A few weeks after announcing a move into Japan, Singapore-based investment management firm Fullerton Fund Management is setting up shop in London and is about to apply for a licence from the UK’s regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority.

Fullerton, which specialises in Asian and emerging market investments, has made the decision to move following the official moves to make the country more attractive to such firms, according to an official UK government website.

The London office will be Fullerton’s first outside of Asia, the statement said. In January, the business opened an office in Tokyo.

“Fullerton’s decision to move to the UK represents a firm vote of confidence in the global strengths of the UK’s asset management industry and in the UK’s position as the leading centre for investment management in Europe,” the website said.

It quoted Manraj Sekhon, chief executive and chief investment officer at Fullerton Fund Management, as saying: “Europe has been a key market for us since our founding as an independent asset manager. We have been seeing increasing interest in our Asian and emerging market strategies from institutions in the region.”

“As a gateway to the continent and an important market in its own right, establishing a presence in the UK will further enhance our ability to service our clients and partners there, and allow us to better access business opportunities,” he added.

It also demonstrates our commitment to deepening our relationships in this region. Our choice to establish in the UK reflects the UK’s strengths as a hub for asset management, and we have noted the improvements that have been made as part of the UK’s Investment Management Strategy.