Invesco Perpetual is to launch a new fund that will invest primarily in shares of companies in Asia and Australasia (excluding Japan), looking to the region for diversification across countries, sectors and stocks and a wide range of income opportunities.

The Invesco Perpetual Asian Equity Income Fund, to be launched on 7 March 2011, will be managed by Stuart Parks and Tim Dickson.

The fund management team will target a dividend yield of 120 per cent of the MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex-Japan Index.

“We are launching this fund to enable income seeking investors to participate in the opportunities that we see in Asian equity markets. At launch we expect the yield on this fund to be close to 4 per cent. While companies paying high dividends will be at the fund’s core, its flexible approach permits investment in companies with greater growth prospects with the aim of delivering a rising income over time,” said Ian Trevers, head of distribution.