Short Takes: Emerging Market Fund Takes in $1.5 Million

ReliaStar Financial Corp., the Minneapolis insurer, has attracted $1.5 million in its Emerging Markets Value Fund, which was rolled out at the beginning of the year.

The fund, part of the insurer's $4 billion Northstar fund family, is subadvised by Brandes Investment Partners, San Diego, which has also managed ReliaStar's $200 million International Value Fund since 1996.

Despite depressed economies in Asia and elsewhere, "there are individual companies you ought to look at," said Ian Sunder, a co-manager of the fund.

Among the companies he likes are the Philippines' long-distance phone company and a Brazilian beer company. Beer sells well whether times are good or bad, he noted.

The funds are sold through big brokerages and through banks by way of third-party marketers Primevest, which ReliaStar owns, and Marketing One.

Mr. Sunder said time will tell how much of an appetite bank customers have for a fairly exotic fund. They should expect to keep their money in for three to five years, and have strong stomachs, he said.

"You've got to be able to roll with the punches," he said.

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