The strategy, to be launched in the third quarter of this year, will work with managers selected by Pie Funds, who have proven track records and a focus on absolute returns.

Portfolio managers will have significant investment in the funds.

Pie Funds founder Mike Taylor said there were no investing options like it in New Zealand. “Leveraging off our expertise in the small cap market, we have identified a group of outstanding small cap specialists which manage money with a similar philosophy to Pie Funds.”

Taylor said Pie Funds’ emerging company fund, which was due to be launched this week, had been oversubscribed, with twice as much interest as could be allocated. “There was demand for $35 million but we are only allocating half of that… we see similar initial demand beyond that will be up to how we perform.”

Taylor said Pie Funds had provided they could provide results by investing in small companies, which generally outperformed their larger counterparts.

“The main reason for launching is that we don’t see anyone else with this particular offering. There are plenty in international equities but not small companies.”

He said the strategy would not appeal to every investor, as small companies represented higher risk. “It will either be investors with a small allocation to small companies or someone with an appetite for risk.”