On 28 January 2002 Scottish Widows will launch four multi-manager portfolios, the result of its recently announced strategic alliance with Frank Russell Company, the world leader in multi-manager investment services. Each of the four “best of breed” multi-manager funds will give investors a globally diversified portfolio, actively managed by a team of over 60 of the world’s leading investment managers, via a unit trust, ISA, life or pension fund. For the first time, UK personal investors will have access to Russell’s unrivalled experience in manager research and selection, previously only available to the UK’s largest institutional investors.
Carefully designed by Scottish Widows and Russell to meet the needs of a wide range of investors, the four multi-manager portfolios will offer UK personal investors an institutional quality product in an easy-to-use, packaged format. Broadly diversified across asset types, regions, investment styles, and fund managers, these funds will give investors access to a team of leading managers, some of whom have never previously been available to UK personal investors. Each portfolio has varying equity/bond mixes to reflect customers’ different risk tolerance levels and investment objectives. Importantly, this approach aims to deliver consistent above median performance within tightly controlled risk parameters and should represent an excellent investment solution, particularly given the recent turbulence in investment markets.
Mike Ross, Chief Executive of Scottish Widows, said:”This latest extension to our range of investment propositions offers clients all the benefits of a widely diversified, actively managed investment portfolio, in a single package. In making these funds available for the first time to the mainstream UK retail market, Scottish Widows has confirmed its position as one of the UK’s leaders in life, pensions and investment provision.”
Frdric Jolly, Chief Executive for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Frank Russell Company, added:
“Perhaps the most striking and appealing feature of this multi-manager offering that we have built with Scottish Widows is its institutional heritage. With a line-up including some of the world’s leading investment managers and Russell’s nonstop monitoring of markets, managers and their portfolios, UK personal investors will now be able to benefit from an investment approach and professional team used by some of the UK’s largest institutional investors.”