Korea Investment Holdings and Atlas Capital Management have formed K-Atlas Advisors, a Singapore-based alternatives manager, and have launched their first fund. The K-Atlas Fund, a multi-strategy offering, gets off the ground with US$100 million, with subsequent rounds of fundraising planned once the initial $100 million is invested.

The joint venture partners intend to create, manage and bring international private equity and hedge fund products to Korean institutional and high net worth investors.

Going forward, K-Atlas plans to introduce a private equity fund focused on Latin America, a global value fund, hedge fund investments in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, a real estate and an endowment product, according to Harry Krensky, chief investment officer of K-Atlas.

The timing of K-Atlas coincides with impending Capital Market Consolidation Act regulatory changes next year, which are expected to alter the investment landscape in Korea.

“As part of a comprehensive strategic initiative synchronized with CMCA, K-Atlas will play a pivotal role in developing and marketing proprietary and exclusive products and services to KIH's institutional and retail client bases," said Chris Lee, newly-appointed CEO of K-Atlas.

KIH's investment banking subsidiary KIS Simon Mun added that the group will consider the new joint venture a success if, in five years, there are 5 trillion Korean won (approximately US$5.3 billion) of assets in K-Atlas platform related funds.