Jupiter finds local partner for sales push in France

* Fund manager finds partner for push into French market

* Focus on promoting two Sicavs to intermediaries

LONDON, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Jupiter Asset Management [JPAMG.UL] has formed a strategic alliance with a French distributor as it seeks to expand in France.

As part of the agreement, Alfi Partners will sell Jupiter's funds in France.

The move marks the British fund manager's first push into France, Europe's largest mutual funds market, and continues a drive to expand into continental Europe that started three years ago.

Jupiter said in a statement it wants to develop a "significant" presence in the French funds industry and will focus on distributing its Sicav funds to investors and intermediaries.

A Sicav or societe d'investissement is a European open-ended investment fund. Jupiter's Global Funds Sicav is already registered in France but the company has waited until it found a local partner to market the offering.

"The company's strategy in Europe is to focus initially on promoting the Jupiter Global Fund Sicav and Jupiter Merlin Funds Sicav to professional fund buyers," the company said. (Reporting by Chris Vellacott; Editing by Jon Loades-Carter) (For the Hedge Hub blog: blogs.reuters.com/hedgehub) (For Global Investing: here)