time.
"We believe there is a good potential to outperform in Asia through active investment management. The announced mandates are the first active mandates outsourced to external investment managers, Mr. Linder said.