OREANDA-NEWS. Aozora Bank, Ltd. announced the launch, of the "Aozora New Global Distribution Fund (Limited Open Type) 2014-08 ('Zenzou')" by the Bank's wholly-owned subsidiary, Aozora Investment Management Co., Ltd. This newly established fund is a limited open-type equity investment trust, and Aozora Investment Management's first publicly offered domestic investment trust.

The application period for the fund (including an additional application period) is scheduled for Tuesday, July 22, 2014 to Tuesday, September 30, 2014.

Zenzou will invest in a well-diversified portfolio of bonds and stocks globally, including Japan. The fund is designed to raise its equity weighting in a gradual and systematic manner, increasing the ratio of equities over time. In addition, the fund allows for a switch from equities to bonds, which offer more stability, once the net asset value reaches a certain level. Based on the structure of the fund, it has been nicknamed Zenzou to represent the Japanese words for gradual and increase. This structure will enable mid- to long-term investments through the diversification of asset classes time diversification and clearly defined target returns, which we believe will make Zenzou a new and unique type of investment trust.

Zenzou comprises funds managed by Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA). DFA is an asset management company, which was ranked first for asset growth in the US investment trust industry in 2013 and eighth for asset balance. The company has also attracted a great deal of attention in Japan recently for being entrusted with the management of assets by institutional investors, such as large scale pension funds.

The Bank also sells private placement domestic investment trusts that invest in DFA funds (established by Aozora Investment Management) to eligible institutional investors, and these have been well-received.

Zenzou is currently the only fund in Japan aimed at individual investors that invests in DFA-managed funds.

Through the sale of Zenzou, Aozora aims to enhance its various products and services over the medium to long term, including through the provision of products and services that support the growth of retail customers' assets, towards its objective of becoming the 'Prima ry Secondary Bank: Another Reliable Partner' for its customers.