UK – Edinburgh based fund manager Martin Currie says it expects to launch a new European hedge fund in June.

The firm has hired Mike Nicol to launch a new long/short equity fund called the Martin Currie European Absolute Return Fund. He was previously at Edinburgh-based SVM Asset Management as co-manager of the Highlander European long/short equity fund.

Dino Fuschillo, head of the firm’s European equity team, said: “I’m very pleased that Mike will be joining us. Our skills will be complementary.”

Martin Currie currently manages more than 300 million dollars in four equity long/short funds investing in Japan, UK, Asia and China.

Nicol’s appointment brings “seasoned hedge fund talent to an area where investors’ demand is large”. The new fund has seed capital from London-based hedge fund specialist Fortune Asset Management.