GARS passes £30bn mark as buyers express concerns over size

Standard Life Investments' Global Absolute Return Strategies (GARS) range has passed the £30bn mark, according to the firm.

GARS' popular UK-domiciled retail fund has seen assets swell to £18.5bn, from £13bn a year ago, as investors continue to pour in money. Combined with the offshore SICAV, a US mandate run for John Hancock, and funds from the company's own internal pension scheme, total assets in the strategy now stand at £30.7bn, the firm revealed yesterday. In recent weeks, fund buyers have urged caution when investing in the range, with GAM's Charles Hepworth selling out of the vehicle in favour of Tim Bond's £80m Odey Odyssey fund. "GARS is getting bigger and bigger," he said. "Although they seem...