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Overview
The Martin Curie Global Urban Population Megatrend has been specifically designed for investors looking for an attractive total return, with lower volatility than the broader equity market.
The strategy invests in a diversified portfolio of quality listed Real Asset securities including REITs, infrastructure, and utilities, from developed and emerging countries.
Our approach is premised on the philosophy that the performance of Real Assets is driven by their unique leverage to the multi-decade megatrend opportunity of urban population growth.
Our key thesis is that as urban population grows, so too will demand for Real Assets to service everyday needs. With a growing demand, coupled with the nondiscretionary nature of the services provided, Real Assets often have strong pricing power, proven cash flows, and the ability to grow income distributions regardless of the economic cycle. Given these attractive characteristics, real assets are generally less volatile than the wider equity market or sector-specific strategies and have a lower correlation with the returns of other asset classes.
While the global megatrend of urban population growth is enduring and is expected to hold well into the future, not all countries and cities are growing, and some are in fact going backwards. Our approach is to invest where Real Asset demand growth is underpinned by a naturally growing customer base, avoiding low growth regions like Japan where population declines become an investment headwind. As such we focus on select target countries, regions and cities with the most attractive demographic growth.
Key Information
Earn a pre-tax yield income yield above the MSCI AC World Index yield
Portfolio characteristics | Global Urban Population Megatrend |
---|---|
Objective | Income / Long-Term Growth |
Asset Class | Listed Real Assets |
Style | Income |
Investable Universe | Global listed Real Asset securities |
Benchmark | Benchmark unaware |
Market capitalisation | All cap |
Country limit | Max country weight 40% |
Sector limit | Unconstrained |
Security limit | Absolute 8% and Max 40% in securities >5% |
Number of stocks | Typically 40 |
Portfolio turnover | Typically 25% p.a. |
Forecast tracking error | We do not target tracking error but total risk outcome is typically 90% of the market. |
Inception | July 2020 |
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"As urban populations grow, the demand for the essential services that listed Real Assets provide rises, and helps to grow dividends irrespective of the business cycle."
Why Invest in Global Urban Population Megatrend
Attractive total returns by capturing income
We have put client income needs at the heart of the product design for the Martin Currie Global Urban Population Megatrend strategy
Income from Real Assets can grow with urbanisation
As tangible every day-use building blocks of the economy, Real Assets are driven by demographic themes rather than the business or economic cycle. As urban populations grow, the demand for Real Assets increase, helping to grow dividends
Investments that are highly exposed to key demographic themes
By focusing on high growth target cities and regions, investments into Real Assets tap into future defining, urban population megatrend
Investment Strategy
The strategy aims to deliver an attractive total return with a growing income stream, lower volatility and inflation protection through:
- Unique blend of listed Real Assets driven by the urban population growth megatrend - REITs, utilities and infrastructure are the essential building blocks for a growing urban population’s every-day needs
- Income-focused return profile - Unique investment approach aligns stock selection and portfolio construction with need to reduce income shock and grow income with inflation
- Benchmark unaware portfolio construction - Low security concentrations to provide income diversification so no single stock dominates
- Proven investment process with fundamental active ownership - Proprietary multi-lensed investment approach with purposeful engagement with companies and client advocacy through proxy voting
- Experienced stock pickers with long term track record - Deep industry experience generating ‘active insights’
Read more about how the Martin Currie Global Urban Population Megatrend strategy seeks to capture income-focused total returns from the upside of urban population growth in the Strategy Guide.

Investment Strategy
The strategy aims to deliver an attractive total return with a growing income stream, lower volatility and inflation protection through:
- Unique blend of listed Real Assets driven by the urban population growth megatrend - REITs, utilities and infrastructure are the essential building blocks for a growing urban population’s every-day needs
- Income-focused return profile - Unique investment approach aligns stock selection and portfolio construction with need to reduce income shock and grow income with inflation
- Benchmark unaware portfolio construction - Low security concentrations to provide income diversification so no single stock dominates
- Proven investment process with fundamental active ownership - Proprietary multi-lensed investment approach with purposeful engagement with companies and client advocacy through proxy voting
- Experienced stock pickers with long term track record - Deep industry experience generating ‘active insights’
Read more about how the Martin Currie Global Urban Population Megatrend strategy seeks to capture income-focused total returns from the upside of urban population growth in the Strategy Guide.

