Natixis Global Asset Management, part of the French asset management group Natixis, has broadened its UK retail offering with the launch of the Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund. Boston-headquartered Loomis Sayles & Company is an investment affiliate of the French firm, which specialises in fixed income research.

The fund is managed by Loomis Sayles’ fixed income team, comprising Dan Fuss, Elaine Stokes and Matt Eagen, and aims to provide “high income and increased investment value” over the long term. The fund will invest primarily in income-producing securities - with a focus on corporate, convertible and government bonds - on a global basis, and including emerging markets.

"In an environment like this, investing in a fund that has the ability to sift through asset classes and pick specific bonds of companies with strong market share and growth potential is absolutely essential,” said Dan Fuss, portfolio manager and vice-chairman of Loomis, Sayles & Company, adding that the firm has already positioned itself for a rising rate environment.

The new fund kicks off Natixis’ expansion plans for the UK retail market (it already has an established wholesale presence), the core of which is a new OEIC which will eventually comprise a range of sub-funds from NGAM’s underlying investment managers. Among these is H2O, a global macro manager.

Natixis has £454 billion (around $718 billion) of assets under management, as of 30 September 2012.