The goal of the new fund is to provide consistent long-term returns above the FTSE EPRA NAREIT Developed Index over time.

John Hancock Investments has launched its Global Real Estate Fund, which is managed by a team of portfolio managers at Standard Life Investments.

“In an era when traditional asset classes are providing lackluster returns, volatility is a constant challenge, and investors are looking for alternative ways to diversify their portfolios, we are pleased to be able to offer global exposure to a major asset class – real estate – in a mutual fund vehicle,” said Andrew Arnott, president and CEO of John Hancock Investments.

“We've selected Standard Life Investments as manager of the fund, an extension of our longstanding partnership with the firm and in recognition of Standard Life's considerable experience and specialized expertise in global real estate investing,” Arnott said.

The fund is managed by portfolio manager Andrew Jackson, head of wholesale and listed real estate, and Svitlana Gubriy, portfolio manager at Standard Life Investments.

"The co-portfolio managers for the fund bring decades of experience working in both direct and listed real estate and carry perspective from both a bottom-up security selection and top-down macro point of view," said Leo Zerilli, head of the investment division at John Hancock Investments. "At SLI the listed real estate team is fully integrated with the larger, private real estate team, and draws upon that team for a variety of key information and market insights on a regular and ongoing basis."