Investment Strategy
The strategy aims to deliver an attractive total return with a growing income stream, lower volatility and inflation protection through:
- Unique blend of listed Real Assets driven by the urban population growth megatrend - REITs, utilities and infrastructure are the essential building blocks for a growing urban population’s every-day needs
- Income-focused return profile - Unique investment approach aligns stock selection and portfolio construction with need to reduce income shock and grow income with inflation
- Benchmark unaware portfolio construction - Low security concentrations to provide income diversification so no single stock dominates
- Proven investment process with fundamental active ownership - Proprietary multi-lensed investment approach with purposeful engagement with companies and client advocacy through proxy voting
- Experienced stock pickers with long term track record - Deep industry experience generating ‘active insights’

Investment Team
Martin Currie’s suite of Real Income strategies are managed by the experienced Martin Currie Australia Real Asset team.
The strategy benefits from the close collaboration and deep industry expertise of wider Martin Currie Australia investment team and the broader Martin Currie global investment floor.

Andrew Chambers
- Job title
- Portfolio Manager, Real Assets
- Experience
- 28 years

Daniel Fitzgerald
- Job title
- Portfolio Manager, Real Assets
- Experience
- 22 years

Ashton Reid
- Job title
- Portfolio Manager, Real Assets
- Experience
- 31 years
Our Capabilities
Available Funds
We offer access to the strategy via segregated accounts and separately managed accounts.
Through our parent company, Franklin Templeton, investors are offered access to the below funds.
Contact Us
Please visit our contact page or speak to a member of our sales team, to discuss the most appropriate investment to meet your requirements and for more information on our investment capabilities.
Kimon Kouryialas
Co-Head of Global Distribution
T: +61 (0) 3 9017 8640
M: +61 (0) 4 1737 7431
E: kkouryialas@martincurrie.com
Ross Kent
Investment Client Portfolio Manager
T: +61 (0)3 9017 8629
M: +61 (0)455 253 384
E: rkent@martincurrie.com
Contact Us
Please visit our contact page or speak to a member of our sales team, to discuss the most appropriate investment to meet your requirements and for more information on our investment capabilities.
Kimon Kouryialas
Co-Head of Global Distribution
T: +61 (0) 3 9017 8640
M: +61 (0) 4 1737 7431
E: kkouryialas@martincurrie.com
Ross Kent
Investment Client Portfolio Manager
T: +61 (0)3 9017 8629
M: +61 (0)455 253 384
E: rkent@martincurrie.com
Contact Us
Please visit our contact page or speak to a member of our sales team, to discuss the most appropriate investment to meet your requirements and for more information on our investment capabilities.
Mel Bucher
Co-Head of Global Distribution
T: +44 (0) 131 479 4748
M: +44 (0) 758 414 7720
E: mbucher@martincurrie.com
Danni Yang, CFA
Investment Client Portfolio Manger, Global Long-Term Unconstrained
M: +44 (0) 7826548065
E: dyang@martincurrie.com
Contact Us
Please visit our contact page or speak to a member of our sales team, to discuss the most appropriate investment to meet your requirements and for more information on our investment capabilities.
Mel Bucher
Co-Head of Global Distribution
T: +44 (0) 131 479 4748
M: +44 (0) 758 414 7720
E: mbucher@martincurrie.com
Contact Us
Please visit our contact page or speak to a member of our sales team, to discuss the most appropriate investment to meet your requirements and for more information on our investment capabilities.
Mel Bucher
Co-Head of Global Distribution
T: +44 (0) 131 479 4748
M: +44 (0) 758 414 7720
E: mbucher@martincurrie.com
Tim Baker
Associate Client Portfolio Manager
M: +44 (0) 7795238754
E: tbaker@martincurrie.com
Contact Us
Please visit our contact page or speak to a member of our sales team, to discuss the most appropriate investment to meet your requirements and for more information on our investment capabilities.
Mark Cho, CFA
Head of Americas Distribution
Intermediary Sales/Wealth Management
T: +1 212 632 3292
E: mcho@martincurrie.com
Breanna Ellsworth, CFA
Client Portfolio Manager, Distribution - US
T: +1 212 632 3293
E: bellsworth@martincurrie.com
Drew Comatos
Client Portfolio Manager, North America
Intermediary Sales/Wealth Management
T: +1 203 703 6472
E: dcomatos@martincurrie.com