GAM Investments said Monday it has been granted the needed registration by Japan's Financial Services Agency needed to directly engage with Japanese institutional investors.
The Zurich-based manager, with $169.4 billion in assets under management as of March 31, has had a Tokyo office since 1997, with a license which allowed the firm to market its funds to retail investors in Japan.
Until now, however, GAM had to pursue institutional business in Japan by working with local asset management partners, effectively serving as a subadviser, a spokeswoman for GAM confirmed.
"We look forward to engaging directly with institutions, including pension funds," said Shizu Kishimoto, representative director and president of GAM Japan Ltd., in a news release.
